Lisa Canon-Albright, Ph.D.Professor, Genetic EpidemiologyUniversity of UtahTo reach Dr. Canon-Albright, contact Kathy Wilets[email protected](801) 541-5093
Angelina Jolie’s mother had both breast and ovarian cancer, and her mother’s mother had ovarian cancer. From them she inherited a mutation in the gene BRCA1, which predicts a lifetime risk of up to 80 percent for developing breast and 60 percent for developing ovarian cancer.
Family histories like Jolie’s fueled discovery of the BRCA genes over twenty years ago. Geneticist Lisa Canon-Albright, Ph.D., was on the University of Utah research team that identified these mutations. Canon-Albright can explain how genealogical information can do more than tell where your ancestors came from. Combined with medical records and genetic information, the unique approach uncovers the causes of disease that run in families. It can also reveal the likelihood of other family members – even distant relatives – for being at risk for disease, knowledge that is being used to help with decisions about prevention and treatment.
For more information:About Lisa Canon-Albright
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