Cancer casts its shadow on almost all of us. Whether we&#8217;re facing our own diagnosis or that of a spouse, a parent, a child, a friend, or another loved one, we can muster the courage we need in those moments by knowing we are not alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beat-cancer">Beat Cancer</h2>



We at 23andMe are encouraged by the White House’s recent designation of April as National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month to rally support for those affected and their families and highlight the importance of prevention and screening.



But beyond simply naming the month, this is part of a collective effort to raise awareness that includes <a href="https://www.preventcancer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024_White_House_partner_letter_Cancer_Prevention_Early_Detection_FINAL.pdf">support from 84 non-profit and patient advocacy organizations</a>. Each group focuses on expanding cancer screening, research, and treatments. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-1024x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32772" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-768x768.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-880x880.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-1180x1180.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-574x574.png 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-980x980.png 980w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">23andMe Employees wearing green in support of National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-progress">Progress</h2>



So much progress has been made already — <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/vaccine/six-reasons.html">vaccines against human papillomavirus</a> promise to slash the rates of cervical cancer; cancer screening has <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10405449/">saved millions of lives</a> in the last three decades; new <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/lung-cancer-treatments-mortality-drop">treatments for lung cancer</a> have reduced mortality rates; and immunotherapies such as <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/research/car-t-cells">CAR-T cell therapy</a> have improved outcomes for many types of cancer.



However, much more needs to be done. Every year, more than 1.8 million people in the United States are <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics">diagnosed with cancer</a>, and more than 600,000 people die each year, making it the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm">second leading cause of death</a> behind heart disease.&nbsp;



Every cancer is different, but early detection and treatment offer the best outcomes for all cancers. Improved awareness about cancer screening — regular mammograms and colorectal cancer screening, for instance — can go a long way toward early detection.&nbsp;



Knowing one&#8217;s risk by learning about one&#8217;s family cancer history, or through genetic testing, or simply through identifying risk factors in one&#8217;s life can help identify those at higher risk and direct them toward preventive care or enhanced screening.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-knowing">The Power of Knowing</h2>



23andMe wants to show our support for this new effort but also share a little about how we are raising awareness about cancer, alerting people of their potential risk for different forms of cancer, and adding to the growing body of research into cancer to potentially identify causes and cures.



In the coming weeks, we’ll share more about what 23andMe has done and is doing to help people better understand their genetic risk and family cancer history and how that knowledge is a formidable tool for cancer prevention.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-find-out-more">Find Out More</h2>



Learn more about cancer prevention and screening from the <a href="https://www.preventcancer.org/cancer-prevention-early-detection-month/">Prevent Cancer Foundation</a>. You can explore more about all that 23andMe has to offer <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">here</a>.

A photo of a doctor showing a patient information on a digital tablet.

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Improving Cancer Outcomes Through Early Diagnosis and Treatment

Fundamental, common humanity unites every person on the planet: DNA. Some use race and biology to explain what are, in reality, social and cultural differences between people. It’s a fact that we humans are genetically 99.5 percent identical.&nbsp;



23andMe is a brand that leads with science. We fundamentally believe that we are more alike than we are different. Understanding that ridding ourselves of socially constructed ‘isms’ — like racism or classism —frees everyone. When we step out of systems of “us” vs “them” and bear witness to the oppression of people everywhere, humanity takes center stage.&nbsp;



Isabel Wilkerson’s biographical New York Times best-selling book, Caste, inspired Ava DuVernay’s new film ORIGIN. As with the book, DuVernay’s moving film adaptation — starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Wilkerson — analyzes discrimination and the connections between American racism, Nazi persecution of Jews, and India&#8217;s caste system.&nbsp;



It is the 0.5 percent that makes us each genetically different from one another and has also bred hatred across the world.



23andMe believes that focusing on all that we share as humans, and celebrating what makes us unique, could bring the world together. So for the next 23 days of January, 23andMe will donate 100 seats daily, to the <a href="https://www.seat16.com/">Seat16 program</a> which has a goal of getting 10,000 young people around the country to see the new film, ORIGIN.



Everyone deserves a place in this world and we believe in focusing on the things we share in common. Above all else, we want the world to remember that we are all 100 percent human.



