23andMe is built on science — both the genetic science behind the health and ancestry reports we provide to our customers, as well as the cutting edge science that is part of our research.
To ensure that our customers can easily see how their contributions are making a difference, 23andMe has added a new Research Overview page, which will roll out to customers over the next few weeks. On the page, customers can see in one place the latest surveys, new studies and data on how customers are participating in research.
More than 80 percent of 23andMe’s customers choose to participate in research, and their contributions have helped studies looking at the genetics of Parkinson’s disease, lupus, asthma and more.
Customers will also see highlights on the latest papers in which aggregated data from 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research helped make a difference. Since our first paper in 2010 we’ve published more than 100 papers including recent breakthrough research on educational attainment and psychiatric disorders. Customers will also find links to surveys, research related videos, and answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about how we do science and what participating means.
Navigating from this page, customers can easily find and change their consent, if they choose. Customers typically decide whether to opt-in to participate in research when they first set up their account, but they can change their consent at any time without it impact their experience. A customer can also go to surveys they’ve completed to edit or change previous answers they’ve provided. They can view all 23andMe’s surveys, and see the research questions they yet to answer.
23andMe’s mission has always been to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome. Our science and research are integral to that work, and we want to ensure that we share what we do and how our customers’ contributions are making a difference.