UR iGEM Virtual 5k for Endometriosis

To donate, go to this link. Donations support the UR iGEM team, as well as 15% of donations will go towards the Endometriosis Foundation of America!

Help us spread the word about endometriosis by taking part in our 5K, and supporting our team’s project by making a donation!

We are the University of Rochester iGEM 2020 team, a group of 12 undergraduate students competing in an international synthetic biology competition. The focus of our project this year is trying to tackle the under-diagnosis of endometriosis by finding new ways to diagnose endometriosis through non-invasive means. With your support, we will have the resources we need to complete our important project.

While the focus of the competition is in biology, our team is also dedicated to spreading awareness of the disease and helping the communities affected by it. To do this, we are hosting a virtual 5k event in which participants can run/jog/walk and use it as an opportunity to teach more people about endometriosis.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a common disease where the tissue lining the uterus also grows outside of the uterus, which can lead to intense pain, cramps, and infertility. It is estimated to affect a staggering 10% of women worldwide. Currently, the predominant method of diagnosing endometriosis is through invasive laparoscopic surgery. The difficulty of diagnosing it leads to women going, on average, 7 years from the onset of symptoms to being diagnosed. Our team is looking to help lower the delay in diagnosis by designing a non-invasive and effective test and help get women the treatment they need for the disease.

How does a virtual 5k work?

A virtual 5k is race that you can take part in, anywhere in the worl! By signing up for our race, you can run, jog, or walk 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) anytime throughout the month, anywhere you can.  After the race is over, we will put together a map of where all of the runners joined from! Everyone is encouraged to take a picture after they've completed their 5k and post it about on social media with #endo5kigem to help spread awareness of endometriosis!

IMPORTANT NOTICE! Please follow all social distancing guidelines and local restrictions on public places during the 5k to help keep yourself and others safe. Also, make sure to watch out for traffic and be aware of your surroundings. Run safely!

The impact of donations

Your generous support will help our team participate in the 2020 iGEM competition and complete our project of designing a non-invasive test for endometriosis. Specifically, funds raised will help cover the costs of travel, research supplies, and student summer housing. It will also help us create educational materials and make our work a reality. In addition, we are partnering with the Endometriosis Foundation of America, the largest endo foundation in the US, to support all of the great advocacy work they provide. Our goal is to contribute 15% of donations to the Foundation to help the work they are doing to support women with endometriosis! Thank you for your generous donations.

 
Contact or follow us!

Email: uofr.igem@gmail.com
Instagram: @ur.igem.2020
Facebook page: University of Rochester iGEM 2020
Twitter: @ur_igem
Wiki: https://2020.igem.org/Team:Rochester#