Like almost everything this year, the annual meeting of the<a href="https://www.ashg.org/meetings/2020meeting/"> American Society of Human Genetics</a> will be virtual.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ashg2020-logo-v4.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-28592" width="300" height="73" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ashg2020-logo-v4.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ashg2020-logo-v4-300x73.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Instead of having thousands of scientists converge on a city for a week of presentations on the latest breakthroughs in genetics, this year all of that will be done online. 
But that isn’t the only way that this year’s gathering is different. The meeting, from October 27 to October 30, comes as scientists around the world are in the midst of searching for insights that could lead to treatments or a vaccine for COVID-19.
<h6>Drug Discovery</h6>
And on that note, this year’s conference will begin with Eric Green, the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, hosting a conversation on the role genetic research is playing in drug discovery. 
The panel will include researchers from the National Institutes of Health as well as representatives from biopharmaceutical companies and advocacy organizations. Among those on the panel is George D. Yancopoulos, the chief scientific officer of the biotech company Regeneron, which developed the<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/health/trump-antibody-treatment.html"> experimental antibody</a> cocktail that was used to treat President Donald Trump. 
<h6>COVID-19 Research</h6>
Beyond that opening session, the organizers set aside a special poster session that allows for late submissions on work being done on COVID-19 so that the most current studies are on offer. More than three dozen teams, including one from 23andMe, are presenting their data in this<a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/session/551"> “Late-Breaking Posters on COVID-19”</a> session. 23andMe scientists will be presenting their findings from recently published research on genetic and non-genetic factors that contribute to both the<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/23andme-covid-study-published/"> severity and susceptibility of COVID-19</a>.
<h6>23andMe Research Presentations</h6>
But beyond the studies on the virus, the conference, as it does each year, will include much more than just research on the pandemic. On the schedule, there are more than 200 oral presentations, about 2,000 scientific poster presentations, and “booths” from 80 exhibitors. Several teams of scientists from 23andMe will also be presenting some of our non-COVID-19 related research. 
This includes research into using genome-wide association studies to improve the prediction of complex traits and ethical issues around recruiting for research. 23andMe scientists will also be presenting new data that has found an association between certain behaviors, like smoking, and the risk for Parkinson’s disease. 
Here is a list of 23andMe’s presentations and posters:
<ul>
<li>Johnathan Bowes </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/2397">“A participant- centric approach to genotype-driven recruitment”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Emily Bullis </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/2392">“A prospectus on ethical issues in the context of collaborations between academic and non-academic institutions on genetics research”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Karl Heilbron, Ph.D.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/3128">“PD Protective Factors”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Priyanka Nandakumar, Ph.D.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/3153">“Heritable determinants of mitochondrial heteroplasmy”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Janie Shelton, Ph.D.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/3904">“Trans-ethnic analysis of COVID-19 among 23andMe research participants reveals genetic and non-genetic associations with disease susceptibility and severity”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Wei Wang, Ph.D.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/3185">Improving polygenic risk prediction by transferring GWAS signals from hundreds of complex traits</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>

A image of double helix showing a variant

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Annual Genetics Conference Goes All Online This Year

