By Janie Shelton, PhD, MPH
Are you confused about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? You’re not alone. <a href="https://pcosawarenessmonth.org/about-pcos-awareness-month/">September is PCOS awareness month</a> and it’s a great time to learn more about this condition. Let’s dive in.
<h6>About PCOS<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-26788 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/PCOS-Image-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/PCOS-Image-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/PCOS-Image-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/PCOS-Image-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/PCOS-Image-880x587.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/PCOS-Image-1180x787.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/PCOS-Image.jpg 1253w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></h6>
Many women live with PCOS for a very long time and don’t know it.<a id="f1" href="#a1">[1]</a> Occurring in an estimated <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/pcos.html#:~:text=PCOS%20is%20one%20of%20the,beyond%20the%20child%2Dbearing%20years.">6-12 percent of females of reproductive age</a>, it is common to only get the diagnosis after experiencing infertility or unexplained missed or absent periods.<a id="f2" href="#a2">[2]</a> Currently, there are no common proactive screenings to help identify this issue early on.&nbsp;
Symptoms of PCOS include irregular or absent periods, weight gain, excessive body or facial hair, acne, and male-pattern hair loss. People with PCOS are at an elevated risk for infertility and pregnancy related complications along with other conditions including type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, and heart disease. Polycystic ovaries — cysts within the ovaries —are sometimes spotted through a transvaginal ultrasound, but not always. Because polycystic ovaries are observed in people without PCOS, this observation alone does not lead to a diagnosis.
While the general clinical features of PCOS include all of the above, specific diagnostic criteria are hard to nail down. Generally, healthcare providers are seeking evidence of two out of the three features to make the diagnosis:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Irregular or missed periods</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Elevated androgen hormones (including testosterone)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Polycystic ovaries</li>
</ul>
To further confuse things, the presence of the physical manifestations, in particular excess body hair, has substantial variation by ancestral group. In particular, Asian women with PCOS often do not present with excess facial hair,<a id="f3" href="#a3">[3]</a> potentially reducing suspicion of this condition during clinical exams.
<h6>What causes PCOS?</h6>
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, however we know heritability may account for as much as 70% of the development of the disorder.<a id="f4" href="#a4">[4]</a> High risk groups include those with a first-degree biological relative (for example a mother or sister) with the condition. There is some evidence ancestries such as Mexican American<a id="f5" href="#a5">[5]</a> and Aboriginal Australians<a id="f6" href="#a6">[6]</a> have a higher risk compared to other populations, but due to a lack of proactive screening the true prevalence is unknown around the world. Finally, a common anti-seizure medication (valproate) has also been associated with inducing PCOS.<a id="f7" href="#a7">[7]</a>
<h6>How can I get tested?</h6>
If you suspect you may have PCOS or have a family history of PCOS, your OB/GYN can carry out an exam to detail your health history. They might carry out a transvaginal ultrasound, and order a series of blood tests, including hormone screening as described <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353443">here</a> by the Mayo Clinic. In addition to the lab results, other features of PCOS as mentioned above are needed to confirm a diagnosis.
<h6>What can I do if I have it?</h6>
A healthy lifestyle can help mitigate some of the health risks associated with PCOS. For example, maintaining a healthy weight through diet and regular exercise will help reduce the risk of insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Hormonal birth control options may help manage symptoms and regulate menstrual cycles. For those who know they want to have children, proactively discussing fertility and family planning options with a healthcare provider is important.&nbsp;
<h6>The 23andMe+ Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Report (Powered by 23andMe Research)</h6>
Our report is powered by data from people who have consented to participate in 23andMe research and uses machine learning techniques to estimate an individual’s likelihood of developing PCOS.
This estimate is made using a statistical model that includes more than 1,300 genetic markers and information on an individual’s ethnicity and birth sex. In this<a href="https://permalinks.23andme.com/pdf/23_21-PRSMethodologyAppendix_2021.pdf"> white paper</a>, you can learn more about the science and methodology behind our report.
<h6>Learn More</h6>
23andMe’s Polycystic Ovary Syndrome report (Powered by 23andMe Research) is available to all 23andMe+ members who report their birth sex as female. To view your report, go<a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/prs.polycystic_ovary_syndrome/"> here</a>.
Not a 23andMe+ member? To become a 23andMe+ member, or to find out more go<a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/"> here</a>.
<hr>
<h6 class="footnotes">References:</h6>
<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"> 
</code><code style="display: none;"> </code> 
<a id="f1" href="#a1">[1]</a> Gibson-Helm ME, Lucas IM, Boyle JA, Teede HJ. (2014). &#8220;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24925927/">Women&#8217;s experiences of polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis</a> &#8221; Fam Pract. 2014 Oct;31(5)</footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"></code> <a id="f2" href="#a2">[2]</a> Gibson-Helm M, Teede H, Dunaif A, Dokras A. (2017). &#8220;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27906550/">Delayed Diagnosis and a Lack of Information Associated With Dissatisfaction in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome</a>&#8221; J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Feb 1;102(2)</footer>
<footer class="footnotes"></footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"> </code> 
<a id="f3" href="#a3">[3]</a> Gibson-Helm ME, Lucas IM, Boyle JA, Teede HJ.(2014). &#8221; <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24925927/">Women&#8217;s experiences of polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis</a>” Fam Pract. 2014 Oct;31(5)</footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"> </code></footer>
<a id="f4" href="#a4">[4]</a> Mykhalchenko K, et al (2017) &#8220;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28602111/#:~:text=PCOS%20is%20a%20complex%20genetic,the%20development%20of%20the%20disorder.">Genetics of polycystic ovary syndrome</a>&#8221; &nbsp;Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2017 Jul;17(7)
<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"> </code> 
<a id="f5" href="#a5">[5]</a> Engmann L, et al. (2017). &#8220;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5420474/">Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Metabolic Phenotype</a>&#8221; Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 May;216(5)</footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"> </code><a id="f6" href="#a6">[6]</a> Boyle JA et al. (2015). &#8220;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26387977/">Polycystic ovary syndrome and metabolic syndrome in Indigenous Australian women</a>&#8221; Intern Med J. 2015 Dec;45(12)&nbsp;</footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><a id="f7" href="#a7">[7]</a> Bilo L et al. (2008). &#8220;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19012099/">Polycystic ovary syndrome in women using valproate: a review</a>&#8221; Gynecol Endocrinol. 2008 Oct;24(10)
</footer>
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23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and How Do I Know if I Have It? 

