October 3, 2008 – 23andMe Inc. is embarking on a worldwide effort to assemble the largest cohort of women whose lives have been impacted by breast cancer and to build an infrastructure, based on genetics, which will accelerate consumer-based research of the disease, according to the company.
In honor of October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, co-founders Linda Avey and Anne Wojcicki told science and business leaders at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Conference that the company will seek to reach out to, and build a community around, women who have encountered breast cancer.
In recent years, the scientific community has effectively utilized genetic testing to direct and dramatically improve breast cancer treatment.
“Great strides have been made in targeting treatment for breast cancer," Avey said. “We’d like to build on this progress, and we believe that by creating a Web-based forum that enables women to share their experiences, the entire community could benefit and more personalized treatments may ultimately be an outcome.”
Women who sign up for 23andMe’s genetic testing service can opt-in to take surveys that help drive genome-wide association studies. Genetic profiles combined with medical and family history can contribute greatly to research efforts and help researchers understand causes around disease and treatment.
For more information: www.23andMe.com
October 25, 2026 