ORIGIN will be in select theaters starting on January 19, 2024. 23andMe CEO and Co-founder Anne Wojcicki helped produce the film. You can see the ORIGIN film trailer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAweg5PaMuw">here.</a> 



#100PercentHuman <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1VAohGvlEW/?img_index=2">#ORIGINFilm</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/seat16/">#Seat16</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/23andme/">#23andMe</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/unityindiversity/">#UnityInDiversity</a>

Origin and Our Common Humanity

Sit back and listen to 23andMe CEO and Co-Founder <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-anne-wojcicki-among-the-best-ceos-for-women">Anne Wojcicki, </a>along with 23andMe board member and founder of 23andMe Therapeutics division <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/richard-scheller-named-to-national-academy-of-medicine">Richard Scheller</a>, speak to Roelof Botha of Sequoia Capital about the company&#8217;s critical moments in history.



Botha, who is also on the 23andMe Board of Directors, discusses how the company weathered early criticism, even at its founding in 2006, from the 2013 FDA letter that ordered 23andMe to stop selling health testing products to customers to downturns in consumer interest.



The episode is part of a series called <a href="https://www.cruciblemoments.com/episodes/23andme" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crucible Moments,</a> produced by Sequoia Capital. In this series, Roelof explores moments in every start-up business journey in which a company can succeed or fail. How a company responds often defines its future.



Listen to <a href="https://www.cruciblemoments.com/episodes/23andme">Anne&#8217;s Crucible Moments</a> and learn a little about <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-turns-16">23andMe&#8217;s history</a>.

Crucible Moments in 23andMe’s History

Since 2019, 23andMe customers have had the option to utilize authenticator app 2-factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of security to their account. Starting today, we are requiring all customers use a second step of verification to sign into their account.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-2-step-verification">What is 2-Step Verification?</h6>



2-step verification (2SV), also referred to as 2-factor authentication, requires customers to provide two distinct steps to sign in before accessing their accounts. In combination with a username and password, customers will be asked for a verification code. 



Depending on what method customers choose to use, that code will either be generated by an authenticator app, or sent to their email if they use email 2-step verification. This code is another way to verify the customer’s identity before accessing their account.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-setting-up-2-step-verification">Setting Up 2-Step Verification</h6>



New customers will be automatically enrolled in email 2SV when they create their account. Existing customers who do not already use an authenticator app will also be automatically enrolled in email 2SV, and will receive an email containing their verification code at their next sign-in. 



Existing customers who already use an authenticator app, can continue to use that option. New customers who want to use an authenticator app, such as Google Authenticator™ mobile app, instead of email 2SV, can set up the authenticator app using the instructions found <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034119874-Adding-2-Step-Verification-to-Your-23andMe-Account">here</a>. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-questions">Questions?</h6>



As always, customers can work with our <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/">Customer Care team</a> if they have questions about using this added security step.



 This new security update is part of our ongoing commitment to keep customer data safe and secure. It’s another line of defense to protect their data. We encourage all of our customers to review our <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/360062175913-Privacy-and-Security-Help-Center">Privacy and Security Checkup</a> page, where they will find additional information on how to keep their accounts secure.

An image of a lock a computer, DNA and a mobile phone representing security protections.

Enhanced Customer Security at 23andMe with 2-Step Verification

Update: December 5, 2023 2:45 PM PST



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-credential-stuffing-incident-what-happened">Credential Stuffing Incident: What happened?</h2>



As our investigation comes to a close, we wanted to share the details of what took place and our findings.&nbsp;



In early October, we learned that a threat actor accessed a select number of individual 23andMe.com accounts through a process called credential stuffing. That is, usernames and passwords that were used on 23andMe.com were the same as those used on other websites that have been previously compromised or otherwise available. We do not have any indication that there was a data security incident within our systems, or that 23andMe was the source of the account credentials used in these attacks.&nbsp;



The threat actor used the compromised accounts to access information shared with these accounts. Specifically, DNA Relatives profiles connected to these compromised accounts, which consist of information that a customer chooses to make available to their genetic relatives when they opt in to participate in 23andMe’s DNA Relatives feature. A DNA Relatives profile includes information such as display name, predicted relationships, and percentage of DNA shared with matches. You can find a full list of the types of information included in a DNA Relatives profile <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/212170838">here</a>.



