Poncheg.com - State & Community News Blog

Genetic analysis start-up 23andMe, known for its star-studded “spit parties” and a controversial investment from Google, announced Thursday the debut of a new initiative to bring together women who have been affected by breast cancer or who may be genetically at risk.

October is the 23rd annual National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Using its Web-based social network, 23andMe hopes to “reach out to, and build a community around, women who have encountered breast cancer, thereby increasing the scientific understanding of the inherited aspects of a disease that affects 200,000 newly diagnosed individuals per year.” Women who purchase the $399 testing kits will have the option to participate in surveys, and the start-up’s research arm, called “23andWe,” will build a community for the swapping of knowledge, advice, and support.

Representatives from 23andMe said that the project does not yet have any external research organizations as partners, and remains “primarily a social-networking community” at the time. The genetics community has been reluctant to embrace consumer DNA-analysis companies, and California has asked them to stop selling tests until they can be fully compliant with health regulations.