September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, so we wanted to share a bit about our efforts to bridge the knowledge gap about the condition through a collaboration with Dr. Lametra Scott and the non-profit<a href="https://www.btsscycle.org/"> Breaking the SSickle Cell Cycle</a> Foundation (BTSSCC).

Over the last few months, <a href="https://www.btsscycle.org/founder.html">Dr. Scott,</a> CEO, and co-founder of BTSSCC, has worked with 23andMe as part of a sickle cell awareness campaign to increase access to sickle cell trait information, promote sickle cell disease awareness, and offer resources for individuals with sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease (SCD). Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited blood disorders. Similar to the sickle cell trait, sickle cell disease disproportionately affects, among other groups, people with African ancestry.
The sickle cell awareness campaign offers an opportunity for individuals to learn more about their ancestral heritage and access 65+&nbsp;

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="475" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Lametra-Scott.png" alt="" class="wp-image-30309" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Lametra-Scott.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Lametra-Scott-300x278.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
health reports and features, including additional reports&nbsp;on conditions that disproportionately affect people of African ancestry, such as APOL1-related chronic kidney disease and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.*

Many people don’t know that sickle cell disease is an inherited condition caused by variants in the HBB gene. People who carry one copy of the HbS variant in the HBB gene have sickle cell trait. People with sickle cell trait don&#8217;t typically experience any symptoms unless under extreme conditions. However, their children could be at risk of inheriting sickle cell disease if their partner also carries a variant in the HBB gene. In particular, if both parents have the HbS variant, the children are at risk of inheriting the form of sickle cell disease known as sickle cell anemia. 
23andMe, which offers a <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/carrier/sickle-cell-anemia/">Sickle Cell Anemia Carrier Status Report</a>*, is uniquely positioned to help individuals learn more about their carrier status through the report.&nbsp; In addition, the report offers opportunities to learn more about the potential risks of sickle cell anemia. 23andMe is collaborating with BTSSCC on a Sickle Cell Carrier Status Awareness Program that offers free 23andMe Health + Ancestry kits to participants and provides education and counseling services for those interested through BTSSCC. Program participants may consent to participate in 23andMe’s Research program, but this is not required for the program. In related work, the team is collaborating with researchers at the NHGRI and Johns Hopkins University to study sickle cell trait and potentially associated conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Worldwide about 300 million people have sickle cell trait. About one in 13 Black or African American babies is born with sickle cell trait in the US alone, and about one in every 365 is born with sickle cell disease.&nbsp;
Although there are<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02138-w"> promising developments</a> in gene therapy to cure sickle cell disease and new treatment medications, the disease still plagues about 100,000 Americans. The condition is associated with increased stroke risk and often leads to debilitating pain and organ failure. Knowing whether you have sickle cell trait is important for anyone planning to have children.
This is personal for Dr. Scott, who learned she was a carrier only after becoming pregnant with her son Rickey. A pharmacist who studied biology at the University of Memphis and then received her doctor of pharmacy degree at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Dr. Scott said the challenge wasn’t just the lack of screening or information from doctors during her pregnancy, but the lack of training in general for people in the medical profession that prompted her to take action.
She founded BTSSCC in 2015 after Rickey’s birth. She’d learned she was a carrier about 15 weeks into the pregnancy. After her son’s birth, Dr. Scott was told Rickey was only a carrier. But that was wrong. It turned out Rickey had sickle cell anemia. The combination of the lack of information, along with the lack of training and inconsistent treatment, prompted Dr. Scott to create BTSSCC. The focus of the non-profit is to bridge the SCD&nbsp; knowledge gap and to encourage people at risk to get tested for sickle cell trait and have conversations with their families and healthcare providers.
Dr. Scott recently sat down with us and talked about her work and some common misunderstandings about sickle cell disease. Below is some of that conversation edited and condensed in places in the interest of brevity.

