23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

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.”

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="580" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Group-125006-1024x580.png" alt="" class="wp-image-30261" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Group-125006-1024x580.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Group-125006-300x170.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Group-125006-768x435.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Group-125006-880x498.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Group-125006-1180x668.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<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.

Elijah Gray

Behind the Scenes at the Lemonaid Pharmacy

A look by researchers of 23andMe’s internal data from customers who consented to participate in research reveals that some gut health issues affect females differently than males and that these conditions have a bigger impact on people of some ethnicities than others.
The insights come from 23andMe internal data regarding two relatively common gut health conditions, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and diverticulitis. The findings confirmed what we already know about common gut health issues and their importance in overall health. It also highlights that genetics plays a big role in the likelihood of developing one of these conditions. 
The data shows that the prevalence of these conditions is more common within some ethnicities. Beyond that, certain genetic variants can increase an individual’s risk compared to others of the same ethnicity. Noting the role that ethnicity and genetics play would be important considerations in assessing an individual’s likelihood of developing either IBS or diverticulitis.
This snapshot of 23andMe data from customers who consented to participate in research looks at just two of the<a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/digestive-diseases"> many digestive conditions</a> related to gut health, but they are two conditions that impact millions of people worldwide. 
<h6>The 23andMe Data on IBS</h6>
In the case of IBS, estimates are that it impacts<a href="https://aboutibs.org/what-is-ibs/facts-about-ibs/"> between 25 and 45 million people</a> in the US alone, and it impacts females at a much higher rate. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, and changes in bowel function, including diarrhea, constipation, or both.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-30700" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ibs-by-age-and-sex.png" alt="" width="550" height="662" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ibs-by-age-and-sex.png 550w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ibs-by-age-and-sex-249x300.png 249w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px" />
A study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-021-00950-8">Nature</a> in late 2021 found that IBS symptoms may be caused by the same biological processes that trigger anxiety, depression, and insomnia. It’s not that IBS causes anxiety or mood disorders but that certain genes are involved in the progression of these conditions. Several studies also indicate that these conditions impact females more than males.
According to data from 23andMe, females are about two and a half times more likely to develop the condition than males. (See figure that compares males and females with IBS by age.) While it’s well documented that<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6175559/"> sex can impact the likelihood</a> of an individual’s likelihood of developing IBS, far less is known about the role genetics play in this common condition.
Perhaps even more than sex differences, ethnicity and genetics impacts the likelihood of developing IBS. According to new modeling done by 23andMe scientists, both genetics and ethnicity have a big impact on the likelihood of an individual being diagnosed with IBS. In some cases, they present a much bigger risk than previously published non-genetic factors.
In looking at ethnicity, people with largely Latino or largely European ancestry have the highest likelihood of developing IBS compared to those of other ethnicities. For example, people with mostly European ancestry are almost three times more likely to develop IBS than those of mostly East Asian ancestry. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-30702" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/prevelance-of-ibs-by-ethnicity.png" alt="" width="550" height="452" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/prevelance-of-ibs-by-ethnicity.png 550w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/prevelance-of-ibs-by-ethnicity-300x247.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px" />
<h6>Statistical Modeling</h6>
When researchers stratified the data and looked at individuals with a higher genetic likelihood of developing IBS — based on statistical modeling that used more than 12,000 genetic markers associated with IBS — compared to those with the least likelihood, the differences were stark. 
For example, people with predominantly Latino ancestry who also were in the highest genetic likelihood* category for IBS are four and a half times more likely to be diagnosed with IBS than Latinos with the lowest genetic likelihood.** If you look at people with primarily European ancestry who are also in that higher genetic likelihood category,* they were more than three and a half times more likely to be diagnosed with IBS than people of European ancestry at the lowest genetic likelihood.**
Why is this distinction important?  
Because it shows the outsized impact that genetic factors play on the likelihood of IBS. If you were to graph the polygenic risk for IBS, you’d see a bell curve distribution. Most people would have an average risk or be in the middle of that curve. But at the ends of this curve would be those with the least risk and the most risk.
For those with the highest genetic likelihood* — in the top five percent — the odds that they may develop IBS are quite high when compared to those at the lowest likelihood.** That information on their genetics could be very important for them and their provider in managing their health.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-30703" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/odds-of-developing-ibs-among-those-at-highest-genetic-risk.png" alt="" width="550" height="764" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/odds-of-developing-ibs-among-those-at-highest-genetic-risk.png 550w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/odds-of-developing-ibs-among-those-at-highest-genetic-risk-216x300.png 216w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px" />
<h6>23andMe Data on Diverticulitis </h6>
23andMe’s data on diverticulitis confirms some of what we already know but also offers up a few surprises.
As with IBS, both ethnicity and genetics play an important role in the likelihood of developing diverticulitis. While it is relatively common, many people don’t know much about diverticulitis.
It occurs in the intestinal tract, where weak sections of the intestines lead to small bulges or pouches that become inflamed. These pouches, most often found in the large intestine (also called the colon), are called “diverticula.” They are common, especially as we age, but do not cause problems.
It’s estimated that more than half of people in the United States over 60 have diverticula and most likely never have any issues. But fewer than five percent of those individuals will develop inflammation in these pouches, a condition called “diverticulitis,” according to the<a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diverticulosis-diverticulitis/definition-facts"> National Institutes of Health.</a> This can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, constipation, or diarrhea. More serious complications, such as blockages or perforations, can lead to hospitalization.
<h6>Diverticulitis and Ethnicity</h6>
While females were more likely to have been diagnosed with diverticulitis, the difference between males and females was less profound than that for IBS. And in the case of diverticulitis, the likelihood of developing the condition increases considerably as people age, according to the data.
People of European ancestry had the highest prevalence for diverticulitis and those of South Asian ancestry the lowest among individuals we studied.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-30713" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/prevalence-of-diverticulitis-by-age-and-sex.png" alt="" width="550" height="662" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/prevalence-of-diverticulitis-by-age-and-sex.png 550w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/prevalence-of-diverticulitis-by-age-and-sex-249x300.png 249w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px" />
Looking at genetic likelihood of developing the condition, 23andMe data indicates that people with North African ancestry and Western Asian ancestry (Arabs, Kurds, Persians, and people from Anatolia for example) with the highest genetic risk* for being diagnosed with diverticulitis are about seven times more likely to be diagnosed with diverticulitis than those with the lowest genetic risk.**  
People of mostly European ancestry with the highest genetic risk* are five and a half times more likely to be diagnosed with diverticulitis based on their genetics than those with the lowest genetic risk.** People with mostly East or Southeast Asian ancestry who are at the highest genetic risk* for diverticulitis are five times more likely to be diagnosed with diverticulitis than those with the lowest genetic risk.**
<h6>Wrapping Up</h6>
This snapshot of 23andMe data on two gut health conditions reveals something many haven’t fully understood. It&#8217;s not just that genetics plays an important role in risk, but a person&#8217;s genetics together with their ethnicity matter. 
*Highest risk category: 5% of a given ethnicity, for example, Latino, with the highest genetic risk of being diagnosed with a condition
**Lowest risk category: 5% of a given ethnicity with the lowest genetic risk of being diagnosed with a condition.