New research published this month adds to a growing list of empirical evidence that people find value in health information gleaned from direct-to-consumer <a href="https://www.23andme.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetic testing</a>.
The 23andMe study, published in the journal Molecular Genetics &amp; Genomic Medicine, found that direct-to-consumer testing can lead people to engage in critical conversations with their healthcare providers. In some cases, the results from their reports lead people to make behavioral changes to help lower their disease risk.
&#8220;Most study participants reported that knowing their genetic risk was an advantage,&#8221; said co-lead author Sarah L. Elson, Ph.D., and a 23andMe senior research program manager and senior scientist. &#8220;Many of those who learned about their risk did what you would hope. They either talked to their doctor or made lifestyle changes to help lower their risk.&#8221; <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/bloodclot-300x223.jpg" alt="Blood cells clotting" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1400" width="300" height="223" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/bloodclot-300x223.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/bloodclot.jpg 350w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h6>The Impact of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing</h6>
There have been anecdotal stories from customers about how their results positively impacted their lives, but the study adds data from a large cohort of customers, Elson said.
The study looked at how more than 2,000 people reacted to 23andMe&#8217;s Hereditary Thrombophilia Genetic Health Risk report.* (At the time the name of the report was Inherited Thrombophilia (Factor V Leiden-and Prothrombin-Related.) The participants responded to questions in two different online surveys consisting of just over 100 questions. 
They were asked about their perceptions of venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk, whether they discussed their results with healthcare providers, what if any recommendations they received, what actions they took to manage risk, their emotional responses to receiving risk results, and their perceived value of the information. The report looks at the two most common genetic risk factors for hereditary thrombophilia, more generally known as venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTEs are characterized by either deep vein thrombosis, clots that typically form in the legs, or pulmonary embolisms when clots travel into the lungs. Both are very serious and can lead to long term problems, and in some cases, even death.
<h6>The Prevalence of  VTEs</h6>
In the United States alone, there are between 300,000–600,000 cases of VTEs each year. About a quarter of those with VTEs have one of the two variants tested by 23andMe. These two variants are the Factor V Leiden variant in the F5 gene and the Prothrombin G20210A variant in the F2 gene. This study looked at how people reacted to learning whether they had one of those variants, as reported by 23andMe.
A little more than half of those in this study had one of these 2 variants associated with a higher risk for VTE. Ninety percent of those with a high-risk variant had never been clinically tested for Factor V Leiden or the F2 gene variant. After testing, a majority of consumers in the study — 78 percent of those with one of the risk variants and 58 percent without one of the variants — said that it was advantageous to have the test&#8217;s information. Just under half used that information as the impetus for a discussion with their healthcare provider. 
A majority of participants in the study who learned they had a higher than average genetic risk, found personal utility in receiving that information. The study also found that about 30 percent of the research participants made positive behavioral changes to control their risk, such as exercising more, after learning about their risk. 
<h6>A Growing Body of Research </h6>
The research is the latest in what has been a series of peer-reviewed studies over the last decade, explicitly looking at the impact of direct-to-consumer genetic testing. The best known of these is the <a href="https://www.genomes2people.org/research/pgen/">Impact of Personal Genomics Study</a>, known as the PGen study. The study was led by scientists at the Broad Institute and Harvard Medical School. That study and others have tackled several central questions around direct-to-consumer testing. Among those questions are: Can people understand this information? How do they use their test results? Do they use this information to <a href="https://www.genomes2people.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/20170502_PGen_BMCMedicalGenomics_Nielsen_DietExerciseDTC.pdf">manage their health?</a> Does testing impact their level of knowledge or <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/few-worry-about-genetic-testing/">anxiety regarding genetic health risks? </a>
Previous 23andMe research has also tackled some of these questions. One <a href="https://peerj.com/articles/8/">study</a> looked at how consumers responded to reports that showed an increased genetic risk for breast cancer. That study found that people followed the recommendations in 23andMe&#8217;s BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Genetic Health Risk report,* and talked to their doctors. They also got confirmatory tests from their healthcare providers. And they talked to family members about their potential risk, thereby creating a cascade-like benefit. 
In this latest study, looking at how consumers respond to information in their Hereditary Thrombophilia Genetic Health Risk report, 23andMe’s report also helps people who are asymptomatic and, absent of family history, might not have known of their risk for a VTE without 23andMe&#8217;s test. While the report does not cover all the genetic variants associated with VTEs, it does include the two most common and best-understood variants.
As the researchers state in the new study: &#8220;Taken together, these results suggest that consumers may experience personal utility from receiving DTC genetic results for VTE risk that is distinct from the potential benefit in receiving clinically actionable information.&#8221;
<hr />
*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 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. 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 other genetic health risk reports and carrier status reports, click <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/">here</a>. 
&nbsp;

New Study on People’s Response to Information from Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