<h6>You didn’t learn that you were a carrier until you became pregnant. Do you think that’s a common experience?</h6>
Yes, very much so. It’s all rooted in the fact that many people don’t know their status. They don’t know whether they are carriers of the sickle cell trait until they have a child. That’s pretty much when they find out. Even though all 50 states now include sickle cell in the newborn screening panel.
That wasn’t always standard. New York was the first state to implement newborn screening for sickle cell disease in 1975; by 2006, universal newborn screening for sickle cell disease was in place across all 50 states.
The issue is that even when a baby tests positive for the trait, it’s up to the individual state health departments to follow up with those families. There isn’t always good follow through on that, and then often a child or their family forgets about (the significance of being a carrier), and the cycle can begin again when they have children.
Testing and screening often don’t happen until someone is pregnant. I found out only after I was 15 weeks pregnant, and I had my son in my mid-30s.
<h6>A lot of your work is around simply educating people about the condition. What are some of the questions you hear the most from people wanting to learn more?</h6>
We’re doing outreach on a lot of topics, including making sure people understand that sickle cell is relevant not just to African Americans but people of all ethnic groups, particularly groups with roots in geographies where malaria is endemic. So, that includes the Middle East, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Central, and South America, and South Asia.
The sickle cell trait was an evolutionary adaptation that helped people survive malaria, but it becomes detrimental when two people with the trait have a child, and that child develops sickle cell disease. Part of educating people is dispelling myths, because those myths filter into the healthcare system. A non-African American with sickle cell disease or caregiver to a child with symptoms might show up in an emergency room with symptoms, but because they are not African American, it’s assumed they wouldn’t have sickle cell disease and are often denied appropriate care.
We also get a lot of questions from people with sickle cell disease who need help navigating the system. There are not a lot of medical professionals who are knowledgeable about sickle cell disease or the sickle cell trait. So some of our most common discussions aren’t questions, but patients who’re frustrated that they’re not getting the care they need. This is because medical professionals may not understand sickle cell disease. We have people who go to the emergency room in excruciating pain who might wait 10 to 12 hours and aren’t triaged quickly. Or once they get in to see someone, instead of being given a narcotic or opioid to treat their pain, they’re labeled as a “drug seeker.”
<h6>Why is there this big gap in understanding?</h6>
Some of it is the lack of training. In the ten years of medical education, you might get 15 minutes focused on sickle cell unless you specialize in hematology.&nbsp; And then there’s the issue of money or lack of money associated with research funding sickle cell disease treatments.
But I think you can’t talk about any of that without addressing racial issues and healthcare disparities that impact the African American and minority communities.&nbsp;
<h6>You have personal experience with being a carrier and caring for someone with sickle cell disease. How difficult was it to find a clinician specializing in treating sickle cell?</h6>
Well, that’s a loaded question. It depends on where you live. Luckily for me, there is a center for excellence (a clinic specializing in treating sickle cell) nearby.&nbsp;
For me, it wasn’t hard to find care for our son, but for someone in a rural area, it can be very challenging. There are not a lot of specialists in those areas or providers who are knowledgeable about sickle cell.
(Editor’s note:&nbsp; There are about<a href="https://sicklecellcenters.org/member_centers"> 50 centers that treat sickle cell across the country</a>. About two dozen facilities treat adult sickle cell patients, about 20 that treat pediatric sickle cell patients, and just 16 that do whole-life care for sickle cell patients. For comparison there are 130 treatment centers for cystic fibrosis, a rare disease that mostly impacts people of European descent with about half as many people as sickle cell disease. )
<h6>What are some programs you and BTSSCC have supported to increase the number of healthcare professionals with expertise in sickle cell disease?</h6>
So in that regard, we’ve started working with pharmacists. We chose to work with them first because they provide healthcare to all patients, and there are retail pharmacies in every community. In addition, patients depend on pharmacists for medication to manage their disease state. They have the opportunity to develop relationships with those patients and be their advocates. If a patient is going to the pharmacy more frequently or experiencing more episodes, they may need adjustments to their medication, and the pharmacists can pick up the phone and speak with their doctor about the concerns and be their advocate.
<h6>There are some promising treatments for sickle cell disease, particularly new types of gene therapy. What is most exciting to you about these recent breakthroughs?</h6>
The biggest thing is that since 2017 there are now three new medications used to treat sickle cell. This is phenomenal, but the downside of these medications is that they’re very, very expensive — $70,000 to $100,000 a month. Even though they do well to help manage the disease state, decrease pain episodes and help to prevent organ damage, which means fewer trips to the ER and thus less cost to the healthcare system; patients often encounter barriers from insurance to pay for this medication.
Before 2017, there was just one therapeutic option for treatment; hydroxyurea, which was FDA approved for treating adults with sickle cell disease in 1998 and children in 2017. It was first developed as an anticancer drug and has been used to treat myeloproliferative syndromes-leukemia, melanoma, and ovarian cancer. Its main benefit is to essentially increase hemoglobin F, which in turn helps make red blood cells bigger and less prone to sickling. It&#8217;s done wonders and prolonged people’s lives, but it’s not a cure-all. It doesn’t treat acute pain episodes, and it doesn’t work well with all genotypes. If a person didn&#8217;t respond to it, they were previously left with narcotics for pain or blood transfusions.
But since 2017, three new medications have become available: L-glutamine, voxelotor, and crizanlizumab. They are each disease-modifying drugs, and they’ve advanced care for those with sickle cell by leaps and bounds from where it was 30 years ago.
Beyond that, gene therapy is very promising. If it works like we think it will based on clinical trials, it will be a game changer.
<h6>Talk a bit about the collaboration with 23andMe. Part of the motivation for 23andMe’s Sickle Cell Carrier Status Awareness Program is to increase awareness by giving participants access to their sickle cell carrier status information. Why is that so important from your point of view?</h6>
I see this as an opportunity to remove a barrier to screening. Typically, young adults don’t get tested, but if you can target people in the family planning years between the age of 18 and 45, there’s more of a chance to know if you are a carrier before you decide to have children. It’s best to have that information before one begins the family planning process so you are not blindsided and you have options.
<h6>Participants in this program can also participate in research, but can you discuss the importance of having more diversity in genetic research, particularly around sickle cell disease?</h6>
Yes, it is important and when I talk to patients, they want to have the option to choose whether or not to participate in research. They like the idea of learning more about their carrier status for the sickle cell trait, and they like having access to 23andMe’s other health reports. But when you look at the history of African Americans and other minorities and clinical research, it&#8217;s a touchy subject. They don’t want to feel lied to or manipulated. It’s not that they don’t want to participate but they want the autonomy to choose to participate or opt out the entire way through the process and know that they have a voice in what happens with their information. And that’s what 23andMe does.
[vc_separator]
**The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults for the purpose of reporting carrier status and reporting and interpreting genetic health risks. The relevance of each report may vary based on ethnicity. Our carrier status reports can be used to determine carrier status, but cannot determine if you have two copies of any genetic variant. These carrier reports are not intended to tell you anything about your risk for developing a disease in the future or anything about the health of your fetus, or your newborn child’s risk of developing a particular disease later in life. For certain conditions, we provide a single report that includes information on both carrier status and genetic health risk. For important information and limitations regarding other genetic health risk reports and carrier status reports, click <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/">here</a>.

