MIRCORE

Computational biology research education for high school students: To democratize medical research in the genomics era, we teach high school students computational biology. About 1200 students were served in 2023 through our Contest, Conference, camps, in-school, after-school and weekend programs. 1) miRcore Volunteer Program (MVP): We mentor high schoolers in computational biology research every weekend, advocating personalized medicine and fostering leadership. This year, we offered in-person meetings at University of Michigan, Scripps Research Institute, Stanford University. Volunteers lead school club Genes in Disease and Symptoms (GIDAS, guide-us). 2) GIDAS: a student club at high schools and the University of Michigan. Our volunteers share learning with peers at their schools. In 2023, there are over 70 high school GIDAS chapters nationally. 3) Genes and Health Contest: promotes study in science among peers through enjoyable challenges. In 2023, we held the contest all virtually. 4) High School Research Conference: provides high schoolers a science conference setting to boost their familiarity with academic pursuits while raising community awareness on the conference theme (disease of focus voted on by volunteers each year). We held two in-person locations at University of Michigan campus and Scripps Research Translational Institute as well as with virtual participation. 5) Summer camps for high schoolers: Computational Biology, Biotechnology Sequencing, and R Programming Research camps were held online and also in-person at University of Michigan and Scripps Research Institute. 6) Lab on Wheels program: We provided hands-on experiments at local high school biology classrooms to expose 9th graders about computational biology and a research project using gel electrophoresis.

Citizen Scientist Sequencing Initiative (CSSI): After a year of preparation and consulting multiple field experts and leaders, in February 2023 we implemented our Citizen Scientist Sequencing Initiative, whereby individuals can obtain their own genomic sequences as sole custodians, not having to share it with anyone, including us, miRcore. The program began educating individuals regarding the ethics and implications of genome sequencing before collecting their saliva so that individuals were appropriately informed beforehand. Once individual samples were collected, they were sent to the University of Michigan sequencing core for whole exome sequencing, the data then being transferred to the individuals' user accounts in the University of Michigan high performance computing system for self-data analysis. We taught participants how to use the Linux cluster and handle different types of data file structures as well as how to use various analytical software tools so that students had essential technical skills for current and future jobs. Further, being excited when they saw their own DNA sequences, students came to deeply appreciate science. Based on the program's success with a first cohort of 20 students, we offered the first Sequencing Your Own Genome summer camp to ten students, which also ran successfully. We presented our program at the 2023 ASHG conference with a booth to invite collaborators and explore expansion options.