The Manchester Cell-Matrix Centre, in collaboration with AIBIO-UK, invites participants to join an exciting online hackathon taking place over 15 hours across 13th–14th November 2025. Both teams and individuals are welcome to participate.

Researchers at Manchester have compiled a comprehensive dataset detailing the physical properties of alginate-based hydrogels. While linear models have shown some success in predicting individual properties from input compositions, this hackathon challenges participants to apply modern machine learning techniques to predict a broader range of hydrogel properties more accurately and simultaneously.

The goal is to develop a “first-pass” curation tool that can significantly reduce the time researchers spend identifying viable formulations for simulating tissue biology—potentially saving thousands of hours in experimental work.

Participants will compete to build the most accurate predictive model, with recognition for the most innovative and effective approaches.