A University of Aberdeen graduate, who recently completed a taught Masters in Microbiology in the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, has been shortlisted for a prestigious Champion of Champions Award.
Celebrating exceptional innovation, leadership and impact in engineering and business education, Dr Soham Mitra was nominated for his work in establishing CAnswer BioSolutions Limited, a company working on an innovative portable biopsy kit for community use, and AI based cancer diagnostic software to help the surgeons and pathologists reduce diagnostic waiting times and cut the dependence on operating theatres.
Members of CAnswer are all either recent University of Aberdeen graduates or current students.
The award is part of the Engineers and Scientists in Business Fellowship (ESBF) programme, which promotes business education for engineers and scientists through enterprise competitions held at over 50 UK universities.
The Champion of Champions competition is the culmination of these events, bringing together the most outstanding student-led innovations to compete for national recognition and cash prizes. The grand final is held annually at the Royal Academy of Engineering, showcasing transformative ideas that address real-world challenges.
Speaking about the nomination, Dr Mitra said: “Each year, 1.5 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer, with cases rising 9% annually. CAnswer enables painless, on-the-spot diagnosis outside hospitals. It reduces delays, boosts early detection and improves outcomes - making skin cancer diagnosis faster, more accessible and less resource-intensive for global healthcare systems.
"It’s a privilege to be recognised by an organisation that champions innovation and enterprise in science. This nomination reflects the collaborative spirit of my colleagues and the multidisciplinary team at CAnswer, as well as the importance of bridging academic research with real-world impact."
The Champion of Champions Award is now in its fifth year and has become a beacon for celebrating ingenuity and enterprise among the UK’s academic and student communities. Previous winners have gone on to launch successful startups, secure major funding and influence industry practices.
Dr Heather May Morgan, Dean for Enterprise and Innovation at the University, said: "Soham exemplifies the values of scientific excellence, innovation and multidisciplinary teamwork that underpin the development of real-world impactful solutions that this award stands for.
“ESBF supports students to realise their potential and Soham has fully engaged with their programme, which the University participated in for the first time in 2025. We were delighted to partner with ESBF and are thrilled to see Soham’s work recognised at a national level and on such a prominent stage."
The 10 finalists from across the UK will present their work to a panel of industry experts and leaders in engineering and business at a two-day event at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London on 6 and 7 November 2025, where the winners will be announced.
You can also vote for your favourite nominee. Watch the entry videos and cast your vote for them to win a £500 Pre-Show Vote award here. Voting is open until 6 November.