Technology That Changes Lives
Bar-Ilan's rare diseases hackathon challenges students to develop innovative solutions for everyday needs.
The hackathon is led by the Faculty of Engineering and the Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at Bar-Ilan University, together with the A-T Disease Association, in collaboration with the Rett Syndrome Association.
The initiative reflects the connection between the knowledge and technological capabilities developed at the university and real human needs, demonstrating how academic excellence can translate into a meaningful impact on people's lives.
Want to Take Part in the Challenge?
The hackathon is open to Bar-Ilan University students with a technological background, including first-year students, as well as participants with technological backgrounds from outside the university who are recommended by Bar-Ilan students.
No prior coding experience is required, and participants do not need to arrive with a team. Students may register individually, and teams will be assembled by the organizers.
Participation is subject to submitting an application, completing a suitability questionnaire, and receiving approval from the organizers.
Do you have an idea, technological skills, and the motivation to tackle a real-world challenge? This is your opportunity to make an impact and change lives.
More Information and Registration
A rare disease is a condition that affects a relatively small number of people. Because demand for specialized technologies is limited, adequate at-home solutions have yet to be developed for many of the daily challenges faced by patients and their families.
At Bar-Ilan University, we believe that every individual is unique and deserves solutions tailored to their needs. This one-of-a-kind hackathon aims to harness technology, spark creative thinking, and create opportunities to improve people's lives.
This is where Bar-Ilan's students come in.
On November 19–20, 2026, the university's Faculty of Engineering building will host a hackathon dedicated to addressing everyday challenges faced by children with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) and girls with Rett syndrome.
Over two days, participants will combine technological expertise, creativity, and innovative thinking to develop practical solutions that could eventually become real-world products.
Eight Real-World Challenges
Participants will tackle eight challenges identified in collaboration with patients' families and their treating physicians.
These include developing an at-home system capable of detecting changes in breathing, solutions for identifying seizures and preventing falls, and tools that allow children who cannot speak to communicate and express themselves through eye movements.
Participants will be divided into teams of three to four people, with each team focusing on a different challenge.
The goal is not simply to develop a sophisticated technological concept, but to create a solution that is easy to use, accessible, and suited to the everyday lives of patients and their families.
Throughout the hackathon, teams will receive guidance from professional mentors who will help them evaluate ideas and overcome technological challenges. Physicians and family members will also participate, sharing firsthand perspectives on patients' needs and providing feedback to help participants develop relevant, practical solutions.
Selected Projects Will Advance to Further Development
The hackathon will not end with the presentation of ideas.
Winning projects will receive funding for hardware or software and may proceed to further development stages, with professional guidance and support, prototype development, and the opportunity to advance toward a pilot.
In this way, an idea born during two days of collaboration could eventually become a real product, helping improve the everyday lives of people with rare diseases and their families.