Some Data to Digest About Gut Health

An interest in genetics, a passion for patient care, and a graduate school epiphany put Amy Curry Sturm on the road to 23andMe, where she recently assumed the newly created role of Director of Population Health Genomics.



&nbsp;We caught up with Amy to learn more about her career path, her plans, and why the phrase “no dead ends” has become her new favorite mantra.



The following is an edited excerpt of our conversation.



<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 was inspired from a very early age to go into a career where I could dedicate myself to keeping people healthy and preventing disease.



My background as an undergraduate was pre-med because I was very interested in medicine and disease prevention, but I also knew I never wanted to be a doctor.



I then went through a Ph.D. program in pathology, thinking I’d go into some area of research to prevent disease.&nbsp;



But I realized that I didn’t want to be working at a bench in a laboratory; I wanted to work more directly with patients and deliver amazing scientific discoveries directly to them.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-larger"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="880" height="587" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Amy-in-Australia-880x587.jpeg" alt="Amy in Australia" class="wp-image-30057" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Amy-in-Australia-880x587.jpeg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Amy-in-Australia-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Amy-in-Australia-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Amy-in-Australia-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Amy-in-Australia-1180x786.jpeg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Amy-in-Australia.jpeg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 880px) 100vw, 880px" /><figcaption>A quick stop on the southwestern coast of Australia before presenting at the Australian Society of Human Genetics and Genetic Counselors Meeting.</figcaption></figure>



Luckily, I found genetic counseling —a very young profession in the 1990s — and pursued my graduate degree in genetic counseling.



With that degree, I’ve been able to dedicate my career to using genetic information to prevent disease. And that’s what drives me, trying to utilize all that information to keep people healthy from a very young age. So I’m excited to do that now at 23andMe!



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



My role at 23andMe is Director of Population Health Genomics. I sit within the product organization, but I plan and hope to work across a lot of different areas within 23andMe.



