Skip to main content

College of
Health Sciences

MyCode Genomic Screening and Counseling Program


The MyCode Genomic Screening and Counseling program analyzes the DNA sample you provided and shares certain findings important to your health with you and your doctor. 

The program supports MyCode patient-participants, their families, doctors and other clinicians. We use and test new tools to integrate DNA results into care. We hope to empower MyCode patient-participants and their families to act on this important genetic information to prevent disease and allow for earlier, more treatable diagnoses. When we analyze your DNA, we’re looking for findings that:
  • Are known or expected to increase your (and your blood relatives’) risk of certain diseases
  • Have screening available for early detection or to minimize the risk of developing disease
After we analyze your DNA sample, if we find something we want to share with you, we will first determine if this is something you already know about by reviewing your medical record. If not, a genetic testing laboratory will also look at your DNA to confirm you have a specific change in your genes that puts you at higher risk for developing certain conditions. 

All the conditions we tell you about are important for your health and are actionable. Actionable means there are steps you and your doctor can take to minimize the chances of developing disease or to catch disease early. 

If we find changes in your DNA that increase your risk, we will put a genetic test report in your electronic health record and notify your primary care provider. One of our genetic counselors will notify you about the result and offer you a no-cost genetic counseling visit to discuss your risks and next steps.

Contact Us

Colored bar.

What happens to my sample?

If, after analyzing your DNA sample, we don’t find anything to share with you, your DNA sample will continue to be used for research. As we learn more about genetics and health, MyCode DNA samples are continually being re-analyzed. This means that you may be contacted about a result in the future.  

It is important to know that participation in MyCode is not a substitute for clinical genetic testing that might be recommended based on your health or your family history. If you have questions or are concerned about potential genetic changes in your family, discuss this with your primary care provider.  

If you have questions about your result or need to schedule an appointment, call 844-250-8031. If you have received a result, you can also message the MyCode team via MyChart.

MyCode conditions

MyCode provides genetic analysis reports to participating patients who have a gene change that may increase their risk of developing one or more of over 25 medical conditions.

With the care of your medical team, many of these conditions can be prevented or detected at an early, more treatable stage. Learn more about these conditions:

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC)

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer
Causes increased risk of early breast, ovarian, prostate and other cancers

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH)

Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Causes increased risk of early heart attacks and strokes

Lynch syndrome

Lynch Syndrome
Causes increased risk of early colon, uterine and other cancers

Other conditions that can be detected through MyCode

Cardiovascular risk

  • Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH): Increases risk of early heart attacks and strokes.
  • Heritable thoracic aortic disease: Increases risk of weakening of the wall of the aorta, leading to swelling and sometimes rupture.
  • Inherited arrhythmias: Increases the risk of an irregular heartbeat with increased risk for cardiac arrest.
  • Inherited cardiomyopathies: Diseases of the heart muscle with potentially dangerous complications.

Cancer risk

  • Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC): Increases risk of early breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic and other cancers.
  • Lynch syndrome: Increases risk of early colon, uterine, and other cancers
  • Familial adenomatous polyposis: Increases risk of intestinal polyps and early colon cancer.
  • Hereditary pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas: Increases risk of tumors that may release extra hormones and, rarely, become cancer.
  • Li-Fraumeni syndrome: Increases risk of early breast, soft tissue, brain, adrenal and other cancers.
  • Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: Increases risk of tumors that may release extra hormones and, rarely, become cancerous.
  • Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2: Increases risk of early thyroid cancer.
  • MUTYH-associated polyposis: Increases risk of intestinal polyps and early colon cancer.
  • Neurofibromatosis, type 2: Increases risk of non-cancerous tumors in the nervous system.
  • PALB2-related cancer risk: Increases risk of early onset breast, pancreatic and ovarian cancers.
  • Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: Increases risk of early breast, colon, pancreatic and other cancers.
  • Retinoblastoma: Increases risk of early eye cancer.
  • Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome: Increases risk of early kidney cancer and benign tumors of brain, eye, pancreas and adrenal gland.
  • Wilms tumor and related syndromes: Increases risk of a malignant, kidney tumor

Miscellaneous

  • Biotinidase deficiency: A disease that causes buildup of too much of a B vitamin that could cause neurological problems.  
  • Fabry disease: A disease that prevents the body from making a certain enzyme. This can lead to damage of blood vessels in the skin and cells of the kidneys, heart and nervous system.
  • Hereditary hemochromatosis: A disease that can lead to too much iron in the body, which can lead to liver and heart problems.
  • Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: Increases risk of abnormal blood vessel formation that can cause a risk of bleeding or poor blood flow to body parts.
  • Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis: A disease that results in a build-up of amyloid in the body and can lead to heart and nervous system disease. Juvenile polyposis: Increases risk of non-cancerous intestinal polyps, which increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer, including colon cancer.
  • Loeys-Dietz syndrome: A disease that may cause weakening of the wall of the aorta leading to swelling, and sometimes, rupture. 
  • Malignant hyperthermia: A potentially life-threatening condition typically triggered by exposure to certain drugs used for general anesthesia.
  • Marfan syndrome: A connective tissue disease that may cause heart, eye and skeletal problems.
  • Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY): Increases risk of diabetes in the teens or early adulthood.
  • Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency: A disease that causes ammonia to build up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as altered mental status and seizures.
  • Pompe disease: A disease that causes buildup of glycogen that could cause muscle problems throughout the body.
  • PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome: Increases risk of early breast, thyroid, uterine and other cancers. In some cases, individuals may have intellectual disability.
  • Retinopathy: A disease that causes gradual vision loss that can lead to blindness. Tuberous sclerosis: A disease that causes multiple types of non-cancerous (benign) tumors.
  • Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: A disease that affects the connective tissues, including arteries and muscles, that may increase the risk for health complications such as rupturing of arteries.
  • Wilson disease: A disease that can lead to too much copper in the body. This can cause issues in the liver and nervous system. 
Content from General Links with modal content