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iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) is a global collegiate synthetic biology competition focused on solving local and global problems with an interdisciplinary approach.
We are passionate about employing our diverse skill sets and knowledge to provide aid to populations in need. In the past, our team has worked on projects relating to plastic degradation, the banana plight, methane pollution, and the bioremediation of phosphorous and nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay. Our projects require the integration of bioengineering, coding and mathematical modeling, public health, environmental science, and many other fields.
We are entirely student run. We develop a project idea, conduct lab and computational research, meet with stakeholders and experts, and create materials to display our research. We present our findings at university seminars and conferences and hold educational events to ignite interest in synthetic biology in the next generation. UMaryland iGEM is a great opportunity for undergraduate students to learn both technical and professional skills, while gaining invaluable experience in the research process.
The goal of UMD's iGEM chapter this year is to develop a protype of a molecular device that can screen for pre-cervical cancer. It has been found that cervical cancer disproportionately affects low and middle-income countries due to the costly nature of current screening tools including HPV tests and Pap smears. The inaccessibility of these diagnostics is only furthered by the fact that they require specific equipment and trained personnel, and many patients find them invasive. We want to remove barriers to accessing cervical cancer screening so that more cases can be identified and treated early, saving lives.
Using novel, cell-free RNA devices, we are building an accessible cervical cancer screening kit from the ground up. Our design detects specific biological compounds called miRNAs that are characteristic of the urine of people with pre-cervical cancer. We then plan to translate this molecular technology onto a convenient and easy-to-use paper-based testing device.
This fall, we plan to travel to the iGEM Grand Jamboree in Paris. This unique opportunity will allow us to present our findings to a wider scientific community. We are eager to show the scientific merit and community impact of our project. This event is the culmination of all our work towards finding a solution for health inequity in cervical cancer screening.
This project is an ambitious undertaking that will require resources for lab materials, registration expenses, conference fees, and costs of traveling. With your help, you will allow a highly dedicated group of young scientists to grow their research skills and make a difference in their community.
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