How a Chevening connection sparked a life-changing health innovation

Three Chevening Scholars from Malaysia, Thailand, and Mongolia have developed a new health innovation to protect children with asthma from the dangers of air pollution, and it all began with a simple message in a WhatsApp group. 

When Chevening alumna Dr Zyneelia Husain shared a message about the Asia Pacific Global Health Innovation Hackathon, she didn’t know she was about to spark a collaboration that would cross borders and change lives. 

‘It’s amazing how shared passion and purpose can turn connections into lasting friendships.’ – Dr Zyneelia Husain 

Two fellow scholars, Dr Chitsanupong Ratarat from Thailand and Dr Bayarbaatar Bold from Mongolia, saw her post and got in touch. The three met at Chevening’s 2024 farewell event in London and shared a passion for using innovation to tackle global health challenges. Despite being based in different countries and balancing busy medical careers, they teamed up with a shared vision to protect children with asthma from the effects of air pollution. 

What began as a conversation among Chevening Scholars soon became a global success story. Their idea, Lung Guardian, was recognised as one of three winning projects at the Hackathon and awarded a six-month SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Innovation Incubation Fellowship, giving them expert mentoring to turn their concept into a real, fundable solution. 

At the fellowship’s final showcase, the team presented their prototype to investors and public health leaders, exploring how the device could also help people with other conditions affected by air pollution.  

Next, they’ll continue their journey in Singapore, meeting founders, venture capitalists, and healthcare innovators to explore how to bring their idea to life on a larger scale. 

Their journey shows the power of the Chevening network, how one small connection can grow into collaboration that makes a global impact.