NUS Graduate Wins James Dyson Award with Life-Changing Diabetes Invention

From a personal struggle to national acclaim, 23-year-old Zoey Chan Zheng Qi has been named Singapore’s National Winner of the James Dyson Award 2025 for her groundbreaking invention, nido: a first-of-its-kind organiser designed to make insulin injections safer and simpler for people living with diabetes.

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 20, the Industrial Design graduate from the National University of Singapore turned her daily frustrations into innovation. For many of the 600,000 people in Singapore managing diabetes, insulin injections are a constant routine, often performed in public or on-the-go. Without convenient disposal options, patients risk accidental pricks and face unnecessary stress.

Zoey’s solution, nido, short for neat insulin daily organizer, tackles these challenges head-on. The compact device stores up to four insulin needles, safely ejects them for use, and includes a slot for used parts, all designed for easy one-handed operation. With over 100 prototypes tested, the final design ensures portability, safety, and peace of mind for users.

For her win, Zoey takes home S$8,400 to further develop nido, with hopes of making it commercially available at an affordable price.

National Runners-Up

Chhavi – A cervical cancer self-test kit by Gunika Jain (Lasalle College of the Arts), enabling women in rural areas to privately collect samples and detect early signs of the disease.

Noda – A resilient joint system by Reynard Seah Jun Hao, inspired by plant cells, that allows rapid assembly of emergency shelters in humanitarian crises.

All three Singapore finalists now advance to the international stage of the James Dyson Award, with the Top 20 shortlist revealed on 15 October and the global winners announced on 5 November.

Now in its 20th year, the James Dyson Award has championed over 400 problem-solving inventions worldwide, empowering young engineers to design a better future.