Starting today, we are offering current 23andMe health service customers in the U.S. access to 23andMe+ Premium, a new annual membership. This membership provides customers with exclusive access to genetic reports, as well as new reports and features as they become available throughout the year. These additional benefits are on top of the initial set of genetic reports customers received when first purchasing their kit.
We’ve heard firsthand that customers want more ways to engage in their personal genetics journey. As science continually advances, we want to provide ongoing access to impactful new genetic health reports, and enhanced health and ancestry features. 
Priced at $29 / year, 23andMe+ Premium will offer existing customers instant access to 10+ exclusive reports and features, including:<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-28529 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1-160x300.png" alt="" width="160" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1-160x300.png 160w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1-545x1024.png 545w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1-768x1444.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1-468x880.png 468w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1-628x1180.png 628w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1.png 982w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px" />
<ul>
<li>Pharmacogenetics reports* — discover how your DNA may impact the way your body processes certain medications with three new Pharmacogenetics reports.
<ul>
<li>Includes a Medicine Cabinet feature — simply type in your medication’s name to see if it is included in your Pharmacogenetics reports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Heart Health reports — learn how genetics may influence your likelihood of developing certain heart-related conditions like high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation.</li>
<li>Migraine report (powered by 23andMe Research) — see if your genetics can increase your likelihood of experiencing migraine headaches and how to avoid certain triggers.</li>
<li>Obstructive Sleep Apnea report (powered by 23andMe Research) — learn if you have a greater chance of developing the condition based on your genetics and, if so, how you can take action.</li>
<li>Enhanced Ancestry features — advanced filtering of DNA relatives and access to up to 3,500 more DNA relatives.</li>
<li>Ongoing new reports and features — get even more personalized genetic reports and more actionable insights throughout the calendar year.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-28527 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home-231x300.png" alt="23andMe mobile pharmacogenomics" width="231" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home-231x300.png 231w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home-790x1024.png 790w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home-768x996.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home-679x880.png 679w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home-910x1180.png 910w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home.png 1583w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px" /></li>
</ul>
Existing Health + Ancestry Service customers on our v5 chip can join 23andMe+ Premium by visiting <a href="https://you.23andme.com/subscription/">https://you.23andme.com/subscription/</a>. In the coming months, new customers will be able to join 23andMe+ Premium when they purchase our health service. With more genetic reports, more health insights, and more features, we hope 23andMe+ Premium gives individuals the choice to help them discover even more about themselves. Health is in our DNA.
<hr />
*The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect 6 variants in 3 genes in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting information about the processing of certain therapeutics to inform discussions with a healthcare professional. It does not describe if a person will or will not respond to a particular therapeutic and does not describe the association between detected variants and any specific therapeutic. Results should be confirmed in a clinical setting with independent genetic testing before taking any medical action.  Warning: Test information should not be used to start, stop, or change any course of treatment and does not test for all possible variants that may affect metabolism or protein function. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional. Making changes to your current regimen can lead to harmful side effects or reduced intended benefits of your medication, therefore consult with your healthcare professional before taking any medical action. For a complete list of the 6 variants tested, visit <a href="https://permalinks.23andme.com/pdf/pgt_product_info_page_21jan2020.pdf">Pharmacogenetics Important Test Information</a>.

