Announcing Lung Cancer Genetics Study & Lifebit Partnership

Lung Cancer Genetics Study & Lifebit Partner to Advance Groundbreaking Research Funded by Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies

Lifebit, a technology company trusted by some of the world’s foremost biomedical research organizations and governments, proudly announces a partnership with Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies (TWP), which deploys philanthropy and mission-related investments in key priority areas including accelerating cancer research. This collaboration will leverage Lifebit’s innovative platform to launch a secure data analytics and information exchange system in support of TWP’s groundbreaking Lung Cancer Genetics Study, with the goal of accelerating lung cancer research. Read the entire press release here.

1,500 Participants and Counting

The Happy Lungs Project is a proud collaborator with TWP, 23andMe, and the more than 20 other lung cancer advocacy organizations united around the Lung Cancer Genetics Study. More than 1,500 participants have already enrolled through 23andMe’s online research platform – including 20 people with RET mutations! We hope that many more RET patients will join the study as part of our goal of reaching 10,000 total participants by 2027.

Why This Study Matters

While research and targeted therapies have provided hope and progress for many people diagnosed with lung cancer, we still don’t know much about the disease and its causes. Your participation in this study can help change that.

Participating in research could contribute to these long-term goals:

1. Identifying risk factors. Greater understanding of the role genetics and lifestyle factors play in lung cancer may help researchers identify risk factors that can impact you and your family.
2. Developing personalized treatments. Learning more about the link between genetics and lung cancer may eventually aid in developing new cancer therapies.
3. Improving detection. Research advancements could be a step toward improving screening and identifying those at risk earlier.

Join the Lung Cancer Genetics Study

Lung cancer impacts people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. We want our study to represent all people so our research can have the biggest potential to benefit all people. By choosing to participate in this study and sharing it with your friends and family, you can make a difference.

How Will This Database Help Lung Cancer Research?

De-identified data from the study will be made available to approved researchers through Lifebit’s Trusted Research Environment (TRE) starting in summer 2025. Once data are available on the platform, researchers will be able to request access by submitting a research proposal detailing the analyses they intend to perform. Patients will be included in the Lung Cancer Genetics Study’s data governance process, including a review of researcher qualifications and research proposals to determine if they are appropriate for the data. The de-identified data from the study will then be made available to approved nonprofit researchers and institutions at no cost, so that more researchers can make new discoveries. Leveraging Lifebit’s federated technology, deployed on TWP’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud, approved researchers will be empowered to conduct advanced analyses without downloading sensitive data, maintaining compliance with the highest ethical and regulatory standards.

The Power of Partnership

“We’re thrilled to join forces with Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies in the fight against lung cancer,” said Dr. Maria Dunford, CEO of Lifebit. “This partnership showcases the power of federated data solutions to accelerate research and uncover actionable insights, ultimately transforming patient outcomes.”

“Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies is committed to driving innovation in lung cancer research,” said Nadia Litterman, Director of Scientific Affairs and Partnerships at Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies. “By collaborating with Lifebit and using their platform, we can ensure our study data is secure, scalable, and impactful, empowering researchers to make meaningful advances in cancer research.”

“This announcement brings us one step closer to a database that can help power research in RET-driven lung cancers,” said Ilana Stromberg, member of The Happy Lungs Project board, who also serves on the patient advisory board for the Lung Cancer Genetics Study. “We look forward to sharing this resource with RET researchers and continuing to contribute the patient voice to this groundbreaking collaborative effort.”

For more information about the partnership between Lifebit and Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies, visit www.lifebit.ai

To learn more about the Lung Cancer Genetics Study, visit https://www.23andme.com/lung-cancer

About Lifebit

Lifebit is a global leader in genomics and health data software, empowering organizations to securely and efficiently leverage sensitive biomedical data. Lifebit’s federated technology is trusted by governments, research institutions, and biopharma companies worldwide to drive discoveries and improve patient outcomes. Learn more about Lifebit’s TRE at https://www.lifebit.ai/ @lifebitAI

About Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies

Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies deploys philanthropy and mission-related investments to organizations that are accelerating cancer research, tackling climate change, and advancing human rights. For the last 15 years, 30% of TWP’s funding has been dedicated to advancing cancer research.

Media Contacts

Lifebit: pr@lifebit.ai

Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies: nadia@twphilanthropies.org