Additionally, through the compromised accounts, the threat actor accessed a feature called Family Tree, which includes a limited subset of DNA Relatives profile information. The Family Tree feature does not include ancestry information such as the percentage of DNA shared with genetic matches or ancestry reports.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-threat-actor-accessed-nbsp">What the Threat Actor Accessed&nbsp;</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The threat actor was able to access less than 0.1%, or roughly 14,000 user accounts, of the existing 14 million 23andMe customers through credential stuffing.&nbsp;</li>



<li>The threat actor used the compromised credential stuffed accounts to access the information included in a significant number of DNA Relatives profiles (approximately 5.5 million) and Family Tree feature profiles (approximately 1.4 million), each of which were connected to the compromised accounts.</li>
</ul>



Since detecting the incident, we emailed all customers to notify them of the investigation and are continuing to notify impacted customers, based on applicable laws. We also required every 23andMe customer to reset their password. In addition, 23andMe now requires all new and existing customers to login using two-step verification. Protecting our customers’ data privacy and security remains a top priority for 23andMe, and we will continue to invest in protecting our systems and data.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-security-incident-updates">Security Incident Updates</h2>



Update: December 1, 2023 3:45 PM PST



23andMe has completed its investigation, assisted by third-party forensics experts. We are in the process of notifying affected customers, as required by law.&nbsp;



We have taken steps to further protect customer data, including requiring all existing customers to reset their password and requiring two-step verification for all new and existing customers. The company will continue to invest in protecting our systems and data.



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



Updated: November 6, 2023 7:45 AM PST



Starting today, we are requiring all customers to utilize email 2-step verification (2SV) as an&nbsp;added&nbsp;layer of protection for their account.&nbsp;New customers will be automatically enrolled in email 2SV when they create their account. Existing customers who do not already use an authenticator app will also be automatically enrolled in email 2SV, and will receive an email containing their verification code at their next sign-in. You can read <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/enhanced-customer-security-at-23andme-with-2-step-verification">more on our blog post</a>.



Update: October 20, 2023 9:35 PM PST



As part of the ongoing security investigation, we have temporarily disabled some features within the DNA Relatives tool as an additional precaution to protect the privacy of our customers.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-actions-has-23andme-taken">What actions has 23andMe taken?</h2>



Update: October 9, 2023 8:25 PM PST



Our investigation continues and we have engaged the assistance of third-party forensic experts. We are also working with federal law enforcement officials.&nbsp;



We are reaching out to our customers to provide an update on the investigation and to encourage them to take additional actions to keep their account and password secure. Out of caution, we are requiring that all customers reset their passwords and are encouraging the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA).



If we learn that a customer’s data has been accessed without their authorization, we will notify them directly with more information.



Please continue to follow this blog for updates as our investigation continues



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



October 6, 2023



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-credential-stuffing-attack">Credential Stuffing Attack</h2>



We recently learned that certain 23andMe customer profile information that they opted into sharing through our <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/212170838">DNA Relatives feature</a>, was compiled from individual 23andMe.com accounts without the account users’ authorization.



After learning of suspicious activity, we immediately began an investigation.&nbsp; While we are continuing to investigate this matter, we believe threat actors were able to access certain accounts in instances where users recycled login credentials – that is, usernames and passwords that were used on <a href="https://www.23andme.com/">23andMe.com</a> were the same as those used on other websites that have been previously hacked. 



We believe that the threat actor may have then, in violation of our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/legal/terms-of-service/#requirements-and-conditions">Terms of Service</a>, accessed <a href="https://www.23andme.com/">23andMe.com</a> accounts without authorization and obtained information from certain accounts, including information about users’ DNA Relatives profiles, to the extent a user opted into that service.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-committed-to-safety-and-security">Committed to Safety and Security</h2>



23andMe is committed to providing you with a safe and secure place where you can learn about your DNA knowing your privacy is protected. We are continuing to investigate to confirm these preliminary results. We do not have any indication at this time that there has been a data security incident within our systems, or that 23andMe was the source of the account credentials used in these attacks.&nbsp;