An illustration of a heart for heart health

23andMe+ Premium: An ongoing approach to your genetics

Last June, following the tragic deaths of George Floyd and so many others in the Black community, our CEO <a href="https://www.23andme.com/black-lives-matter">pledged to hold ourselves accountable</a> to make improvements to ensure our people, products, and practices are more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
Today, we wanted to share some of the steps we’ve started to take.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="536" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-Blog-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28515" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-Blog-1024x536.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-Blog-300x157.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-Blog-768x402.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-Blog-880x461.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-Blog-1180x618.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-Blog.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h2>Established clear Diversity, Equity &amp; Inclusion (DEI) focus areas</h2>
In order for us to have a clear understanding of the areas where we can best focus our efforts, we conducted an in-depth audit from 2019 through 2020, which included data and feedback from the following sources:
<ul>
<li>Discussions with current and former Black employees</li>
<li>Employee exit survey feedback</li>
<li>Reviewed hiring data, looking at ethnic and gender diversity</li>
<li>Company-wide employee engagement survey responses</li>
<li>Past and current workforce demographics</li>
<li>An audit conducted by <a href="https://mathison.io/">Mathison</a>, an organization focused on hiring diverse talent</li>
</ul>
Based on the findings of this audit, we were able to identify four key company focus areas:
<ol>
<li>Hiring: Attract and hire top, diverse talent.</li>
<li>Employee Experience: Cultivate an inclusive environment that authentically celebrates our shared genome and unique differences.</li>
<li>Product &amp; Research: Use our product to build and sustain DEI in every customer and community interaction.</li>
<li>Community Impact: Use our relationships to build diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities.</li>
</ol>
Our approach is to ensure DEI is the foundation of how 23andMe fundamentally operates—it’s not an afterthought or a separate side effort. We have set clear goals, codified each of these four focus areas in our annual company strategy, and will measure how well we’re making progress quarterly.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="546" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-company-1024x546.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28513" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-company-1024x546.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-company-300x160.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-company-768x409.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-company-880x469.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-company-1180x629.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DEI-company.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Additional efforts aimed at improving DEI</h6>
Although we’ve primarily been working on establishing clear company focus areas, we have made good progress in some workplace, research, product, and community efforts over the past three months. Specifically, the company:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/celebrating-pride-month-a-spotlight-on-sex-and-gender/">Hosted a company-wide Pride event</a> to celebrate our employees and to educate allies</li>
<li><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/black-information-network/">Became a Founding Partner for iHeart Radio’s BIN: Black Information Network</a>, the first and only national and local news audio service dedicated to providing an objective, accurate, and trusted source of continual news coverage with a Black voice and perspective</li>
<li>Began to build a more diverse leadership team by welcoming <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/l-okey-onyejekwe-jr">L. Okey Onyejekwe Jr., MD &amp; JD</a>, as 23andMe’s Vice President of Healthcare Operations &amp; Medical Affairs</li>
<li><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/transatlantic-slave-trade-paper">Published research detailing one of the most comprehensive investigations of the transatlantic slave trade ever done</a>, based on genetic data from close to 50,000 people</li>
<li><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/chronic-kidney-disease-report">Launched a new Genetic Health Risk report on APOL1-related chronic kidney disease</a>*, which has particular relevance for customers with African ancestry</li>
<li>Through our COVID-19 research study, we were able to <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/impact-disparities-of-covid-19">identify racial and ethnic disparities in the impact of COVID-19</a></li>
<li>Joined <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/newsroom/tech-companies-join-push-for-diversity-inclusion/">SurveyMonkey’s new initiative</a> to audit and track the diversity, equity, and inclusion practices of our vendors and service providers</li>
<li>Implemented enhancements to our HR systems to better track more dimensions of diversity and reduce bias in the candidate application process</li>
</ul>
<h2>Engaging employees across the company</h2>
Since kicking off our concerted DEI efforts, 23andMe employees have truly come together to volunteer their time and energy to create a better workplace and improve our product and community efforts.
We now have 96 active employee resource group members devoted to DEI, 23andWe. And nearly 290 employees, roughly 51% of our workforce, have joined our company Slack channel #diversity, where we discuss and share interesting articles, videos, and resources.
We believe progress can only come if all employees are motivated and engaged to drive positive change.
<h2>Continuing down the DEI path</h2>
While we’ve just started on this journey, we are encouraged by the enthusiasm of our employees. Please stay tuned as we continue to share the latest updates and news of our commitment to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion across our company, product, and community.
*The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva to report and interpret 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 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. The Chronic Kidney Disease (APOL1-Related) genetic health risk report (i) is indicated for reporting the S342G and N388_Y389del variants in the APOL1 gene, which define the G1 and G2 haplotypes, respectively, and (ii) describes if a person has variants associated with an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease. The variants included in this report are the most common and best studied in people of African descent.