My role involves working with the product team to look for ways to bring 23andMe&#8217;s vision and commitment to integrating genetic information into clinical care for patients.&nbsp;



One thing I really love that I keep hearing the product and design teams say is that there are “no dead-ends.”&nbsp;



That’s become a mantra as we build everything out. We want to truly give our customers no dead-ends;&nbsp; we want them to have the next steps they need to take action based on their genetic information to keep them as healthy as possible.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-does-your-new-role-differ-from-your-past-roles-and-responsibilities">How does your new role differ from your past roles and responsibilities?</h6>



It’s extremely different from anything I’ve ever done.&nbsp; This is my first time working for a&nbsp; genetics company. My past experience has been working for major healthcare institutions.



I started as a genetic counselor in 2002, so over the past 20 years, I’ve worked at a large children’s hospital, a large university medical center (Ohio State), and then a large integrated healthcare system (Geisinger).&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="685" height="919" data-id="30054" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sturm-Family-Summer-2022-e1661968656481.jpeg" alt="Sturm Familly Photo" class="wp-image-30054" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sturm-Family-Summer-2022-e1661968656481.jpeg 685w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sturm-Family-Summer-2022-e1661968656481-224x300.jpeg 224w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sturm-Family-Summer-2022-e1661968656481-656x880.jpeg 656w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" /><figcaption> Serendipitous color coordination called for a family photo! Amy with her husband Jeff, son Jack, and daughter Stella. </figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1365" height="1827" data-id="30053" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Jeff-and-Amy-Halloween-Party-e1661968459485.jpeg" alt="Amy Halloween" class="wp-image-30053" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Jeff-and-Amy-Halloween-Party-e1661968459485.jpeg 1365w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Jeff-and-Amy-Halloween-Party-e1661968459485-224x300.jpeg 224w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Jeff-and-Amy-Halloween-Party-e1661968459485-768x1028.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Jeff-and-Amy-Halloween-Party-e1661968459485-765x1024.jpeg 765w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Jeff-and-Amy-Halloween-Party-e1661968459485-657x880.jpeg 657w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Jeff-and-Amy-Halloween-Party-e1661968459485-882x1180.jpeg 882w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1365px) 100vw, 1365px" /><figcaption>Amy and her husband dressed up for their Halloween Party. Amy went as her childhood favorite, Mary Poppins.</figcaption></figure>
</figure>



I’ve always worked within that healthcare space. I’ve had multiple different roles within those settings, ranging from taking care of patients and families directly as a clinical genetics counselor to leading large research initiatives and developing new programs from the ground up.



But I have always been industry-curious and interested in working within this space for a company like 23andMe.



It’s very different from anything I’ve ever experienced in my career, which is exciting! I love innovating and feeling like I’m in a cutting-edge space; I love building things from the ground up. So that motivated me to make the leap and finally enter an industry setting.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-you-most-excited-to-work-on-as-you-look-to-the-future-1">WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO WORK ON AS YOU LOOK TO THE FUTURE?</h6>



I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to help build the future delivery of new product offerings from 23andMe.



I’m thrilled to help build a path for individuals on their health journey. They can come to 23andMe, get their DNA insights, and learn personalized, preventive, proactive recommendations for their health and actions they and their families can take. We can provide the next steps on that journey and can also now deliver telehealth services via Lemonaid Health, now part of the 23andMe family.&nbsp;



The goal is to bring genetics into the primary care setting to deliver more personalized care. That goal is front and center – it’s what excites me to wake up and get to work every day!

Amy Curry Sturm on Harnessing the Power of Genetic Information

By Brianne Kirkpatrick, MS, LCGC



In the fall of 2021, 23andMe announced its acquisition of Lemonaid Health, an online service that includes clinicians with unique knowledge and training in genetics-informed care.&nbsp;The latest news to come from this development is a new service, which will offer genetic report consultations for 23andMe Health + Ancestry customers, including 23andMe+ members.



As a genetic counselor working in the ancestry and at-home testing space, you might imagine I had a lot of questions about this! So I spoke with <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/education/genetic-counselor-awareness/">Anne Greb, Director, Clinical Genetics and Education</a>, to learn more.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="629" height="543" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Anne-Greb.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26688" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Anne-Greb.jpg 629w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Anne-Greb-300x259.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 629px) 100vw, 629px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Anne Greb, MS, CGC, 23andMe Lead, Medical Education</figcaption></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virtual-consultation">Virtual Consultation</h6>



The first question I had for Anne was about the nature of a consultation with a Lemonaid Health provider in connection with this new service. Would it be the same as genetic counseling? I learned that while it would not replace genetic counseling, there are certain aspects of a virtual consultation with a provider from Lemonaid Health that overlaps with the work of licensed and certified genetic counselors. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="268" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Linkedinfacebook-lemonaid.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-29712" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Linkedinfacebook-lemonaid.jpeg 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Linkedinfacebook-lemonaid-300x157.jpeg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>



