HealthXHer

HealthXHer

Brought To You by The AstraZeneca Campus Ambassadors

An interdisciplinary hackathon where creativity outweighs coding, uniting all backgrounds to tackle critical challenges in women’s health.

Register Your Team

Our Mission

HealthXHer is an inclusive, interdisciplinary hackathon that brings together students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including life sciences, healthcare, economics, policy and management, data science, and AI. By uniting diverse perspectives and skill sets, the event aims to address the gender health gap in clinical research and tackle challenges that disproportionately affect women in healthcare.

The hackathon connects talented students from across Sweden with AstraZeneca, supporting their professional growth as early talent while increasing awareness of career opportunities within the life sciences industry.

Beyond innovation, HealthXHer seeks to raise awareness of the vital role the life sciences play in society. Through mentorship, collaboration, and hands-on problem-solving, participants are empowered to co-create impactful, real-world solutions and contribute to a more equitable healthcare future.

Learn more about us →

CHALLENGE TRACKS

Oncology Safety

Redefine early detection algorithms for sex-specific adverse events in cancer treatment.

View Details →

Cancer Screening

Enhance screening access and education to reduce inequities in early detection for women..

View Details →

Autoimmune Management

Streamline diagnosis and management of autoimmune diseases with personalized care models.

View Details →

KEY EVENT DATES

Applications Open

January 19th

Kick-off

9th February

Semi-Finals

2nd March

Grand Final

13th March

View Full Schedule →

Perks for All Participants

🎓

Certification

Official participation certificate from AstraZeneca professionals.

💬

Expert Feedback

Direct project critique from industry leaders to boost your career.

🤝

Networking

Connect with professionals and students from top universities.

🛠️

Workshops

Exclusive hands-on training sessions with industry experts.

💎

All-Inclusive

Fully paid expenses for travel and accommodation during finals.

See All Perks →

Ready to Innovate?

Secure Your Team's Spot Now
AstraZeneca Sponsor

About HealthXHer

An interdisciplinary hackathon dedicated to closing the gender health gap and shaping the future of women’s health.

Hackathon Objective

HealthXHer is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment, welcoming participants from a wide spectrum of academic and professional backgrounds. These include Life Sciences, Healthcare, Economics, Policy and Management, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and beyond.

Our vision is to unite a rich mix of perspectives and expertise around a shared mission: addressing and reducing the gender health gap in clinical trials and tackling healthcare challenges uniquely faced by women.

The event connects talented students from across Sweden with AstraZeneca, supporting their professional development as early talent and increasing awareness of career opportunities within the company.

The HealthXHer Experience

HealthXHer is designed to be more than a hackathon. Participants benefit from a multifaceted experience that combines mentorship, collaboration, and professional exposure.

Throughout the event, participants gain access to experienced mentors, expand their professional networks, and collaborate with peers from diverse disciplines. This collaborative environment is key to co-creating innovative, impactful solutions.

A core part of our mission is also to raise public awareness of the life sciences industry, highlighting its importance and societal impact.

What Participants Gain

  • Showcase your talent to a leading organization such as AstraZeneca
  • Learn from professionals working in Clinical Trials, AI, Life Sciences, LLMs, HR, and Recruitment
  • Expand your professional and academic network
  • Participate in workshops on clinical trials, career development, AI, and women’s health
  • Apply your skills in a truly interdisciplinary setting
  • Contribute to the discussion around the gender health gap and raise awareness

Mentorship Structure

Throughout the hackathon, participants have access to both general and specialized mentors.

General mentors are available to all teams via Slack to answer quick questions and provide guidance.

Specialized mentors are assigned to finalist teams in the week leading up to the finals, offering deeper technical, strategic, and presentation support.

Mentors bring expertise across healthcare, AI, digital health, public policy, design thinking, entrepreneurship, and communication.

Teams & Submissions

Team placement is first-come, first-served. For each participating university, the first five teams submitting a complete and correct application will be accepted.

Submission guidelines are detailed in the Participants Guide, which is accessible exclusively to registered participants.

Intellectual Property

Participants retain full ownership of their background knowledge and all intellectual property developed during HealthXHer. HealthXHer does not claim ownership over any participant-developed projects.

Media Recording & Usage

Photos, video, and audio recordings may be taken during the event. By participating, you consent to the use of these materials for follow-up activities and future promotional purposes. Participants may contact the organizers in advance with any concerns.

Winners will be announced during the National Finals on 13th March 2026.

Contact: healthxher@gmail.com

The Challenge Tracks

Below are the three overarching challenge tracks for this year’s Hackathon, designed by our Campus Ambassadors. For detailed context, objectives, and judging criteria for each track, please read The Participation Guide

Oncology safety: early detection of sex-specific adverse events

Did you know women undergoing oncology treatments face a staggering 34% higher risk of adverse events (AEs) compared to men? From debilitating nausea and fatigue to critical hematologic issues like anemia, these sex-specific toxicities can significantly impact treatment effectiveness and quality of life. Biological factors, drug pharmacokinetics, and immune responses all play a role, creating an urgent need for tailored solutions.

