Students tackle chronic disease in conflict zones at Global Health Solutions 2025
After three days of intense collaboration and creativity, the University of Copenhagen’s annual global health case challenge, Global Health Solutions, concluded with a showcase of student-led innovation aimed at addressing chronic disease care in war zones.
This year’s case, developed by the Danish Red Cross, focused on the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, where escalating conflict has left millions displaced and healthcare systems in ruins. The challenge, titled “Caught in the Crossfire: Managing Chronic Disease in War Zones”, asked students to design a child-centred, evidence-informed intervention to ensure continuity of care for children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM) during the first 30–60 days of a humanitarian emergency in Red Zones. With insulin access disrupted, refrigeration scarce, and caregivers overwhelmed, the case highlighted a critical gap in emergency response systems.
Over 55 students from Denmark and abroad worked tirelessly in teams from 13–15 August to develop solutions. The top three teams were honoured for their outstanding contributions, and the winning team earned a trip to Geneva to pitch their idea at the 2025 SDG Olympiad, hosted by University of Geneva.
The event was hosted by UCPH Lighthouse and the School of Global Health, and featured expert talks, prototyping sessions, and pitch training. All teams received feedback from innovation consultants and humanitarian experts, ensuring their ideas were grounded in real-world feasibility.
As the winning team prepares for Geneva, the challenge leaves behind a legacy of student-driven innovation and a renewed commitment to addressing overlooked needs in global health emergencies.
For more information about student opportunities in global health innovation, please visit this website.
The winners
🥇 1st place: Team 8 – “Community-Based Action Plan for T1D Children”
Team 8 impressed the jury with a locally anchored intervention. It is a community-based action-kit that connects families, Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) staff, and safe storage sites to ensure insulin continuity during emergencies.
Team members: Andreas Battistini (Technical University of Denmark), Anniken Høeg Halvorsen(University of Copenhagen), Oliver Claes Østergaard (University of Copenhagen), Helen Harig (University of Heidelberg), Tony Alnasri (University of Heidelberg)
🥈 2nd place: Team 5 – “Hippo-Glycaemic Buddy”
Team 5 introduced a child-friendly companion kit that addresses the urgent needs of displaced young children aged 1–10 years living with Type 1 Diabetes. The project proposes a ready-to-use child-centric emergency kit.
Team members: Anastasia Janssen (University of Copenhagen), Elina Kerkelä (Tampere University), Emma Poloučková (Charles University), Anna Julie Munk Tobler (Aarhus University),, Büsranur Yılmaz (Heidelberg University)
🥉 3rd place: Team 9 – “Insulin SafeKeep Workshops for Children with T1D and Their Caregivers”
Team 9 designed hands-on workshops to teach children and their caregivers how to safely store insulin without refrigeration, including the use of low- cost, evidence-based methods such as clay pot coolers and cooling pouches.
Team members: Amélie Belosevic (University of Heidelberg), Maria Fernanda Soto Piedra (University of Copenhagen), Marlene Friedrich (University of Heidelberg), Sophia Hejndorf (University of Copenhagen).