SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 23andMe Holding Co. (NASDAQ:ME) (23andMe), a leading genetic health and biopharmaceutical company, and the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Alliance), the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to ending colorectal cancer, announced a collaboration to help advance research on colorectal cancer in the Black/African American community. The Genetic Insights into Colorectal Cancer in the Black Community Study is part of 23andMe's continued efforts to raise awareness about important health conditions that touch many individuals but disproportionately impact the Black community. Through this study, 23andMe and the Alliance aim to recruit individuals who have African ancestry or identify as Black, African American, or of African descent who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, which includes colon cancer and cancer of the rectum.How colorectal cancer impacts the Black communityIn the United States, Black and African Americans tend to experience earlier onset and worse disease outcomes for colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among men and women in the Black community. Black Americans have the second-highest incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer in the U.S. They are 15% more likely to develop colorectal cancer and 35% more likely to die from it than non-Hispanic white Americans. Rates of early onset colorectal cancer in the Black community are also increasing. "At the Alliance, we empower people to better navigate colorectal cancer outcomes in their lives and communities," said Angele Russell, Senior Director of Partnerships & Health Equity at the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. "This includes increasing awareness among young Black people who might not know their risk factors and providing resources aimed at early detection."Addressing the research gap23andMe offers reports, among which are those based on statistical models known as polygenic scores (PRS). The PRS reports are developed by 23andMe scientists and clinical experts using the company's database of genetic and self-reported ...Full story available on Benzinga.com