Discover23 builds on 23andMe’s mission to help more people harness the benefits of the human genome. It will enable collaborations with biopharma partners in a scalable and privacy-focused manner to accelerate research. Discover23 provides the results of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) conducted on over 1000 disease and condition cohorts. These studies were done by 23andMe scientists analyzing 4.7B data points, curating cohesive cohorts most relevant for medical research and drug discovery. Discover23 provides summaries of research results, which do not identify any particular individual, with authorized research collaborators.

Authorized collaborators will have the ability to use Discover23 insights for various research initiatives aimed at discovering new and more effective treatments. These research insights enable biopharma collaborators to better understand disease biology, identify novel drug targets, apply genetic insights to optimize research programs, and anticipate potential safety concerns for drugs in development. By collaborating with leading experts, we aim to advance understanding of the genetic basis of diseases and support the creation of better medicines.

Through Discover23, authorized collaborators will have access to summarized reports of analyses performed on pooled data that has been stripped of personal identifiers such as name and contact details. These summaries typically highlight associations between gene variants and disease risks and do not identify any particular individual. Only data from 23andMe customers who have consented to participate in research will be used in analyses.

23andMe research uses data that has been stripped of personal identifiers such as name and contact details. Most research, including Discover23, provides population-level summary statistics generated by pooling similar information from many research participants. 23andMe’s research is reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), an independent ethics panel that ensures research complies with government and ethical guidelines.

Authorized researchers will access data and reports within a secure Trusted Research Environment (TRE) with built-in access controls and data governance protections. Data remains within the TRE, so that analysis can be performed securely. Potential researchers must sign an agreement which describes what they can and cannot do with research data. 23andMe retains full control over data in the TRE, and its use is restricted to researchers explicitly authorized by the company. This setup ensures scalable, controlled access while upholding our commitment to participant privacy and data security.

23andMe’s Trusted Research Environment (TRE), the secure environment for data analysis, is powered by technology from Lifebit. Lifebit has demonstrated experience in safely handling sensitive genomic and phenotypic data from a wide range of different health initiatives. Their vision aligned with ours in creating a flexible, safe, and easy-to-use portal within which researchers could leverage the power of the 23andMe research cohort while respecting participant privacy. Their platform allows 23andMe to grant scientists access to only the Discover23 research insights that they need while still preserving the privacy and security of our consented research cohort. Read more about our partnership with Lifebit in our press release.

Only vetted and authorized researchers can access Discover23 analyses. Potential researchers must sign an agreement which describes what they can and cannot do with participant data. 23andMe enforces strict data security measures that must be in place before authorizing access.

Customers can change their consent status at any time within Account Settings or by contacting Customer Support. For more information about participating in research, refer to the Research Consent Document.

'For research participants, please contact Customer Support. For potential collaborators, please use the Contact Us form above.