At 23andMe, we take security seriously. We exceed industry data protection standards and have achieved three different ISO certifications to demonstrate the strength of our security program.&nbsp; We actively and routinely monitor and audit our systems to ensure that your data is protected.&nbsp; When we receive information through those processes or from other sources claiming customer data has been accessed by unauthorized individuals, we immediately investigate to validate whether this information is accurate. Since 2019 we’ve offered and encouraged users to use multi-factor authentication (MFA), which provides an extra layer of security and can prevent bad actors from accessing an account through recycled passwords.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recommendations">Recommendations </h2>



We encourage our customers to take as much action to keep their account and password secure. Out of caution, we recommend taking the following steps:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Confirm you have a strong password, one that is not easy to guess and that is unique to your 23andMe account. If you are not sure whether you have a strong password for your account, reset it by following the steps outlined <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/202907580-Forgot-Your-Password-#:~:text=You%20are%20able%20to%20reset,the%20Send%20Reset%20Email%20button.">here</a>.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Please be sure to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your 23andMe account. You can enable MFA by following the steps outlined <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034119874-Adding-2-Step-Verification-to-Your-23andMe-Account">here</a>.</li>



<li>Review our <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/360062175913-Privacy-and-Security-Help-Center">Privacy and Security Checkup</a> page with additional information on how to keep your account secure.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-assistance-customer-care-is-available">Need Assistance? Customer Care is Available</h2>



23andMe is here to support you. Please contact Customer Care at <a href="mailto:customercare@23andme.com">customercare@23andme.com</a> if you need assistance with navigating these important steps to protect your account.

Addressing Data Security Concerns – Action Plan

23andMe’s 2023 summer intern program is in full swing and we have another exceptional class of talented young people. This year, our class of interns are working mostly on Therapeutics programs. They’ve come to us from institutions across the United States.



For a little inspiration, read on to learn about our interns and what they’ll be doing this summer.



If you still have questions, email <a href="mailto:internships@23andme.com">internships@23andme.com</a>.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gabby-rabadam">Gabby Rabadam</h6>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-functional-genomics-intern-therapeutics">Functional Genomics Intern, Therapeutics</h6>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Gabby-Rabadam.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31945" width="150" height="149"/></figure>



Gabby is passionate about using multi-omics and bioinformatic approaches to study autoimmunity, which she’s currently exploring during her Ph.D. at UCSF. She’s excited to dive in as a member of the Functional Genomics team in Therapeutics. Gabby grew up in California&#8217;s Central Valley and spent five years in Boston for school and work before coming back to California for Graduate School. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Alex Heiler</h6>



Antibody &amp; Protein Engineering Intern, Therapeutics



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Alex-Heiler.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31943" width="150" height="169"/></figure>



Alex is interested in treating diseases using enhanced therapeutic and drug delivery platforms. He is excited to contribute to Antibody and Protein Engineering in Therapeutics, working on new antibody epitope mapping methods based on mass spectrometry. He is always ready to learn a new skill or technique around the lab. Alex grew up in Sacramento and attended Santa Clara University for his undergraduate studies. He is currently pursuing a PhD in bioengineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Max Yan</h6>



Immunology Intern, Therapeutics



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Max-Yan.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31942" width="150" height="139"/></figure>



Max is a doctoral student in Microbiology and Immunology at University of Illinois, Chicago. His research focuses on host-cell interaction of New World Arenavirus. He will be working with the Immunology Group in Therapeutics researching novel therapeutics this summer. Max grew up in Zhengzhou, China, and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill for his undergraduate studies. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Shilpa Shaju</h6>



Legal Intern, Privacy &amp; Product&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shilpa-Shaju.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31941" width="150" height="176" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shilpa-Shaju.jpg 596w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shilpa-Shaju-255x300.jpg 255w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></figure>



Shilpa is law student at the University of California, School of Law, San Francisco. Prior to attending law school, Shilpa worked at an immigration law firm in New York and graduated as the Salutatorian of her undergraduate class. Having completed her CIPP/US Certification and recently worked on global privacy issues for UN General Assembly, she is very excited to join the Privacy and Product Team in Legal, where privacy is treated as a human right. Shilpa grew up in New York and moved to San Francisco for law school.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Corinne Sexton</h6>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Corinne-Sexton.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31972" width="149" height="194" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Corinne-Sexton.jpg 594w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Corinne-Sexton-229x300.jpg 229w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 149px) 100vw, 149px" /></figure>



