Guangzhou Medical University clinched its first-ever Grand Prize at the 19th "Challenge Cup" National Undergraduate Extracurricular Academic Science and Technology Contest, marking a historic breakthrough at the national level.

The finals of the 19th Challenge Cup , held at Nanjing University from Oct 31 to Nov 3, saw GMU students excel across multiple categories. The university's teams secured one Grand Prize and one Second Prize in the main track, plus one Third Prize and one Excellence Award in the 2025 China Youth Sci-Tech Innovation Open Challenge Competition.

The Grand Prize-winning project, "GeneGenius: An AI-Powered Multi-Gene Mutation Detection System for Lung Cancer," represents a major breakthrough in pathological AI technology. The innovative deep learning algorithm eliminates the need for traditional tissue samples in genetic testing, enabling faster and more cost-effective gene mutation analysis.

"This achievement fills a critical gap in AI-driven gene mutation prediction through pathology and provides an accessible solution for precision lung cancer diagnosis," the research team said, adding that the technology aligns with national Healthy China initiatives.

The competition, jointly organized by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, China Association for Science and Technology, and five other national bodies, attracted over 400,000 entries from more than 2,700 universities nationwide. Only 640 projects advanced to the national finals after intense competition.

University leadership, including Party Secretary Zeng Yingru and President Zhao Xingcun, provided comprehensive support throughout the preparation process, encouraging students to drive scientific innovation and tackle pressing challenges through technological breakthroughs.

The contest theme, "Youth Shouldering Responsibility for Chinese Modernization," underscores young people's vital role in advancing China's innovation-driven development strategy.