As part of the genetic report consult service, Lemonaid Health primary care providers will offer consultations to help customers understand the role genes play in their health, within the context of their health history and overall risks. A Lemonaid Health clinician might review family health history information, for example, as it relates to the genetic testing or condition the customer brought forward as their main concern. This means asking questions about family health history based on the reason for the consultation and identifying red flags which may indicate an increased risk for a genetic condition in the family. When an increased risk is suspected, a three-generation pedigree will be taken, including information about relatives at the level of grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, parent, sibling, and children. This extra information can be incredibly important in identifying certain risks known to have a genetic component, such as certain types of cancer and cardiovascular disease.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetics-101">Genetics 101</h6>



Anne explained that consultations center on discussing basic genetic concepts related to genetic disease and inheritance–for example, whether a condition is recessive or dominant and what that may mean for family members. Addressing other immediate concerns of the customer, such as genetic privacy protections, risks to other family members, and recommended next-steps are other key pieces to the consultation. The Lemonaid Health provider will also discuss options for additional genetic testing, which is an important piece of taking action in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of many chronic diseases.&nbsp;



I also learned that state of residence would not be an issue. Lemonaid Health has providers licensed to practice in all 50 U.S. states. And this led to another question: can any person who has tested at 23andMe have this? Right now, the providers are prepared to address the first three genetic health risk reports mentioned earlier with eligible patients, and the plan is to expand that list over time.



Customers with questions about certain reports will see a banner (or link) in their dashboard informing them of the new service and what it offers. Starting with a few genetic health risk reports (<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/lemonaid-health/unlock-genetic-health-info/">MUTYH-Associated Polyposis, BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants), and Familial Hypercholesterolemia</a>)*, the list of conditions and reports customers can discuss with a <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/lemonaid-health/unlock-genetic-health-info/">Lemonaid Health</a> provider will grow over time.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-training">Training</h6>



Since becoming a part of the 23andMe family, Lemonaid Health clinicians have participated in additional training around genetic information and how to factor this into patient care and disease prevention. Their training started with the conditions associated with the first three reports (<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/lemonaid-health/unlock-genetic-health-info/">hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, familial hypercholesterolemia, and MUTYH-associated polyposis</a>) and continues with ongoing education. This type of education for health care providers will help genetics become more integrated into preventative care.



Scheduling with a Lemonaid Health provider takes an extra step to set up and is a self-pay service. Choice is always an important aspect for anyone who has a genetic test. I asked Anne what value she sees from the Lemonaid Health consultations.&nbsp;



“As genetic counselors, we highly value the ability to find, process, and understand health information and to use that information to make healthcare decisions,” she explained. “It’s important to appreciate that everyone has a different learning style and therefore approaches navigating health information in different ways.“&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



Customers who want to seek out more information about their three (3) genetic health risk reports might choose to schedule a consultation with a Lemonaid Health provider, or they might instead take a different route, such as exploring online learning materials already available at 23andMe. One example is the educational page on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/brca/">Do You Speak BRCA?</a> Customers can also explore the various sections of their genetic health risk report, which include information about the condition, gene, and variants tested, links out to research underlying the report, and answer frequently asked questions.&nbsp;



When the opportunities for understanding genetic results expand, barriers drop to accessing and making use of the information gained from genetic testing. The combined services of Lemonaid Health and 23andMe give 23andMe customers another way to take the next step when it comes to using genetic information in their lives and health care. That is a situation in which everyone benefits.



Brianne Kirkpatrick is a genetic counselor and DNA consultant. She is the founder of<a href="https://www.watersheddna.com/"> Watershed DNA</a> and the author of the book DNA Guide for Adoptees. An alumnus of Indiana University and Northwestern University, Brianne is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, American Board of Genetic Counseling, American Counseling Association, and International Society of Genetic Genealogy. She lives in Crozet, Virginia with her husband and their three children.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



*The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks. It is not intended to diagnose any disease. Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease, but does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing the disease. The test is&nbsp; not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health, or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication, how much of a medication you should take, or determine any treatment. Warnings &amp; Limitations: The 23andMe PGS Genetic Health RIsk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) is indicated for reporting of the 185delAG and 5382insC variants in the BRCA1 gene and the 6174delT variant in the BRCA2 gene. The report describes if a woman is at increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, and if a man is at increased risk of developing breast cancer or may be at increased risk of developing prostate cancer.&nbsp; The three variants included in this report are most common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and do not represent the majority of BRCA1/BRCA2 variants in the general population. This report does not include variants in other genes linked to hereditary cancers and the absence of variants included in this report does not rule out the presence of other genetic variants that may impact cancer risk. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional for recommended screenings or appropriate follow-up. Results should be confirmed in a clinical setting before taking any medical action. For important information and limitations regarding each genetic health risk report click <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/">here</a>.&nbsp;