Computational Target Biology Intern, Therapeutics



Corinne recently completed her Ph.D. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she studied the 3D structure of the human genome. A Southern California native and mother of two young boys, she&#8217;s excited to be back in the Golden State. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Ayanna Muhammad</h6>



Research Diversity &amp; Collaborations Intern, Research&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ayanna-Muhammad.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31939" width="150" height="176" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ayanna-Muhammad.jpg 598w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ayanna-Muhammad-256x300.jpg 256w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></figure>



After living with a hemoglobinopathy herself, Ayanna became very interested in hemoglobin disorders such as sickle cell and thalassemia. Knowing one’s carrier status for these disorders and how that affects the medical care people receive has become a passion for her. She is extremely excited to join the Sickle Cell Carrier Status Awareness Program and help the team expand their initiative so more people are aware of their status. Ayanna is from Lansing, Michigan and moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend Spelman College. After obtaining her Master of Science in Medical Sciences degree, she was accepted into the M.D. program at Morehouse School of Medicine where she will start her second year in the fall. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Nanjie Chen</h6>



R&amp;D Scientist Intern, Data Science Modeling, Research&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Nanjie-Chen.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31938" width="150" height="208" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Nanjie-Chen.jpg 602w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Nanjie-Chen-217x300.jpg 217w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></figure>



Nanjie, a Ph.D. student in Applied Mathematics, is deeply passionate about the intersection of data science, machine learning, and biology. She&#8217;ll work with the Health R&amp;D team at 23andMe as a Data Scientist Intern. Nanjie will leverage her skills to develop predictive health models which help customers make better decisions for their health. Originally from the coastal city of Dalian in Northeastern China, Nanjie now lives in Boston.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Shaopeng Liu</h6>



Computational Biology Intern, Single Cell Methods Development, Therapeutics



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shaopeng-Liu.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31937" width="150" height="218"/></figure>



Shaopeng is a computational biologist in metagenomics. He utilizes and develops sketching-based algorithms to analyze metagenomic samples; and leverage knowledge graphs to mine novel insights from multi-omic data. It brings him immense joy to be joining the Computational Biology Group and contributing to method development for multi-omic single-cell data. Shaopeng is pursuing Ph.D. at Penn State.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Ruth Elgamal</h6>



Computational Biology Intern, Statistical Models for Functional Genomics Assays, Therapeutics



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ruth-Elgamal.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31936" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ruth-Elgamal-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ruth-Elgamal-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ruth-Elgamal-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ruth-Elgamal-574x574.jpg 574w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></figure>



Ruth is interested in leveraging genetic data to advance drug discovery, particularly in the context of metabolic disorders. For her Ph.D., she is integrating population-scale metabolomics and genomics. She is looking forward to joining the Computational Biology team in Therapeutics and building statistical models to evaluate functional genomic assays while actively learning from others on the team. Ruth is originally from Canada, spent time in Boston and is now living in California.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Rebeca Lion</h6>



Antibody &amp; Protein Engineering Intern, Therapeutics



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rebeca-Lion-e1687820925392.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31935" width="150" height="167" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rebeca-Lion-e1687820925392.jpg 596w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Rebeca-Lion-e1687820925392-268x300.jpg 268w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></figure>



Rebeca is joining the Therapeutics team for the summer as an Antibody and Protein Engineering Intern. She has always been interested in genetics as a tool to drive change, and is excited to work on antibody discovery over the next few months.&nbsp;Born and raised in Brazil, Rebeca came to the U.S. for her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Glen Osiemo</h6>



Therapeutics Development Intern,&nbsp;Therapeutics



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Glen&#8217;s passion for supporting the development of innovative healthcare solutions is evident in his pursuit of a dual Pharm D and masters in applied health economics and outcomes research. This combination of clinical pharmacy knowledge and expertise in health economics will equip him with a unique skill set to contribute to the field of therapeutic drug development. He&#8217;ll be working with the immuno-oncology group at 23andMe.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Gabby Villalpando Torres’s</h6>



Biology Intern, Therapeutics



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Gabby-Villalpando-Torres.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31944" width="149" height="187" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Gabby-Villalpando-Torres.jpg 596w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Gabby-Villalpando-Torres-239x300.jpg 239w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 149px) 100vw, 149px" /></figure>



Gabby is fascinated with understanding the mechanics of biology and has devoted herself to exploring various themes in this field, currently focusing on the study of cardiovascular function. A native of California’s Central Valley, she earned her BS in Bioengineering at UC Merced and is currently pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at UC Santa Barbara. She’ll be applying working on screening for therapeutic targets linked to cardiometabolic diseases.