Personal Experience Motivates Dr. Lametra Scott’s Work to Raise Awareness of Sickle Cell

A <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-18703-w">new study</a> found that the genetic variants that underlie the ability to move to the beat of music also predict other measures of musicality, including one’s ability to follow a melody, distinguish pitch or rhythm, or even the amount of time practice singing or playing an instrument.&nbsp;
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Empirical Aesthetics and 23andMe used results from a recent<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/we-got-the-beat/"> genome-wide association study</a> (GWAS) on beat synchronization to estimate an individual’s genetic musical propensity using a polygenic score (PGS) approach in a large sample of 5,648 Swedish twins.&nbsp;
In addition to providing their genetic information, the twins were asked to complete various music questionnaires and music-related tasks.&nbsp;
Control phenotypes included non-musical traits and achievements like general intelligence, sports practice, and global and work-related flow experiences.&nbsp;
<h6>Genes and Environment Working Together&nbsp;</h6>
The team found that the PGS of self-reported beat synchronization ability (referred to in the study as PGSrhythm) was able to predict overall musicality – including musical skills as well as a tendency to enjoy and engage in musical behavior – but had no impact on the control phenotypes that were not directly related to music.
They also identified a relationship between a musically enriched childhood environment and an individual’s PGSrhythm, suggesting a correlation between genes and environment. This means that an individual&#8217;s environmental exposure (for example, whether they will take music classes) can depend on their genetic predisposition to music.
Beyond furthering the understanding of musicality’s genetic architecture, this work has far-reaching implications for the validity of using a polygenic score approach in future genetic research and shows that even a minimal phenotype used in the discovery GWAS can be a relatively good indicator of broader musicality.&nbsp;
Find out more <a href="https://www.vumc.org/music-cognition-lab/news/faq-about-beat-synchronization-gwas-study">here</a>.&nbsp;