23andMe’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

How employee volunteerism led to 23andMe&#8217;s new Volunteer Time Off benefit
Each summer busses packed with exhilarated kids make their way through the windy roads of Fresno county and arrive at the gates of Wonder Valley Ranch. 
As the kids unload, a group of cheerful camp counselors welcomes them with a pleasant overload of smiles, e-hugs, and happy tears. This tradition kicks off their favorite week of the year: Champ Camp!
Run by the <a href="https://www.aarbf.org/">Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation</a> (AARBF), Camp Champ is a week-long stay-away summer camp for child burn survivors, provided at no cost to the families of survivors. 
Campers spend their days playing with their friends, hitting the water slides, crushing the ropes courses, going horseback riding, making crafts, chanting songs, and giggling during evening campfires in a safe environment. They’ve been doing this every summer for 35 years and it requires many devoted volunteers to pull off a perfect week at camp.
“Volunteering at Champ Camp has been the single most rewarding experience of my life,” said Jamie Calnan, Paralegal at 23andMe. 
<div id="attachment_28447" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28447" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Camp-Champ-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28447 size-medium" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Camp-Champ-1.jpg 640w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Camp-Champ-1-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Jamie, third from the left, during the pre-COVID-19 camp days.</div>
<h6>Volunteer Benefit</h6>
Calnan has been volunteering each summer for several years, but this year was different for a number of reasons. It happened as 23andMe was going through an internal initiative to make the company a better place to work. And Calnan, taking her experience at Camp Champ, suggested a new kind of perk — offering employees paid time for volunteering. 
After the initial suggestion, Calnan compiled data on volunteer benefit programs, developed a proposal, presented to 23andMe executive staff, and then anxiously awaited feedback. Shortly after, the proposal was approved, a policy was drafted and the new benefit was shared company-wide. 23andMe’s Volunteer Time Off Policy became effective June 1, 2020, just in time for Champ Camp.
“It was great to see leadership hear my suggestion and support expanding our employee benefits with a policy that allows individuals to get more involved with charity organizations close to their hearts,” said Calnan.
<h6>Rewards of Volunteering</h6>
But volunteering at Champ Camp is no summer vacation. It involves a serious commitment that requires dedication, passion, and a fair amount of time. New counselors go through interviews and training sessions in spring and all counselors report to camp two days before campers arrive, staying through the end of the camp week. This requires volunteers to take between 9-11 days away from home and work each year to volunteer. 
But it’s worth it, says Calnan. 
“It’s a lot of hard work and responsibility but each year tops the previous year,” she said. “Working with children who come from such different cultures, families, and daily lives, who each have their own extremely unique journey is powerful.”
<h6>Summer Camp in the Time of COVID</h6>
Like many organizations, Champ Camp was faced with a very unique challenge due to COVID-19. There was a question about how AARBF could even have a summer camp for the kids. But with the help of Calnan and a group of resourceful volunteers, they were able to create and deliver the world’s first online burn survivor summer camp. One hundred and thirty-seven campers received a “camp in a box,” a special package filled with everything you’d expect from summer camp including snacks, arts and crafts, and plenty of water balloons. Campers participated in online calls, virtual campfires, various other activities, and most importantly, still spent a treasured week with their friends and favorite volunteer counselors on-screen. 
The success of this annual camp would not be possible without such an extraordinary group of volunteers who continue to make a monumental impact on the lives of the campers. 
“It feels great knowing that my employer not only supports my enthusiasm for volunteering with AARBF but now helps provide the extra time,” said Calnan. “Champ Camp Rocks!”
To learn more about the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and Champ Camp, visit us online at:<a href="https://www.aarbf.org"> https://www.aarbf.org</a>, or follow us online on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlisaAnnRuchBurnFoundation/">https://www.facebook.com/AlisaAnnRuchBurnFoundation/</a> or on Instagram at: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarbf/">https://www.instagram.com/aarbf/</a>. Donations are gladly being accepted this year to help AARBF keep up their phenomenal work. Donations can be made at <a href="https://www.aarbf.org/usapay/">https://www.aarbf.org/usapay/</a>.

Making Good of Your Time

When you use 23andMe to explore your DNA, you also entrust us with important and personal information about you.
Securing and protecting that data is paramount to 23andMe. We&#8217;re committed to keeping our customers&#8217; trust and providing a secure place where they can explore their DNA, knowing their privacy is protected. That starts with giving our customers a choice in whether their data is shared. We also want our customers to clearly understand how their data might be used if they choose to share it, and by whom.
This post, and the embedded video, is the first in a series of articles intended to give you an overview of how 23andMe protects and secures its customers’ data.  We encourage you to learn even more by reviewing our privacy and security policies.
At 23andMe, we like to say that privacy is in our DNA. It&#8217;s part of everything we do, and in creating policies around privacy and security, we are guided by three fundamental principles:
<ul>
<li>Meaningful &amp; Informed Choice: You decide how your information is used and with whom it is shared.</li>
<li> Setting the Standard for Strong Data Security: Genetic information deserves the highest level of security.</li>
<li>Privacy &amp; Transparency by Design: Protecting customer privacy is about more than just creating policies, it has to be baked into everything you do. Being clear and transparent about these policies is vital for customers to understand how their data is handled and protected.</li>
</ul>



<h6>Meaningful &amp; Informed Choice</h6>
We start with choice because it gives our customers control over whether they share or not, and with whom. Customers control their data and choose how it is used.
23andMe customers have the choice of whether or not they want to participate — and have their de-identified data used — in our innovative research into conditions like Parkinson&#8217;s disease and cancer. They choose whether they want to connect with genetic relatives through our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DNA Relatives</a> tool, or whether they want to see their health reports. They can choose to have the lab biobank their saliva sample or discard it after it is tested. A customer can always download their data, close their account, have their sample discarded, and data deleted at any time.