A collage of photos of 23andMe's 2023 summer interns.

Summer of 2023 Interns

23andMe’s new Chief Corporate Development Officer, Reza Afkhami took some time before starting in his new job to chat about his career, joining 23andMe, and his new role cultivating partnerships and collaborations for our therapeutics, research services and consumer divisions.



Reza comes to the job with more than two decades of experience in biotech corporate development. His last role was as the Senior Vice President for Corporate Development and Strategy at Global Blood Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative therapies for treating sickle cell disease. That company was purchased last year by Pfizer.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_2999-1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31778" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_2999-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_2999-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_2999-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_2999-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_2999-1-880x880.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_2999-1-1180x1180.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_2999-1-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_2999-1-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_2999-1-574x574.jpg 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_2999-1-980x980.jpg 980w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_2999-1.jpg 1675w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo credit: Jim Block</figcaption></figure>



Before that, Reza was the Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy at Surrozen. Surrozen is a biotechnology company focused on developing tissue-specific antibodies to create therapies for disease of the intestine, liver, retina, cornea, lung, kidney, cochlea, skin, pancreas, and central nervous system. His long and distinguished career also includes positions overseeing global commercial strategy and planning, other roles leading teams handling business development and market intelligence, as well as managing and supporting partnerships. His work has helped the companies he’s worked for grow from early-stage drug discovery through to fully integrated biotech companies.



Here at 23andMe he’ll lead our business development team, across our therapeutics, research services and consumer groups. Reza will be responsible for spearheading and driving a wide range of industry collaborations for 23andMe.



Here’s a little bit from our discussion with Reza. His responses have been edited for length.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-you-studied-international-economics-at-georgetown-and-received-an-mba-from-uc-berkeley-what-drew-you-to-a-career-in-biotech">1) You studied international economics at Georgetown and received an MBA from UC Berkeley. What drew you to a career in biotech?&nbsp;</h6>



While growing up in France at the end of the Cold War, I was exposed to multiple languages and cultures. Pursuing a career in foreign service would be a natural fit. However, getting exposed to government work and the less appealing aspects of politics at Georgetown changed that. I switched coursework to focus more on economics and finance and pursued internships with businesses rather than institutions.&nbsp;



I started my career in the early 1990s as the internet boom began. I eventually worked with a company that was taken over by a telecom company tied to that tech boom. It wasn’t a great experience, and I left to start an MBA program at UC Berkeley. Soon after I started that program, the company became embroiled in a scandal. Then 9/11 happened, and we had the dot-com bust and recession. I mention that because it changed what I wanted to do and how I looked at internet technology companies. Right then, I stumbled upon biotech, which felt like a breath of fresh air. These were brilliant people doing interesting things, all focused on developing drugs to help cure disease. My first job out of business school was with CV Therapeutics.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">2) What will you be focused on at 23andMe?</h6>



I’ve spent two decades in biotech. The synergy between the consumer business, the research services, and the therapeutics groups attracted me to this position. They each offer the potential to develop different kinds of partnerships, and that’s appealing to me.&nbsp;



There is this potential of augmenting what 23andMe is already doing through collaborations and partnerships, whether on the consumer side by helping consumers get access to the kind of genetic information they can use to better their lives, or on the research side with all these incredible insights, or on the therapeutics side and leveraging all this data to develop new therapies.&nbsp;



The challenge is prioritizing what opportunities will be best for the company and our mission.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">3) Does your new role differ from your past roles and responsibilities, if so how?</h6>



I have experience in B2B transactions, and the key to success is finding ways for both parties to win. When it comes to 23andMe’s consumer products, our research, and our therapeutics development there are different kinds of considerations for collaborations and partnership.&nbsp;