What the Polygenic Basis of Rhythm Can Tell Us About Musical Traits

A new study by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health confirms<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/anxiety-depression-long-covid/"> findings from 23andMe</a> that depression and anxiety dramatically increase the likelihood of experiencing long COVID.
Published online in JAMA Psychiatry earlier this month, the<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2796097"> study</a> found that psychological distress in the form of depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness were more predictive than many physical risk factors like obesity, asthma, and hypertension, said Siwen Wang, the researcher in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School who led the study.
“We were surprised by how strongly psychological distress before a COVID-19 infection was associated with an increased risk of long COVID,”<a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/psychological-distress-before-covid-19-infection-increases-risk-of-long-covid/"> Siwen said.</a>
<h2>Psychological Stress Increases Risk of COVID</h2>
The team’s findings showed that psychological stress contributed to a one-and-a-half-fold increase in the risk for long COVID. 23andMe’s results showed a two-fold increase. But the differences in the two studies may be explained by how the studies defined long COVID. 23andMe looked at data from individuals with a formal diagnosis of long COVID. The Harvard study didn&#8217;t just look those with a diagnosis but with COVID symptoms lasting four weeks or longer. But when applying similar criteria to the 23andMe data, our researchers also saw a one-and-a-half-fold increased risk of developing long COVID.
The Harvard study examined data from 54,000 individuals over a 19-month  period. About 3,200 of participants in the study contracted COVID. The 23andMe study included data from more than 100,000 individuals who reported contracting COVID-19. Of those, more than 26,000 reported that they had experienced long COVID. Over 7,000 of participants said they’d been diagnosed with it. Even after a year, more than 10 percent of those in 23andMe’s study  continued to have symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, and shortness of breath. It’s important to note that long COVID refers to individuals with symptoms that linger weeks, months, or longer after a COVID-19 infection.
<h2>23andMe Long COVID Findings</h2>
Data from 23andMe’s as-yet unpublished study<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/anxiety-depression-long-covid/"> first appeared on our blog. </a>It is part of<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/tag/covid-19/"> a series of studies</a> being conducted by 23andMe scientists since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
Among the areas of study is research on<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/23andme-covid-study-published/"> the role blood type plays</a> in severity and susceptibility to the virus. Our researchers have also drawn new insights into the genetics that influence<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/reaction-to-covid-vaccine/"> different reactions</a> to COVID-19 vaccines. Earlier this year, 23andMe published a study in<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-021-00986-w"> Nature Genetics</a> that identified genetic variants associated with the loss of smell or taste due to COVID-19. That paper offers more detail on the study, which identified variants near two olfactory genes — UGT2A1 and UGT2A2.
The Harvard study and the preliminary 23andMe data offer more insight into the perplexing nature of long COVID. But the studies also offer another illustration of the broader health impacts of these kinds of psychological stressors.   
Find the full Harvard study<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2796097"> here</a>.

A logo for 23andMe's COVID-19 Research Study

More on Psychological Distress and Risk for Long COVID

Say Hey to Our 2022 Interns

Summer’s not over yet, and neither is our welcome to interns.&nbsp;
We introduced you to our first batch of <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/2022-interns">summer interns last month</a>. This month we’re welcoming the next group of interns who’ll be joining us this summer.
If you want to learn more about our intern program, check out the <a href="https://www.23andme.com/careers/">23andMe Careers page.</a> We’ll be posting more details about the program in the fall when we begin recruiting for the next class of interns.&nbsp;
&nbsp;If you still have questions, email internships@23andme.com.&nbsp;

<h6>James Stumpff</h6>
Immuno-oncology Intern, Therapeutics<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29928" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/James-Stumpf-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/James-Stumpf-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/James-Stumpf-271x271.jpg 271w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
James is a doctoral candidate for Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Riverside. He’s researching host responses to influenza infection, looking at differences in immune cell responses in mild and severe cases. His hope is to create new host-targeted therapeutics. James wants to also leverage his background in immunology to help in the development of new cancer therapies. This summer he’ll be using his skills and interest during his time with the Immuno-Oncology Group in Therapeutics.

<h6>Paige Pistono</h6>
Antibody &amp; Protein Engineering Intern, Therapeutics<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29927" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/paige-pistono-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/paige-pistono-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/paige-pistono-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/paige-pistono-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/paige-pistono-574x574.png 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/paige-pistono-980x980.png 980w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
Paige is a doctoral student in Chemical Biology at UC Berkeley. Her focus is on using protein engineering techniques to improve virus-like particles for drug delivery applications. This summer she’ll be working with the Antibody and Protein Engineering Group in Therapeutics researching new antibody therapies.

<h6>Chris Mansfield</h6>
Antibody &amp; Protein Engineering Intern, Therapeutics<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29926" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Chris-Mansfield-e1657579827153-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Chris-Mansfield-e1657579827153-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Chris-Mansfield-e1657579827153-300x298.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Chris-Mansfield-e1657579827153-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Chris-Mansfield-e1657579827153-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Chris-Mansfield-e1657579827153.jpg 557w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
Chris is working toward a graduate degree in molecular biology. His research focuses on validating druggable targets and novel inhibitors that could be used to develop therapeutics for drug-resistant malaria. At 23andMe, he’ll be interning with the Antibody and Protein Engineering group.&nbsp;

<h6>Cam Lamoureux</h6>
Computational Biology Intern, Therapeutics<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29925" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cam-Lamoureux-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cam-Lamoureux-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cam-Lamoureux-300x297.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cam-Lamoureux-768x761.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cam-Lamoureux-1024x1015.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cam-Lamoureux-880x872.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cam-Lamoureux-1180x1170.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cam-Lamoureux-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cam-Lamoureux-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cam-Lamoureux-574x574.jpg 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cam-Lamoureux-980x980.jpg 980w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cam-Lamoureux.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
Cam loves using cutting-edge machine learning and bioinformatics methods to extract knowledge from genome sequences. For his internship, he’ll be working with the Therapeutics team to leverage genomic data for identification of novel therapeutic targets.

<h6>Rickie Chen</h6>
Platform Design Intern, Product<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29924" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Rickie_Chen_Headshot-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Rickie_Chen_Headshot-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Rickie_Chen_Headshot-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Rickie_Chen_Headshot-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Rickie_Chen_Headshot-574x574.png 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Rickie_Chen_Headshot-980x980.png 980w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
Rickie is interested in crafting efficient and innovative product designs for the healthcare space. He will be joining the Product Design team this summer as a Platform Design Intern and will be contributing to the design system and exploring product strategy at 23andMe.