 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="286" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Consent-dashboard.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28430" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Consent-dashboard.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Consent-dashboard-300x168.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 



All this starts at the beginning when a customer first registers. Customers get to decide what they want to share and what they want to see when they begin to explore their genetics using 23andMe. Customers can also change what they share at any time.
The impact of each choice has to be made clear. That&#8217;s why we say &#8220;meaningful choice&#8221;, because we want to ensure that customers understand what sharing means and that they are in control.
So, for example, 23andMe calls out the possibility of learning <a href="https://you.23andme.com/public/unexpected-relationships">unexpected information</a> when opting in to participate in DNA Relatives. 23andMe reminds customers before they elect to view their health reports, that while they might learn information they can use for their health, they might learn also something unexpected. Customers can download their data and share it with third parties, but they are <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/news/how-to-be-careful-with-your-raw-dna-data/">warned about the possible consequences of exercising that choice as well</a>. It&#8217;s their decision. Or if they change their minds, they can opt-out of sharing at any time. It&#8217;s up to them.
And it’s important to understand, there are certain types of sharing we just never do: We don&#8217;t share genetic and self-reported data with employers or insurance companies, or third-party marketers.
<h6>What about 23andMe&#8217;s research?</h6>
Participating in 23andMe&#8217;s research is optional, but a lot of customers — more than 80 percent — opt-in because of the potential this new kind of research has to uncover insights into disease and new treatments. Most of our customers want to participate in this kind of research. It has already led to the publication of <a href="https://www.23andme.com/publications/">more than 150 papers</a> and powers ongoing studies into depression, Parkinson&#8217;s disease, IBD, and fertility. When we make a new finding or publish a paper, we share that information with our customers via blog posts, email, and our Research overview dashboard where customers can see what publications they have contributed to if they’ve consented to research. Most of our customers participate because they want to power the kind of research that could lead to the discovery of new treatments or cures for conditions that affect them or someone they love.





 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="604" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image-1024x604.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28431" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image-1024x604.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image-300x177.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image-768x453.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image-880x519.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image-1180x696.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Research-image.png 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 



We&#8217;ll have a separate post that goes into more detail about our research program, but if you choose to participate in research here&#8217;s what happens with your data:
First, 23andMe de-identifies your genetic data. That means that any personally identifiable information — such as your name, email, and shipping address — are stripped from your genetic information. That means if you opt into research this de-identified data is pooled together with a bigger set of de-identified data from other research participants. Second, access to our research environment is restricted to a select group of authorized personnel. In addition, our scientists look at the data set as a whole, reducing any risk of participant re-identification. You don’t have to participate in research if you don’t want to. Regardless of your participation in 23andMe Research, 23andMe never uses your genetic or individual-level data or shares it without your consent. Those who do opt-in to participate can decide to opt-out at any time. All the research we do is also overseen by an external independent third-party ethical review board (an “IRB”).
See more about our research <a href="https://research.23andme.com/">here</a>, including the more than 150 papers we&#8217;ve published.
<h6>Setting the Standard for Strong Data Security</h6>
23andMe employs software, hardware, and physical security measures to protect our customers&#8217; data. Our customer&#8217;s personally identifiable information is stored separately from genetic data, and with the leading industry standards for security.




<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="23andMe&#039;s Privacy Practices" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EW9nDuerQws?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



We&#8217;re proud of what we are doing to protect our customers&#8217; data.  That work is being recognized. For example, after an extensive security audit, our information security management system received certification under the recognized <a href="https://mediacenter.23andme.com/press-releases/23andme-achieves-iso-iec-270012013-certification/">ISO/IEC 27001:2013</a> standard. Some of the protections we have in place include:
<ul>
<li>the encryption of all sensitive information</li>
<li>limits on access to information based on job function and role</li>
<li>multi-factor authentication</li>
<li>strict least-privileged authorization policies</li>
</ul>
There are many layers to 23andMe robust security systems, but one of the most important is being ever-vigilant. That means having a top-notch security team and keeping employees up-to-date in their security training. It also means conducting ongoing third-party security audits and assessments to ensure we never let our guard down.
The intent is to create a secure place for our customers to explore their DNA because without security, you can&#8217;t have privacy.
<h6>Privacy &amp; Transparency by Design </h6>
Protecting customers&#8217; privacy is about more than just creating policies. It is baked into everything we do.
Since 23andMe&#8217;s founding, the privacy of our customers&#8217; data has been central to what we do. We strive to be transparent so that customers clearly understand how their data is handled. That meant very early on engaging with ethicists, and critics of direct-to-consumer testing. In creating an entirely new research model, 23andMe voluntarily approached a third-party institutional review board (IRB) to ensure our research participants provided informed consent. That requires that we present to customers both the benefits, and risks, of participating in research.
As a pioneer in direct-to-consumer genetic testing, 23andMe created what are now industry standards for handling customers&#8217; genetic information, and obtaining consent. All of the <a href="https://fpf.org/2018/07/31/privacy-best-practices-for-consumer-genetic-testing-services/">industry-wide best practices</a> for consumer genetic testing services published in July 2018 were already part of 23andMe&#8217;s bedrock principles. It&#8217;s why 23andMe was the first consumer genetic testing company to publish a &#8220;<a href="https://www.23andme.com/transparency-report/">transparency report.</a>&#8221; The report records all requests we&#8217;ve ever received from law enforcement for individual customer information.
23andMe has been a pioneer for privacy in genetic testing. We will continue to lead the way to keep the privacy and security of your genetic information paramount.

