Maanya Lalithraj is a Grade 10 student at Dubai American Academy and Co-Founder of PathoScan, an AI-powered project focused on improving the early detection of colorectal cancer. PathoScan uses convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to analyze both tissue sample images and stool microbiome data, supporting more accessible and accurate cancer screening.

Her work has been recognized through the UAE’s Top Young Innovator competition, where PathoScan advanced to the semifinal stage, and through ISTE+ASCD, where she was named an AI Innovator. Maanya has also shared her experiences as a student innovator through speaking engagements with ISTE.

Passionate about the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare, as well as biomedical sciences, she is committed to exploring how emerging technologies can be used to address real-world challenges. Through PathoScan and other innovation initiatives, she advocates for empowering young people to become creators of technology rather than just consumers of it.

At GESS, Maanya joins the panel “Coached by AI, Built by Youth: A Panel with the Student Innovators” to discuss youth-led innovation, AI-powered problem solving, and the role students can play in shaping the future of technology.