<h6>Jinrong Ma</h6>
Antibody &amp; Protein Engineering Intern, Therapeutics<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29923" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Headshot_Jinrong-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Headshot_Jinrong-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Headshot_Jinrong-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Headshot_Jinrong-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Headshot_Jinrong-574x574.jpg 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Headshot_Jinrong-980x980.jpg 980w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
Jinrong has been working on protein engineering to develop supramolecular nanostructures and safer therapeutics biomaterials. He’ll join the Protein Engineering Group in Therapeutics this summer working on the development of novel antibodies.

<h6>Elijah Gray</h6>
Communications Intern, Communications<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29922" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Elijah-Gray-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Elijah-Gray-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Elijah-Gray-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Elijah-Gray-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Elijah-Gray-574x574.png 574w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
Elijah has been writing and telling stories online since the minute he could pick up a keyboard. He’ll be applying those skills as an internal and external Communications team intern.

<h6>Sasha Yousefi</h6>
R&amp;D Scientist Intern, Product<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29921" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sasha-Yousefi-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sasha-Yousefi-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sasha-Yousefi-271x271.jpeg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sasha-Yousefi-372x372.jpeg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sasha-Yousefi-574x574.jpeg 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sasha-Yousefi-980x980.jpeg 980w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
Sasha is working on her master’s degree in data science at Stanford University. She’ll be applying her skills on research and development with the product team to help build new predictive machine learning models.&nbsp;

<h6>Sneha Ganguly</h6>
Immunology Intern, Therapeutics<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29920" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sneha-Ganguly-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sneha-Ganguly-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sneha-Ganguly-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sneha-Ganguly-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sneha-Ganguly-574x574.png 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sneha-Ganguly-980x980.png 980w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
Sneha spent five years at UC San Diego studying the association between respiratory allergies and DNA damage in lung cancer. She’ll be interning with the Therapeutics team developing immunology therapeutics.

<h6>Sai Preethi Nakkina</h6>
Metabolic &amp; Cardiovascular Target Discovery Intern, Therapeutics<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29919" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sai-Preethi-Nakkina-e1657579687494-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sai-Preethi-Nakkina-e1657579687494-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sai-Preethi-Nakkina-e1657579687494-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sai-Preethi-Nakkina-e1657579687494-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sai-Preethi-Nakkina-e1657579687494-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sai-Preethi-Nakkina-e1657579687494.jpg 554w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
Preethi has already worked in therapeutics research, but will be interning with 23andMe on the team searching for drug targets for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

<h6>Cassandra Nguyen</h6>
Creative Design Intern, Product<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29918" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cassandra-Nguyen-e1657579726210-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cassandra-Nguyen-e1657579726210-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cassandra-Nguyen-e1657579726210-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cassandra-Nguyen-e1657579726210-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cassandra-Nguyen-e1657579726210-574x574.png 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cassandra-Nguyen-e1657579726210-980x980.png 980w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
Cassandra Nguyen is a graphic designer, visual development and lettering artist with a passion for storytelling and audience engagement. She is fresh out of college but already has experience making short-films, and children’s books, receiving awards for her work. She hopes to apply those skills to her time at 23andMe.&nbsp;