At 23andMe It Starts with Privacy

This month marks the two-year anniversary of 23andMe’s collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). In <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28361 size-medium alignright" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Therapeutic-300x119.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="119" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Therapeutic-300x119.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Therapeutic.jpg 564w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />July 2018 the two <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/news/collaboration-with-gsk/">joined forces</a> to focus on increasing the probability of success in drug development by prioritizing candidates validated by human genetics.
<a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/513945v1">Studies</a> show that treatments that have been validated with genetic data are at least twice as likely to succeed when compared to traditional approaches.
Ultimately, the goal of the collaboration is to drive the discovery of novel, genetically validated drug targets to bring new transformational medicines to patients. There are now close to 30 therapeutic targets that have been identified in oncology, immunology, neurology, cardiovascular and metabolic disease. The majority of these preclinical programs are in the target validation phase, and the remainder are in early drug discovery programs.
“Since our inception, 23andMe has strived to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome,” said Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe co-founder, and CEO. “We launched our research program more than a decade ago with the idea that we could make a significant impact on drug discovery with a crowdsourced genetic community. The collaboration with GSK accelerates us making that a reality.”
In a significant milestone for the collaboration, GSK and 23andMe have advanced the first joint asset into the clinic, a potential first-in-class cancer treatment that was discovered by GSK and being co-developed by the two companies. GSK and 23andMe were working on similar programs independently prior to the collaboration; GSK’s was chosen to advance to the clinic. The axis was genetically validated by 23andMe using a proprietary algorithm that compares potential drug targets to a unique data set from the 23andMe research platform. This data set comprises detailed genetic information integrated with thousands of phenotypes (non-genetic information) to help uncover genetic patterns, enabling scientists from 23andMe and from GSK to identify potential therapeutic candidates.
The benefit of this exclusive collaboration goes well beyond the programs. The collaboration is bringing together great science, new technology, and outstanding people to steer research where the data shows we can have the most impact. 23andMe brings large-scale genetic resources, antibody and protein engineering, and substantial biology experience and with its 300-year history, GSK provides tremendous expertise and resources to turn new ideas into new medicines and vaccines.
Data studied as part of the collaboration — and for all 23andMe research — is contributed by customers who explicitly opt-in to a separate research consent. 23andMe scientists study the data in-house and share summary statistics, stripped of any personal information. Collaborating with GSK allows 23andMe to much more quickly deliver on what many customers have been asking for — better treatments for diseases where current therapies are inadequate today.
“We give our customers the opportunity to participate in <a href="https://www.23andme.com/research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">novel research programs</a> across a wide variety of areas,” said Anne. “When we talk with customers who are suffering from a disease, they are hoping our research community can impact their lives, or future lives, by understanding the genetic cause of a disease and possibly finding a treatment.”

