Improving genetic risk scores for breast cancer screening and prevention
Project 2: Optimizing polygenic risk scores to inform breast cancer screening and prevention
This project works to make genetic risk scores more accurate so breast cancer screening and prevention can be better matched to each woman's risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11191526 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about work that builds on the WISDOM program, where women received testing for rare genetic changes and common DNA variants to create polygenic risk scores (PRS). The team plans to make PRS work better across different ancestries, create a PRS that flags faster-growing breast cancers, and compare the chances of advanced cancer with annual versus biennial screening across PRS levels. They will test new scores using genetic data and screening outcomes from WISDOM participants, with special focus on non-European populations. The goal is to make risk predictions more useful for real screening decisions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are women eligible for routine breast cancer screening—especially those from diverse ancestral backgrounds who participate in genetic testing and screening programs like WISDOM.
Not a fit: People without genetic testing, men, or those already diagnosed with breast cancer are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify women who need earlier or more frequent screening and reduce the chance of advanced breast cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Related work shows PRS can help stratify breast cancer risk, but improving accuracy across ancestries and predicting fast-growing tumors is relatively new and less established.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shieh, Yiwey — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Shieh, Yiwey
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.