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23andMe Demonstrates Comprehensive Research Capabilities at Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics

November 5, 2012

Leading Personal Genetics Company Calls for Academic Collaborators to Help Develop New Research Portal

Mountain View, Calif. – November 5, 2012 – 23andMe, the leading personal genetics company, is participating in five panels and presentations, as well as hosting 17 poster presentations at this year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) held in San Francisco, November 6 – 10, 2012. “The breadth and depth of research we are presenting at ASHG is a testament to the power of our web-based research model,” 23andMe co-founder and CEO Anne Wojcicki said. “From analyzing exome data to detecting a somatic mutation associated with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, our unique research model is delivering genetic discoveries that expand our understanding of human biology.”

Panels and Presentations

  • 23andMe Senior Director of Research Joanna Mountain, PhD. will participate in a panel discussion on the role of direct-to-consumer genetics in research on Wednesday, November 7th.
  • 23andMe Senior Science Content Manager Shirley Wu, PhD. will participate in a panel discussion about how social media can be used to benefit research, also on Wednesday, November 7th.
  • 23andMe Principal Scientist of Statistical Genetics Nicholas Eriksson PhD. will give a platform presentation on more than 250 novel associations with human morphological traits on Thursday, November 8th.
  • 23andMe Computational Biologist Eric Durand, PhD. will give a platform presentation on fine scale population genetic structure of African Americans, also on Thursday, November 8th.

The full schedule of the company’s presentations and posters is available online at www.23andMe.com/ashg2012. Senior Medical Director for 23andMe, Dr. Uta Francke, will also be receiving the William Allan Award, which recognizes a scientist for substantial and far-reaching scientific contributions to human genetics.

“It is an honor to work with someone as pioneering as Dr. Francke,” Wojcicki added. “We are thrilled to see the American Society of Human Genetics recognize the significant contributions Dr. Francke has made to the field.”

Call for Academic Collaborators

23andMe is calling for academic collaborators to participate in the development of a new Research Portal that will, for the first time, allow researchers from outside of 23andMe to access de-identified, aggregated genotype and phenotype data from the 23andMe database. The company believes the contributions of its customers can go further towards accelerating the discovery process if it provides qualified researchers with self-service access to 23andMe’s expanding dataset within a framework that also protects the privacy of participants. Resulting discoveries can benefit not just the 23andMe community, but also expand the understanding of human genetics more broadly. Institutions interested in participating can review criteria and apply at www.23andMe.com/ResearchPortal. The company will also have a presence in the conference exhibit hall at booth #826. Conference attendees can stop by to talk with 23andMe scientists and enter daily drawings for free Personal Genome Services® – a $299 value. 23andMe helps individuals explore their own DNA and provides more than 200 health and trait reports as well as genetic ancestry information through its Personal Genome Service.

About 23andMe

23andMe, Inc., headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, is a leading consumer genetics and research company. Founded in 2006, the company’s mission is to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome. 23andMe has pioneered direct access to genetic information as the only company with multiple FDA clearances for genetic health reports. The company has created the world’s largest crowdsourced platform for genetic research, with 80% of its customers electing to participate. The 23andMe research platform has generated more than 180 publications on the genetic underpinnings of a wide range of diseases. The platform also powers the 23andMe Therapeutics group, currently pursuing drug discovery programs rooted in human genetics across a spectrum of disease areas, including oncology, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases, in addition to other therapeutic areas. More information is available at www.23andMe.com.