23andMe and GSK Clinical Trial

A physician, lawyer, and business leader, Okey brings a rich mix of experience to 23andMe. We sat down to learn more about his background, education, and future aspirations in his new role.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-28355 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Okey-2-218x300.jpg" alt="" width="218" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Okey-2-218x300.jpg 218w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Okey-2-743x1024.jpg 743w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Okey-2-768x1058.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Okey-2-639x880.jpg 639w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Okey-2-857x1180.jpg 857w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Okey-2.jpg 1065w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 218px) 100vw, 218px" />
Okey began his career as an IP litigator, with stints at Weil, Gotshal &amp; Manges LLP and Kasowitz, Benson, Torres, &amp; Friedman LLP, serving as a partner at the latter. Throughout his career, Okey has practiced medicine at the V.A. Palo Alto Emergency Department, leveraging his unique background to develop broad expertise in clinical medical operations.
Building on this experience, Okey founded and led Zobreus Medical, a StartX-backed company that developed patient-centered digital health solutions for consumers and providers. Most recently, Okey worked as counsel at K&amp;L Gates LLP, and then as in-house counsel and Head of Medical Affairs for Virta Health Corp.  
Okey earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from The Ohio State University and its College of Medicine before completing a family medicine residency at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. He received his J.D. from Stanford Law School.
Okey is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and serves as a Senior Flight Surgeon for the United States Air Force Reserves. Okey is an avid sports fan, and a married, father of three.
<h6>Tell us about your childhood and growing up, as well as your family’s connection to Ohio State University.</h6>
I was born and raised in Columbus, OH, the firstborn of Nigerian immigrants who emigrated as part of the mass exodus of Nigerians in the many years after the Nigerian Civil War. They came to Ohio State for graduate studies.
My father was a professor of political science and black studies, and my mother held various leadership positions at the university. Even though my grandparents were illiterate, my parents were academics (both PhDs) and raised four professional children who went on to become doctors and lawyers. We grew up on Ohio State’s campus and all four children graduated from the university.
<h6>How did you become interested in medicine?</h6>
I remember being interested in math and science at least by the fourth grade and wanting to be a scientist. I think I settled on being a doctor around middle school, probably as a result of the Cosby Show.
<h6>And not only do you have an M.D. but you also received a J.D. Tell us more about your shift to law and what led to that career move?</h6>
Toward the middle of my residency, I started to feel a bit jaded about medicine. I was working in an underserved community (Washington Heights) in an era of increasing consolidation, managed care, and various reimbursement challenges. The joy of practicing medicine was fading and I wanted to work on health care reform.
I set out originally thinking I would do government or policy work, but I ended up being a patent litigator for most of my career. What I didn’t plan for was how relevant the litigation and regulatory skill set I picked up would be for health care leadership. When combined with clinical practice, this has given me a 360 degree perspective on many health care issues.
<h6>You also serve as a Senior Flight Surgeon in the US Air Force. Can you share what you’ve done in this admirable role?</h6>
Around the time I started law school, I was commissioned into the United States Air Force Reserves. After living through September 11, 2001 in Manhattan, I knew I wanted to serve.
I trained as a flight surgeon, which is a fancy term used in the military to describe a physician who is trained to manage critical health care scenarios while in flight, and if necessary, in combat. I thought one weekend a month would be a manageable commitment that would allow me to stay connected to medicine.
But it’s been more involved, and I’ve had two overseas deployments including one in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during the surge. During that service, I was awarded an Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement While Participating in Aerial Flight — one of the proudest achievements in my career.
<h6>Why did you decide to join 23andMe?</h6>
I was looking for three things in my next opportunity: impact, innovation, and inspiration. I wanted to go somewhere I genuinely felt I could help have a positive impact not only at the company, but on healthcare as a whole. I was looking to join an innovative company that was committed to developing new products and services in creative ways, while continuing to delight on its existing offerings.
And lastly, I desperately wanted to go to a place where I would be inspired every day, working with amazing people with a passion for tackling tough problems.
Somewhere that values what I bring to the table, and where I’m in turn awed by my phenomenal colleagues. 23andMe is such a place. And once I learned more about Anne’s incredible vision, and after I met my future teammates, it was a no-brainer!
<h6>What most excites you about this role?</h6>
I’m excited about playing a role in defining a new category in the delivery of healthcare. While the exact contours remain to be defined, this role will have a substantive impact on shaping that category.
<h6>What are some of the biggest challenges you foresee?</h6>
Defining a new category in healthcare is daunting. There will be naysayers and opponents. There will be entrenched interests who currently benefit from the inefficiencies we seek to address.
But the biggest potential challenge will not be external. It will be whether or not we have the resolve to weather these storms and persist in our determination to bring something better to the table. Given past challenges, and having met many on the leadership team, I have no doubt we will overcome all obstacles.
<h6>What is the best career advice you can share?</h6>
The best supervisors and bosses work for you, and not the other way around. Make sure to push your supervisors to challenge you and give you opportunities above your current skills or experience set. Think about what it is that you want to do next and then ask for projects related to that.
This is how you grow and prepare yourself for more advanced roles.
<h6>What are you passionate about?</h6>
My children are the center of my universe. Everything my wife and I do is aimed toward making the world a little bit better for them. This means proactively contributing to ensuring that they live in a world that’s tolerant, inclusive, and equitable.
As black children, they need to grow up believing &#8212; knowing &#8212; that their skin color isn’t a liability, or worse, a death sentence. That’s not the world we live in now, and nothing that I do will mean anything if that doesn’t change.

Inside 23andMe — Page 4