More on Genetic Report Consults with Lemonaid Health

Listening to those with a rare disease, a common refrain is that they often feel isolated, unheard, and alone.
But they’re not alone.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h6>Much to Learn</h6>
While each rare disease is by definition uncommon — affecting fewer than 200,000 people — there are more than 7,000 known rare diseases. There are more than 300 million people worldwide who have a rare disease. Yet because these rare diseases are unique and affect small groups of people, the conditions are difficult to study.&nbsp;
Disease research can sometimes be a numbers game, and research into rare diseases is often stymied as scientists struggle to gather enough individuals with the condition who are able to participate in their research. While we know that about 70 percent of rare diseases are genetic, there is so much we don’t know about these conditions. Only about 5 percent of all rare diseases have approved treatments.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h6>Potential for Insight</h6>
23andMe hopes to change that. Part of our mission as a company is to focus our therapeutics efforts on conditions with unmet needs and to maximize our chances of discovering novel genetic insights to help in that search.&nbsp;
In the last few years, our researchers have discovered how powerful our unique research platform is for making important discoveries about these rare conditions. People with rare diseases are not limited by geography, and can easily participate in research if they choose, while our scientists can leverage online tools and data on a massive scale, to study a broad range of conditions.
“We have the potential of making genetic findings for several rare diseases for which there currently is very little known,” said John Matthews, Ph.D., M.D., and the Senior Clinical Development Fellow on 23andMe’s Therapeutics team.
<h6>23andMe’s Rare Disease Research Study</h6>
23andMe’s Rare Disease Research Study will start with a handful of rare diseases, recruiting individuals to participate in innovative genetic research around —<a href="https://www.23andme.com/systemic-sclerosis-study/"> systemic sclerosis</a> (a study we first started in 2021), ANCA-associated vasculitis, pemphigus vulgaris, and dermatomyositis.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Systemic sclerosis causes the hardening of the body’s connective tissue.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) is actually a group of autoimmune diseases that are characterized by inflammation of small vessels.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disorder that involves blistering and erosion of the skin as well as the mucous membranes.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory disease marked by muscle weakness and a distinctive skin rash.</li>
</ul>
In addition to these four conditions, 23andMe will expand another existing rare disease study on <a href="https://www.23andme.com/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/">&nbsp;idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis</a>, which causes irreparable scarring of the lungs that progressively worsens lung function. The study now will broaden to include other types of lung fibrosis as part of this program.&nbsp;
The hope is that this work will lead to discoveries and insights into possible new treatments. We plan to slowly expand the number of conditions we study in the coming months.
In typical rare disease research, scientists have relied on very small cohorts of perhaps a few dozen individuals or studied members of the same family who all might share a rare condition. But that makes it very difficult to gain new insight into genetic variants that were previously unknown to be associated with these rare conditions.
<h6>A Revelation</h6>
In what at the time was believed to be the largest genetic study of rare diseases, 23andMe published research in 2021 explaining how the company is uniquely positioned to<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/new-way-to-study-rare-disease/"> study rare diseases.</a>&nbsp;
Using data from more than 1.6 million research participants, including 19,000 who reported a rare disease diagnosis, 23andMe scientists conduct genome-wide association studies on 33 different rare diseases. The 23andMe study is the first Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) ever done for a few of these rare conditions. The study identified new genetic associations for each. The research was a revelation. Finding these associations offers scientists a deeper understanding of the biological pathways for the conditions and offers the possibility for identifying potential treatments.
“It was a surprise for us when we were able to find genetic associations in studies of rare diseases with only tens of affected individuals,” said 23andMe senior scientist in statistical genetics, Suyash Shringarpure, Ph.D., who worked on the study. “Another surprise was finding that common genetic variants show association with rare disease risk. Previously, it has been found that rare genetic variants cause rare diseases, so this was unexpected.”
You can learn more about 23andMe’s Rare Disease Study by following the links to the disease-specific landing pages below:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/systemic-sclerosis/">Systemic sclerosis</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/anca-associated-vasculitis/">ANCA-associated vasculitis</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/pemphigus-vulgaris/">Pemphigus vulgaris</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/dermatomyositis/">Dermatomyositis</a></li>
</ul>
<h6></h6>

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