It will be fascinating and challenging. There’s a lot of potential and I think we will make a real difference in people’s lives.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">4) What are you most excited about regarding 23andMe and what our Therapeutics team is doing?</h6>



23andMe&#8217;s unique advantage is our incredible database and our ability to use genetics to identify drug development targets. That&#8217;s very exciting.&nbsp;



Drug development takes a very long time, is expensive, and has a low success rate. The result is a lot of wasted time and money. However, if we start with a target that is validated using genetics, in that case, we have a much better chance for success. Using validation first gives us a better starting point for drug development. Improving the drug development process by even a few percentage points could save billions of dollars and, more importantly, improve the chances of finding new treatments for patients who need them. I&#8217;m excited about that.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">5) You’ve spent a career in biotech and have a good grasp of the industry. Do you think the industry in general realizes that 23andMe is a full biotech company?</h6>



People in the industry don’t know the full extent of what 23andMe is capable of. I think many are even shocked by the size of our therapeutics team and that we’re currently working on so many programs in the preclinical stage. This lack of awareness around our therapeutics work is partly because 23andMe’s consumer brand is so strong that everything else we do is hidden behind that big veil.



There are some challenges there, and even skepticism, but that also presents an opportunity once potential partners and collaborators see what we can actually do.

Meet 23andMe’s New Chief Corporate Development Officer

The following opinion piece originally appeared on <a href="https://fortune.com/2023/04/25/human-genome-revealed-secrets-20-years-fulfill-promise-personalized-health-care-anne-wojcicki/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fortune.com</a>.



By Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe CEO and Co-founder



Sequencing the human genome for the first time was an incredible feat. Twenty years ago this week, the sequencing project was completed with the promise that it would transform how we predict, prevent, and treat almost all human disease.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Anne_Color_-Seated-852x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-22084" width="426" height="512" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Anne_Color_-Seated-852x1024.jpg 852w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Anne_Color_-Seated-250x300.jpg 250w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Anne_Color_-Seated-768x923.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Anne_Color_-Seated-732x880.jpg 732w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Anne_Color_-Seated-982x1180.jpg 982w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 426px) 100vw, 426px" /></figure>



With such an important&nbsp;<a href="https://fortune.com/company/discovery-insurance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">discovery</a>&nbsp;under our belt, one would believe we are now on the cusp of a new phase in personalized healthcare, one that uses genetics to inform every patient journey. Yet, we are still far from the delivery of personalized healthcare for everyone. The problem is not a lack of scientific progress, but rather a failure to implement widespread genetic testing and personalized medicine for all who could benefit from it.



There are meaningful genetic risk markers identified for hundreds of important health conditions. Increasingly, we know that common and serious health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, have both genetic and environmental influences. Using models that combine up to thousands of genetic variants, we can identify who is at highest risk for disease, and use that knowledge to guide healthcare and lifestyle decisions to help prevent the disease or find it earlier.



Today, there aren’t clear guidelines for how to use genetic information in preventive health and most healthcare professionals are not yet equipped to bring genetic testing into routine practice.



Even for conditions where there&nbsp;are&nbsp;clear guidelines, like those influenced by specific variants in well-known genes, we don’t do a great job of identifying the people who would benefit from genetic testing and personalized management.



People with&nbsp;BRCA1&nbsp;and&nbsp;BRCA2&nbsp;genetic variants carry a substantially higher risk for breast, ovarian, and other cancers, yet a&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2703131" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a>&nbsp;by researchers at Geisinger reported that more than 80% of people with a&nbsp;BRCA1/2&nbsp;variant did not know they have one. Current guidelines for clinical genetic testing and reimbursement typically rely on patients having a personal or family history of cancer or knowing their ancestral background (since some populations, including those of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, are at higher risk). We now know that almost half the people with genetic variants in&nbsp;BRCA1/2&nbsp;don’t qualify for testing based on these guidelines,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7203114/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sometimes because they don’t know their ancestry</a>, which suggests that broader access to genetic testing is needed.



In some cases, there may be opportunities for broader access to genetic testing to help address existing health disparities. For example, we know that a variant in a gene called&nbsp;TTR&nbsp;is common in people of West African descent and increases risk for heart failure. In fact,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-and-personalized-healthcare/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">approximately 10% of African Americans over the age of 60 with congestive heart failure are thought to have this variant</a>, but most never know they have it. With new targeted therapies entering the market at a rapid pace, it becomes increasingly important to find the right people who would benefit most from treatment early on.