Our 2022 Interns Part Two

This week, we released a new 23andMe+ Wellness report on seasonal allergies that is powered by 23andMe Research. 
While the sniffling, sneezing and itchy eyes that come with seasonal allergies are often triggered by pollen from blooming trees and flowers in spring and summer, many of those with seasonal allergies also have symptoms in the fall when levels of allergens from weeds and mold are at their highest.
<h6><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-26180" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze-1024x678.jpg" alt="Boy blowing his nose in a field of flowers." width="1024" height="678" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze-300x198.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze-768x508.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze-880x582.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze-1180x781.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze.jpg 1259w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />A Common Condition</h6>
Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, are relatively common. It is estimated that around <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24522093/">27 percent of people in the U.S.</a> are allergic to grasses, trees, and weeds. Still, the actual percentage of people who develop symptoms of seasonal allergies is less clear. Many who might experience seasonal allergies are not exposed to pollens or allergens that would trigger a reaction, so remain unaware. The condition tends to hit women harder than men. A little over ten percent of males have seasonal allergies. More than 17 percent of women report having the condition, according to 23andMe internal data from customers who consented to participate in research. 
The US states with the least prevalence of seasonal allergies among 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research are Hawaii, New York, California, and Florida. Customers in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Kentucky, were the most likely to report seasonal allergies.
<a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/118/7/e2013284118">A recent study</a> indicated that climate change might worsen the situation for some due to the lengthening of the pollen season in North America. 
Beyond the common symptoms of stuffy noses and itchy eyes, seasonal allergies and their associated symptoms can also lead to other issues such as difficulty sleeping or difficulty concentrating during the day. In addition, individuals with seasonal allergies are more likely to develop asthma or experience difficulty breathing or wheezing.
<h6>A New Report</h6>
Our new report is powered by data from people who have consented to participate in 23andMe research and uses machine learning techniques to estimate an individual’s likelihood of having seasonal allergies to trees, grasses, weeds, and or molds.
This estimate is made using a statistical model that includes more than 6,500 genetic markers and information on an individual’s ethnicity and birth sex. You can learn more about the science and methodology behind our new report in this<a href="https://permalinks.23andme.com/pdf/23_21-PRSMethodologyAppendix_2022.pdf"> white paper.</a> 
<h6>Understanding Seasonal Allergies</h6>
While we know that mold or pollen wafting through the air from budding trees, grasses, and weeds triggers allergic reactions, scientists are still digging deeper to better understand why.
Allergic reactions happen when a hypersensitive immune system mistakes a normally harmless substance for a harmful one. When the immune system detects these so-called allergens, it triggers an immune response meant to protect the body.
Research indicates that<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16083793/"> about half</a> of those living in the U.S. are sensitive to at least one common allergen. That might include pollen, which is seasonal, but also other allergens such as pet dander, dust, and insect bites. While most allergic reactions are mild, some contribute to asthma or eczema and can be very serious and even life-threatening. 
Susceptibility to allergies is in part genetic. One&#8217;s environment also plays an important role in developing allergies. 23andMe scientists and collaborators have identified many genetic variants associated with allergies. We also published studies on the genetic<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-018-0157-1"> pathways for allergic rhinitis. </a> Our scientists have also looked into the genetic associations between<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ng.3985"> allergies, eczema, and asthma</a>, and the age of<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1008725"> onset</a>. That work allows us to understand the underlying causes better and offers researchers potential new targets for treatments. 
<h6>Managing and Treating Seasonal Allergies</h6>
Limiting exposure to allergens — wearing masks while working outside or staying indoors when the pollen count is highest — could reduce the chance of triggering allergy symptoms. In addition, there are also many over-the-counter and prescription treatments for allergies. 
Antihistamines or nasal sprays can treat symptoms, and nasal irrigation to wash out allergens can help alleviate symptoms. Those treatments combined with lifestyle changes to limit exposure also help. Beyond using air filters and staying indoors when pollen is highest, more frequent cleaning of household surfaces, clothing, and sheets can also help.
<h6>Learn More</h6>
23andMe’s new Seasonal Allergies report (powered by 23andMe Research) is available to 23andMe+ members. To view your report, go<a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/prs.seasonal_allergies/"> here</a>.
Not a customer?
Find out more<a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/"> here.</a>

New 23andMe+ Report on Seasonal Allergies

Here’s Noura Abul-Husn’s recipe for a meaningful career in genomics: Start with curiosity, add adaptability, sprinkle in a willingness to pursue a non-traditional path, and don’t forget to include the most critical ingredient of all – passion.



Following this recipe brought Noura, MD, PhD, to 23andMe, where she recently assumed the role of Vice President of Genomic Health.



Noura spoke with us about her plans to bring genomic medicine into clinical care and her commitment to “keeping people as healthy as possible for as long as possible.”



The following is an edited excerpt of our conversation.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="522" height="639" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Noura-Headshot-crop.png" alt="" class="wp-image-30267" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Noura-Headshot-crop.png 522w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Noura-Headshot-crop-245x300.png 245w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 522px) 100vw, 522px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Noura Abul-Husn, MD, PhD</figcaption></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-inspired-you-to-pursue-a-career-in-genetics-and-genomics">What inspired you to pursue a career in genetics and genomics?</h6>



I initially wanted to do biomedical research. I was always intrigued by science, which was my driving force.



I knew I wanted to get a PhD., but I also needed a strong clinical background to inform the type of research I wanted to do and make it as meaningful as possible to human health.



I initially did an MD-PhD program with the intention of being a scientist, and somewhere along the way, I realized I liked the patient care side of things too.



So, I ended up doing a dual residency in internal medicine and medical genetics. I loved internal medicine because you have to know a little about most diseases that touch adult patients, and I liked the broad scope of understanding human health and disease.



Medical genetics is very different. The way you train for it is you learn about rare diseases that mostly impact pediatric patients. But I was drawn to the specialty because we were starting to understand that genomics touches every aspect of disease in people at every stage of their life.



I felt that a combination of general adult medicine combined with a strong genetics background put me in the position to understand­ the potential of genomic medicine.



I’ve always been excited about genomics because it’s cutting-edge medicine, and it’s constantly changing. As a result, you have to learn and evolve and think about new ways to innovate.



I also think genomics is central to the future of healthcare, and that future is now. The healthcare industry can leverage the vast amounts of data generated through genomics to keep people as healthy as possible for as long as possible. And though that isn’t happening to the extent that it could be, I think 23andMe is poised to make a real impact.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-you-focused-on-at-23andme">What are you focused on at 23andMe?</h6>



I’m the Vice President of Genomic Health, which is a new position. I’m focused on bringing the 23andMe genetics product into clinical care. I’m thinking about how genetic information can contribute to keeping people healthy, preventing and diagnosing disease, and managing genetic conditions or genetic risks.



