UMT students win Rs1 million for affordable DNA testing method

Fatima Azhar and Ariha Akbar, students from the University of Management and Technology (UMT) in Lahore, have secured first place in a Punjab government-sponsored Youth Innovation Competition. Their winning project proposes a method to make DNA testing more affordable without compromising the quality of the results.

The project was selected from 154 entries submitted by students from 51 universities across Punjab. Following a presentation to Punjab Provincial Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, the government decided to pursue the initiative further. The students will be attached to the Punjab Forensic Science Authority (PFSA) to support the development and potential implementation of their research.

If successfully implemented, the method could improve access to DNA testing for forensic investigations, identification, and scientific research by reducing financial barriers.