Genetic testing already plays an important role in guiding medications we use to treat common conditions. As far back as 2007,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2799123/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the FDA added labeling to the anticoagulant Warfarin</a>&nbsp;noting the importance of genetic factors in how a patient would respond. In 2010,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/fda-drug-safety-communication-reduced-effectiveness-plavix-clopidogrel-patients-who-are-poor#:~:text=%5B03%2D12%2D2010%5D,full%20benefits%20of%20the%20drug." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the FDA added black-box labeling to another anti-blood-clotting medication, Clopidogrel</a>, noting the importance of a person’s genetics in how a patient would metabolize the drug.&nbsp;Several states even&nbsp;<a href="https://www.genomeweb.com/diagnostics/lawsuit-hawaii-against-plavix-sponsors-alleges-burden-pharma-market-pgx-information#.ZEbC8-zML0p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sued</a>&nbsp;the manufacturer of Clopidogrel, citing that significant percentages of their populations did not respond to the medication.&nbsp;



Antidepressants and statins (cholesterol-lowering medications) taken by millions of people are also influenced by differences in genetics. Some of the warnings for dozens and dozens of<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/science-and-research-drugs/table-pharmacogenomic-biomarkers-drug-labeling" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;commonly prescribed medications</a>&nbsp;note that genetics can play a role in whether a patient will or will not respond well to that drug, or even have an adverse reaction, but very few patients are ever tested prior to prescribing. A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01841-4/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a>&nbsp;showed that patients could experience 30%fewer serious adverse reactions if their medications were tailored to their genes. Despite overwhelming evidence that genetic testing is key to improving the way medication is prescribed, only in rare instances are patients tested first to see how they might respond to a medication before it is prescribed.



We have an incredible opportunity to leverage genetic testing and transform how we predict, prevent, and treat many diseases.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8629298/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tens of millions of consumers have purchased and taken a DNA test</a>. Consumer demand is there. Doctors are also ready for this information. A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-and-personalized-healthcare/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survey</a>&nbsp;we conducted along with Medscape found that two-thirds of doctors feel using genetic testing could lead to better outcomes for their patients and over 90% say genetics are an important part of a patient’s complete health picture.



As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the sequencing of the human genome, it’s important for consumers, healthcare professionals, and healthcare industry leaders to recognize the potential we all have with the adoption and integration of genetic data into routine healthcare. Ushering in more personalized healthcare is within our reach today.

Anne Wojcicki

It’s time to fulfill its promise of personalized health care

This week we celebrate<a href="http://www.genome.gov/10506367"> National DNA Day</a>!



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="169" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DNA_Day_20th_Anniversary_dyn-300x169.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31695" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DNA_Day_20th_Anniversary_dyn-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DNA_Day_20th_Anniversary_dyn.jpg 480w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></figure>



Every day at 23andMe is DNA Day really, but this day, in particular, is special because it marks the 20th anniversary of the mapping of the human genome. It also marks the 70th anniversary of the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA. So it’s a twofer anniversary.



There’s a lot planned this year. Along with some fun 23andMe will be having in Times Square in New York (check out our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CrbRj7At2Dz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> for the full schedule and to see some of the fun), 23andMe is also participating in a symposium sponsored by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). There’s also a nifty map that the NHGRI put together listing other events in the US and around the world you can check out here.



The NHGRI symposium will feature a number of leading experts in the field of genetics, including Francis Collins, the former director of the NHGRI. Collins will deliver a talk on the history of genetic science and its future. Other speakers will include current NHGRI director, Eric Green, and Joyce Tung, Ph.D., Vice President of Research at 23andMe.



The symposium is free, open to the public, and will be held virtually on April 25, 2023. To register, please visit the NHGRI website. To attend the conference virtually, go here.



We hope you will join us in celebrating National DNA Day! This is an important opportunity to learn more about our genes and how they impact our health. It is also a chance to celebrate the progress that has been made in genetic research and to look forward to the future of this field.



Happy DNA Day everybody!

News — Page 2