A powerful new genetics study is offering fresh hope in the fight against lung cancer — especially for patients with rare mutations and those who’ve never smoked. The Lung Cancer Genetics Study, launched in 2024 by 23andMe and supported by nearly two dozen patient advocacy groups, is collecting genetic and clinical data from thousands of lung cancer patients to help uncover what drives this complex disease. It’s one of the first efforts of its kind to truly center patient voices from the beginning, ensuring that research reflects real-world experiences.
The project began with a friendship between two women living with lung cancer, Ilana Stromberg and Susan Troper Wojcicki, both mothers of five and determined to make a difference. Motivated by the lack of research and funding for lung cancer, especially RET-positive and other biomarker-driven subtypes, they envisioned a national lung cancer registry that could drive discoveries and lead to better, more personalized treatments. Susan’s passing in 2024 makes the study even more meaningful to those involved. Her legacy lives on through this groundbreaking initiative, which is expected to accelerate research and give families facing lung cancer a renewed sense of hope. (Source: 23andMe Blog)