  • Your Mission: We're calling on innovators to design groundbreaking solutions that advance the detection, monitoring, and management of oncology adverse events, with deep respect and consideration for sex-specific differences.

Innovating in Cancer Screening and Early Detection for Women

One million women die each year from breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer—many deaths are preventable with early detection. Yet routine screenings are often missed due to fear of results, low awareness, misinformation, anxiety, procedural discomfort, cultural barriers, and limited access. These obstacles are magnified by socioeconomic status, age, and geography, creating stark disparities and leaving under‑screened groups behind.

  • Your mission: Design bold, practical strategies that boost screening and early detection by removing barriers and personalizing care. Focus on a clear step in the pathway—outreach, risk personalisation, or access enablement—and deliver end‑to‑end impact.

Improving Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis and Management in Women

Women account for up to 80% of autoimmune disease cases, yet diagnosis is slow and fragmented. Symptoms—fatigue, joint/muscle pain, brain fog—overlap with other conditions, and specific tests are limited, leading to an average 4-year diagnostic delay and multiple consultations. Care is often split across specialties, with under-recognition of fatigue, pain, and mental health impacts on quality of life.

  • Your mission: Develop solutions that streamline diagnosis and management for women with autoimmune diseases. Aim for scalable, equity-focused concepts (low-tech or digital) that improve recognition, triage, and follow-up, and reduce the burden of symptoms on daily life.

Judging Criteria

Problem Understanding & Relevance

Demonstrate a clear and focused understanding of the selected challenge and the specific problem being addressed.

AI, Innovation & Creativity

Present a novel, interdisciplinary solution that leverages creative thinking and adds value, including responsible use of AI.

Feasibility & Practicality

Ensure the solution is realistic and implementable with current tools, resources, and constraints.

Sustainability & Impact

Show that the solution can have lasting, equitable, and meaningful effects on patients, communities, or healthcare systems.

Team Collaboration & Interdisciplinarity

Work effectively as a team, leveraging diverse skills and perspectives to solve the challenge.

Communication & Pitch

Clarity, structure, and professional delivery of the final pitch.

Prizes and Future Opportunities

🥇 Grand Winner

  • Opportunity to present your project to a relevant AZ department/team
  • Personalized career roadmap session with an HR leader or senior director
  • Exclusive behind-the-scenes lab/campus tour at an AZ R&D site
  • Spotify recognition
  • Featured on AZ’s official digital platforms (internal & external)
  • 1-hour online mentoring session for project improvement

🥈 2nd Place

  • Spotify Podcast recognition
  • Featured on AZ’s official digital platforms (internal & external)
  • 1-hour online mentoring session for project improvement
  • AZ Gothenburg site tour.

🥉 3rd Place

  • Featured on AZ’s official digital platforms (internal & external)
  • 1-hour online mentoring session for project improvement.
  • AZ Gothenburg site tour.

For All Participants

🎓

Certification

Official participation certificate from AstraZeneca Campus Ambassadors.

💬

Expert Feedback

Direct project critique from industry leaders to boost your project.

🤝

Networking

Connect with professionals and students from top universities.

🛠️

Workshops

Exclusive Workshop sessions with industry experts.

💎

All-Inclusive

Fully paid expenses for catering and participation.

Our Team

The event is organized by the AstraZeneca Campus Ambassadors 2025 and features a panel of multidisciplinary judges and mentors.

Executive Team

Ambassador 1 Placeholder

Anita Nicoletti

 Ambassador 2 Placeholder

Hosna Samad
Ambassador 4 Placeholder

Millena Navega

 Ambassador 3 Placeholder

Beatriz Carvalho

 Ambassador 5 Placeholder

Aayushi Patel

Jury Panel & Mentors

coming soon...

Full Event Schedule

Phase 1: Applications Open

19th January

Applications open. Emails sent to selected participants the following week.

Phase 2: Virtual Kick-off

9th February

Introduction to the Hackathon and team formations.

Phase 3: Project Development

9th-22nd February

Work on the chosen challenge with your team. Semi-final submissions due 22nd February

Phase 4: Semi-Finals

2nd March | Lund, Gothenburg, Stockholm

Teams attend in-person pitching in their city. Juries select 6 Finalist Teams.

Phase 5: Finals Preparations

3rd-8th March

Finalist teams work on their final project with a mentor.

Phase 6: Grand Finale

13th March | AZ Gothenburg Site

Finalist teams pitches their final presentations where winners are announced.

FAQ & Official Rules

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. For a complete overview of the Hackathon—including rules, regulations, and expectations—we have prepared a comprehensive participation guide. We strongly encourage you to read the full guide before applying to ensure a thorough understanding of the event

View Full Participation Guide

Why should I join?

Mandatory Team Size

Selection Criteria

How are the teams formed and matched?

In-Person Commitment

What universities are involved in HealthXHer

Will there be mentors or professionals for guidance?

What is the final deliverable?

Intellectual Property and Data Privacy

How to Join the Community

Click Here to Join the Official Slack Channel

Team Registration

Register your team of 4 today. Selection is first-come, first-served!

Note: Applications open in late January.