I’ll be working closely with the product team and others to execute this new vision and strategy.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-accomplishments-are-you-most-proud-of">What accomplishments are you most proud of?</h6>



My biggest personal accomplishment? I had twins! My first instinct when I learned I was having twins was to worry that I would have to stop working and give up on building a career and becoming a leader in this space.



But I persevered, and here we are! (My twins are five now, and they have an older sister – I don’t want to leave her out).&nbsp; I think that was a turning point for me. I had to ask myself, “do I want to continue to work this hard and try to figure things out with an unexpectedly large and growing family?”



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1181" height="1574" data-id="30266" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/4-At-Work.jpg" alt="Noura at work" class="wp-image-30266" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/4-At-Work.jpg 1181w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/4-At-Work-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/4-At-Work-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/4-At-Work-660x880.jpg 660w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/4-At-Work-885x1180.jpg 885w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1181px) 100vw, 1181px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Noura and her oldest daughter hard at work</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1158" height="1544" data-id="30265" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/5-Mont-Royal-rotated.jpg" alt="Noura and family" class="wp-image-30265" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/5-Mont-Royal-rotated.jpg 1158w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/5-Mont-Royal-rotated-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/5-Mont-Royal-rotated-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/5-Mont-Royal-rotated-660x880.jpg 660w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/5-Mont-Royal-rotated-885x1180.jpg 885w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1158px) 100vw, 1158px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Noura with her family in Montreal</figcaption></figure>
</figure>



Professionally, I took a very non-traditional path as an MD-PhD physician-scientist. First, I started in academia and went to industry for a couple of years. Then I returned to academia, and now I’m back in industry at 23andMe.



In my prior role at Mount Sinai, where I was for four years, I had an opportunity to build something from scratch that I am very proud of. I started a new Division of Genomic Medicine – one of the only divisions of its kind – which had its own Genomic Health Clinic and a unique genomics training program for residents.



We also developed a research program at Mount Sinai focused on expanding the reach of genomic medicine to diverse and underserved populations. I ended up doing many things that may seem different and disparate from each other. Still, they all led towards the same end goal of bringing genomic medicine into clinical care in the most equitable way possible.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-differentiates-the-work-23andme-is-doing-from-other-organizations">What differentiates the work 23andMe is doing from other organizations?</h6>



23andMe has always put the consumer – the person – first. They’ve always thought about how to serve a person best and look at that person as an individual using genetic information.



I think that’s extremely powerful. It’s a unique approach to genomic medicine and a unique approach to medicine generally. We practice medicine today based on science that puts people together into cohorts or groups and figures out what medication or management strategy works for most people in that group.



Over the last few decades, we have learned that this one-size-fits-all model doesn’t optimize health for everyone and that we could do better. And we have information at our disposal to make more informed choices, but because it’s a slow-moving field, we don’t optimally use that information the way we could.



23andMe has always had the intention to change that. And that’s what attracted me to this role – the opportunity to leverage genomic information to help us tailor treatment and think about an individual&#8217;s risk for developing disease.



The idea of making this a priority for 23andMe is exciting! I can’t emphasize how incredible it is to be a part of this revolution.

Meet Dr. Noura Abul-Husn, our Vice President of Genomic Health

By Elijah Gray

Amid the flurry of activity at the Lemonaid pharmacy in St. Louis, April Ward’s desk is a beacon of calm. Composure is crucial to her work as office administrator. It’s her job to oversee every facet of pharmacy administration, ensuring that “everyone is taken care of” while managing employee engagement activities.
&nbsp;“We are extremely hard workers who deal with changing circumstances every single day,” she explains. “Whether it&#8217;s technical – we have patient questions that arise every day, clinical counseling, and we’re still dealing with the same things that everyone else in the world face like COVID-19. We show up here every day, working it out together.”

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<h6>Prioritizing Teamwork</h6>
This commitment to teamwork and community characterizes the entire pharmacy team, says Sarah Stillman, a pharmacy technician.
“We have a lot of really great people working who you can tell really want to be here, and they want to put in their 100 percent every day,” she says.
<h6>Processing Prescriptions and Serving Patients</h6>
The Lemonaid pharmacy processes prescriptions for almost 200 medications to patients throughout the country.&nbsp;
But employees do more than fill prescriptions and put pills into bottles. “If I could make a broadcast and say, &#8216;this is what a pharmacy is like,&#8217; it’d say that it’s not just sitting and counting pills on a tray,” Sarah explains.
“It’s a lot of math, it&#8217;s a lot of logistics, and what’s shipping where and getting there when. We [also] have to be conscious of the laws of each state. So, in general, it’s a lot more work than most people expect.”
&nbsp;April agrees, adding: “Sometimes our day can be really physically demanding for our employees &#8211; standing, moving heavy boxes, shipping, providing great customer service, making sure things like the lights are paid for. I think we do it quite well.”
Both find the complexity of their work rewarding. “[My favorite part is…] knowing that working here, you’re a part of something bigger as opposed to working at a community pharmacy,” Sarah says. “You’re able to help patients across the country.”
Learn more about Lemonaid Health <a href="https://www.lemonaidhealth.com/">here</a>.&nbsp;

Elijah Gray is a communications intern at 23andMe. He is a writer, college student, and self-proclaimed cat lover.

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