Hannah Wang is a 2024 Scholar, currently in her second year of Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours).
Hannah recently represented ANU at the Australasian SynBio Challenge (ASBC) 2025 - Final Showcase held in Melbourne from October 4-5.
Hannah's team was awarded first place in the competition, as well as the People’s Choice Award, a fantastic achievement which reflects the ANU team's deep commitment to solving real-world challenges through synthetic biotechnology.
Hannah's winning team competed against teams from The University of Melbourne, The University of Queensland and other major universities to present their project: PhytoFix:
Love avocados, but tired of the high prices? Phytophthora cinnamomi, a soil-bourne pathogen, is the leading cause of death for avocado trees in Australia, costing the industry 40 million AUD annually.
Current chemical fungicides are non-specific, can disrupt beneficial microbes and are increasingly vulnerable to resistance as the pathogen evolves. That is where PhytoFix comes in. Our team is developing a peptide-based inhibitor designed to specifically target P. cinnamomi by binding to its microtubulin protein, disrupting reproduction and stopping the spread of infection. Unlike current prevention methods, our inhibitor is highly targeted, which increases its effectiveness and reduces the risk of collateral damage to the surrounding ecosystem...
Congratulations Hannah! This is an excellent result, exemplifying the power of student-led innovation in synthetic biology in shaping a sustainable future.
