We’re almost there! Mark2Cure now at 80% completion of the Beta Experiment

by ginger

Because of the amazing ways in which our Mark2Curators have contributed, we’re now approaching the end of the beta experiment. Since our last post on Tuesday, we’ve gone from 56% completion to ~80% completion of the beta experiment. THANK YOU, Mark2Curators, please continue to contribute and help us finish it!



We’re almost there! Help us finish this!

After demonstrating that citizen scientists have what it takes to get the work done, our next step will be to demonstrate that the work done by Mark2Curators can be incredibly valuable to the research community. In this next phase, we expect to tackle NGLY1 and sincerely hope that you will help researchers answer questions about this rare genetic disease. Learn more about NGLY1 here.

The NGLY1 community has been very active in Mark2Cure. Matthew and Cristina Might have been working hard over the years to find cure for their son (and the first patient diagnosed with this disease), Bertrand. You can read more about their incredible story here and here. Matthew and other researchers studying NGLY1 have provided us with questions they think can be answered by the work of Mark2Curators like yourself. Cristina has helped a lot to recruit contributors and introduced Mark2Cure to contacts at the Missouri Military Academy (Team MMA, you guys rock!)

Once the beta experiment ends, our email updates may be less frequent in order to avoid annoying anyone. For those who are interested in keeping up with the newest developments in Mark2Cure, please visit this blog which we will continue to update on a weekly basis. We will post the results of our beta experiment here as soon as they’re available.

Check out Andrew’s interview on with Daniel Levine on RARECast!

Curious about who contributes to Mark2Cure? Here is just a small sample of our awesome contributors:

Kathy: an artist who strives to arrange visual elements as a poet arranges words, and attempts to capture an ethereal and serenely quiet aesthetic. She uses her work to question and challenge the viewer in ways of seeing and thinking. (See her beautiful work here.)

After reading the San Diego Union Tribune article, Kathy> “wondered if I could help in some way. After taking the simple basic training I signed up. I’ve thoroughly enjoy reading the articles and highlighting the proper text and find the articles interesting too.

It’s fascinating to me that four young Scripps scientists had the vision and fortitude, but most of all the dedication to start Mark2Cure. [The team] has been a great help in answering my questions via email and always positive in making me feel that my questions make a difference.”

(Thanks, Kathy, for sending us some great suggestions!)

Special thanks, Matteo and HashisNme, for all your twitter support!

I just completed Quest 76 in #Mark2Cure. Join me & help researchers find cures FASTER. If #youcanreadyoucanhelp http://t.co/Zs6Htbq53w

— Matteo Vinci (@matteovinci) February 12, 2015

I just completed Quest 60 in #Mark2Cure. Join me & help researchers find cures FASTER. If you can read, you can help http://t.co/r8LFWRItU0

— Hashis & Me (@hashisNme) February 11, 2015

Thanks for your amazing contributions, Jeff, Matt, Beth, Shauna, and Manabu!

I just completed Quest 94 in #Mark2Cure. Join me & help researchers find cures FASTER. If you can read, you can help http://t.co/eglckIgYa6

— Jeff Kiefer (@jeffk8900) February 12, 2015

I just completed Quest 38 in #Mark2Cure. Join me & help researchers find cures FASTER. If you can read, you can help http://t.co/Cg7cPUOSz4

— Matt Russell (@mattrussell_PhD) February 9, 2015

I just completed Quest 37 in #Mark2Cure. Join me & help researchers find cures FASTER. If you can read, you can help http://t.co/vwAofzC2tg

— Beth Nanis (@BethNanis) February 6, 2015

I just completed Quest 1 in #Mark2Cure. Join me & help researchers find cures FASTER. If you can read, you can help http://t.co/6Os4PrYFsv

— Shauna Bennett (@ShaunaMBennett) February 6, 2015

I just completed Quest 1 in #Mark2Cure. http://t.co/e28031DTW3

— Manabu Torii (@manabu_torii) February 5, 2015

Welcome to the team, R Lynn and Kerstin

I just completed Quest 1 in #Mark2Cure. Join me & help researchers find cures FASTER. If you can read, you can help http://t.co/VZ9qyZAcPP

— R Lynn Davison (@cajungypsy1971) February 12, 2015

I just completed Quest 1 in #Mark2Cure. Join me & help researchers find cures FASTER. If you can read, you can help http://t.co/piNsFtRQeh

— Kerstin Forsberg (@kerfors) February 12, 2015