– 11/18/2020 –

Dear MVP students,

With more places going under stricter rules, some of you are switching to all online learning. We’ve talked about COVID fatigue but there is hope. Let’s stay safe and healthy until we reach the end of the tunnel. Keep up a daily routine and join miRcore meetings where we can laugh together.

Microgrant fundraiser
Innovation is hard to get funding for since by definition it is unproven grounds. However, innovation is the key to advances in any field, and medical research is no exception. We want to support innovation and thus we will fundraise to provide microgrants to researchers who have innovative ideas.
In 2019-20, opioid addiction was voted on as our disease of focus, but we halted our annual fundraiser due to the pandemic. While everyone was suffering due to COVID-19, raising funds for something else seemed to be irresponsible. Now, during another big surge of COVID-19 cases, we are resuming the opioid fundraiser. One major reason for this is that opioid addictions got even worse due to the pandemic. MVP officers decided to finish the opioid addiction research fundraiser and then move on to the COVID-19 research fundraiser with a reduced target goal.

Here is the opioid addiction research fundraiser site. Please share it with your family and friends.
https://www.mircore.org/fundraiser/

From the fundraiser committee:
miRcore is announcing a Covid-19 PPE fundraiser. Please add your name to the spreadsheet emailed to you if you’re able to obtain materials (hand sanitizer, gloves, and masks) in bulk from an Amazon wishlist (miRcore will provide the list). If you choose to, miRcore can reimburse you or you can subtract the costs from the donation amount.

Any MVP member can be in charge of creating and distributing kits to donors. These will count as your fundraising/advocacy hours (5 hour minimum requirement).

GIDAS leaders: Audrey’s email has more information regarding getting your GIDAS involved in this fundraiser.

This weekend’s meeting:
We will continue connecting dataset and research questions. Since there is no meeting on Nov 28th, please do your best to meet with your group members this weekend.

Focus on what you can do and avoid spiraling into thoughts about what you cannot change.
Make a daily routine!

Inhan Lee, Ph.D.