GIDAS (Genes In Diseases And Symptoms)

How to Pronounce: Guide-Us

GIDAS, the high school/college branch of miRcore, is a network of school clubs which works to fulfill miRcore’s outreach to connect the general public with researchers/scientists. GIDAS members study and advocate the importance of genes in health and personalized medicine. You can start a GIDAS chapter in your school after taking our summer camps (scholarship available) and participating in miRcore volunteer program. Annual events include the Genes and Health Contest and High School GIDAS Research Conference.

Last summer in 2021, I participated in the miRcore Biotechnology and Computational summer camps, which was an amazing learning experience, and motivated me to start a Genes in Diseases and Symptoms (GIDAS) Club in my own school with one of my friends. It gave me lots of teaching experience and fun times with my peers.

Current High School GIDAS chapters:

Michigan

• Bloomfield Hills High School
• Canton High School
• Clarkston High School
• Cranbrook School
• Detroit Country Day School
• Bone series (graphic novel, Jeff Smith)
• Farmington High School
• Forest Hills Northern High School
• Grand Blanc High School
• Greenhills School
• H. H. Dow High School
• Heritage High School
• Huron High School
• International Academy Central
• International Academy East
• International Academy Okma
• International Academy West
• Michigan Islamic Acadmey
• Napoleon High School
• Northville High School
• Novi High School
• Pioneer High School
• Plymouth Canton Educational Park
• Saline High School
• Seaholm High School
• Skyline High School
• Southfield Christian High School
• Troy High School
• Troy School District
• University Liggett School
• Washtenaw International High School

Other Regions

• Alabama School of Fine Arts (AL)
• BASIS Scottsdale (AZ)
• Hamilton High School (AZ)
• Paradise Valley High School (AZ)
• The Charter School of Wilmington (DE)
• Brookwood High School (GA)
• Fulton Science Academy Private School (GA)
• Johns Creek High School (GA)
• The Paideia School (GA)
• Plainfield North High School (IL)
• Carmel High School (IN)
• The Roxbury Latin School (MA)
• Breck School (MN)
• Clayton High School (MO)
• Cary Academy (NC)
• Durham Academy (NC)
• Chatham High School (NJ)
• Bronx High School of Science (NY)
• Ethical Culture Fieldston School (NY)
• Stuyvesant High School (NY)
• Mason High School (OH)
• Downingtown STEM Academy (PA)
• Germantown Friends School (PA)
• North Allegheny School District (PA)
• Rock Ridge High School (VA)
• Yorktown High School (VA)
• Eastlake High School (WA)
• Eastside Preparatory School (WA)
• Skyline High School (WA)
• The Bear Creek School (WA)

California

• Amador Valley High School
• American High School
• Arnold O Beckman High School
• BASIS Independent Fremont
• BASIS Independent Silicon Valley
• California High School
• Campolindo High School
• Canyon Crest Academy
• Centennial High School
• Del Norte High School
• Dublin High School / Fallon Middle School
• Foothill High School
• Francis Parker School
• Henry M. Gunn High School
• Huntington Beach High School
• Khan Lab School
• Leigh High school
• Los Osos High
• Lowell High School
• Lynbrook High School
• Monta Vista High School
• Portola High School
• Prospect High School
• Sage Hill School
• San Marcos High School
• Santa Clara High School
• Saratoga High School
• Scripps Ranch High School
• Stanford Online High School
• Stratford Preparatory High School
• The Bishop’s School
• The Harker School
• Washington High School
• West Ranch High School
• Westview High School
• Wilcox High School

Texas

• Allen High School
• Bellaire High School
• Bridgeland High School
• Cypress Ranch High School
• Independence High School
• Prosper High School
• Round Rock High School
• Wakeland High School
• Westwood High School

International Regions

Canada

• Oakville Trafalgar High School
• University of Toronto Schools

Taiwan

• Taipei Wego Private High School

South Korea

• Daegu International School

Current organized University GIDAS chapter:

University of Michigan -Mentoring group for high school GIDAS activities -Organizing the “Genes and Health” contest -Helping Lab on Wheels program and summer camps  

Objectives:

• Understand “we can change gene expression™”
• Vote on a disease of focus, study it, and advocate for its genetic research
• Promote recognition of the disease of focus through diverse activities
• Recruit guest speakers on a chosen disease for assemblies
• Fundraising for micro grants (https://www.mircore.org/microgrants/)
• Participate in a Genes and Health contest based on knowledge of genomics and diseases
• Participate in a Science Fair and write/review a paper or abstract on the disease of focus
• Prepare for the emerging era of medical genomics
• Pursue volunteering activities at organizations related to the disease of focus

What Will GIDAS Members Gain?

• Knowledge of how our gene expressions change due to environmental factors such as exercise, food consumption, substance abuse, and medication
• Recognition of how much we can improve our health, mental ability, and emotional state through adjustments in environment and behavior
• How to prevent age-related diseases through understanding environmental and behavioral effects
• Compassion for people with diseases through understanding genetic effects on the mind and body
• Volunteering experience, good habits of study, advocacy of personalized medicine, and how to be good role models for others
• Recognition of aptitudes relevant to choosing a major in health and medicine