Student Spotlight Series: Interview with a miRcore Student Leader

Author: Grace Li

miRcore is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research organization with a vision of global, multilateral collaboration toward treating individuals based on their unique genetic profiles and environmental circumstances, and democratizing genetics research for all. I am joined with a high school student leader within this organization, to discuss their role, and how they make genetics and biology more accessible for all.

Q1: What is miRcore? What do you do as a member of MVP (miRcore Volunteer Program)?

miRcore is a non-profit organization based out of the University of Michigan Ann-Arbor. As an organization, miRcore is dedicated to democratizing medical research and getting K-12 students (especially high school students) involved in medical research. As a member of MVP, I am able to connect with like-minded high school students from around the country to conduct original research in groups. Additionally, being part of miRcore allows me to be able to give back to my community by volunteering my time at their middle school biology workshops and other such events.

miRcore Volunteer Program. Source: miRcore Website.

Q2: What led you to join miRcore?

Q3: What is some research you have done under miRcore?

I joined miRcore through my high school’s GIDAS chapter. For those unaware, GIDAS (Genes in Diseases and Symptoms) is the high school branch of miRcore, and as part of this club, I, with other club members of my school, was able to conduct an original research project and was taught all of the skills necessary in doing so, namely, how to use online computational biology tools like GEO2R, String-DB, KEGG, etc. I joined MVP after being a GIDAS member because I wanted to become more deeply involved with miRcore’s purpose and mission.

miRcore 2018 Research Conference. Source: miRcore Website.

Q4: What is GIDAS and how is it related to miRcore?

Last year, in my MVP group, I conducted research surrounding the relationship between Multiple Sclerosis and prion disease. This project was especially exciting because we were able to gain instruction from an Undergraduate Student in the field of biology who currently attends UMich, and, at the end of the school year, we were able to present our research at miRcore’s high school research conference at UCSF to UCSF scientists.

Q5: How is your experience as the president of a GIDAS Club?

So far, I have really enjoyed my experience as the President of my school’s GIDAS chapter. I think that this role gives me an opportunity to guide and teach some of the underclassmen in my school as I was as a ninth grader as well. Additionally, GIDAS was my first introduction to conducting my own research, and my enjoyment of the process in my GIDAS club caused me to want to pursue research later in high school and throughout college. As the president of this club, I’m really excited to be able to help other students discover their passions in a similar way. Additionally, I enjoy collaborating with the other officers to make learning and club meetings as enjoyable as possible for our members.

Q6: What is the miRcore fundraiser and how does the organization raise funds?

miRcore raises funds through a microgrant, which typically ends up going to a medical researcher who specializes in miRcore’s disease of focus for that. year. This grant is used to fund potentially life-saving research, and in light of the recent funding cuts for many top institutions, this work is more necessary than ever. The funds themselves are mostly raised by events organized by MVP members, or by the individual GIDAS clubs across the nation.