About BFOR

The BRCA Founder Outreach (BFOR) Study is a new research initiative. It will pioneer new ways to integrate genetic testing into medical care. This model combines the convenience of direct-to-consumer genetic tests along with the advantages of receiving testing with the guidance of a medical care provider. 

BFOR seeks to increase access to testing for one of the most common tests for hereditary cancer, BRCA genetic mutations. These mutations of BRCA genes are associated with greater risks for several types of cancer, including breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer.

BFOR will provide patients, families, and their doctors with better information to make important decisions about their health care. This information will help thousands of people to reduce their cancer risks. 

The study will offer women and men of Ashkenazi Jewish (Eastern European) ancestry, age 25 or older, genetic testing for common BRCA mutations. This group is at least ten times more likely than the general population to inherit certain kinds of BRCA mutations. 

BFOR will explore how our health care system can use genetic testing in new ways to improve and personalize medical care in the future.

BFOR offers targeted BRCA genetic testing for the most common mutations at no cost to participants. To learn more, please see our FAQ . The pilot phase of the BFOR study is now open in the New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles metropolitan areas. BFOR may expand to other areas in the United States in the future. 

Have more questions? Learn more about the process of participating in the BFOR study, visit our frequently asked questions, or visit our BRCA information page.

Genetic testing provided by Quest Diagnostics.

BFOR in the News

• Press release

• New York Jewish Week

• Time Magazine

• People Magazine

• USA Today

• The Forward

• JTA

• Times of Israel

• Genome Web

• Cleveland Jewish News

• Jewish Exponent

• Jewish Journal

• Philadelphia Jewish Voice

• JOFA Blog

• The Jewish Link

• Jewish Home

• Jewish Community Voice

• JNS

• 5 Towns Jewish Times

• Florida Jewish Journal

• The Stoler Report

• WBUR

• Kveller

BFOR is an independent research initiative, directed by leading experts in the fields of cancer research and genetics. BFOR team members have led efforts to identify genetic changes that cause cancer. They have also developed approaches to early detection, prevention, and treatment. 

The study is made possible by the generosity of individual philanthropists.

BFOR Executive Committee

Kenneth Offit, MD, MPH: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City

Mark Robson, MD: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City

Beth Karlan, MD: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles

Judy Garber, MD, MPH: Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston

Susan Domchek, MD: Basser Center for BRCA, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Katherine L. Nathanson, MD: Abramson Cancer Center and Basser Center for BRCA, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Nadine Tung, MD: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston

Jeremy N. Block, PhD, MPP: Executive Director, Ex Officio

BFOR Scientific Advisory Board

Stephen J. Chanock, MD, Director, National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics

Mary Freivogel, MS, CGC, President, National Society of Genetic Counselors

Ian Jacobs BA, MA, MBBS, MD, FRCOG, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of New South Wales

Susan L. Neuhausen, PhD

• The Morris & Horowitz Families Professor in Cancer Etiology & Outcomes Research

• Director, Division of Biomarkers of Early Detection and Prevention, Department of Population Sciences

• Co-leader, Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center City of Hope

Eileen E. Reynolds, MD

• Chief, Division of General Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

• Vice Chair for Education, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

• Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

• Immediate-Past President of the Society of General Internal Medicine

BFOR Community Advisory Board

Andrew Abramson: Co-Founder/Treasurer, Cure Breast Cancer Foundation

Elana Silber: Executive Director, Sharsheret

Douglas S. Rabin MD: Reproductive Endocrinologist, Ob/Gyn

Julie Somers and Barry Shrage: Combined Jewish Philanthropies

Tresa Grauer: Reconstructing Judaism

Jay Sanderson and Julie Platt: The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles

Valerie Lowenstein: Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.

Sue Gelsey: JCC Association of North America

Sue Friedman, DVM: Executive Director,FORCE

Rabbi Lisa Gelber: Congregation Habonim  New York, NY

Lauren Corduck: Founder & Executive Director of Oneinforty

Stephanie Garry: Chief Administrative Officer, Plaza Jewish Community Chapel, Inc.

Michael Stoler: President, New York Real Estate TV, LLC and President, Foundation for Medical Evaluation & Early Detection

Karen Taub: Founder & COO of Madison 501

Susan Edbril, Ph.D: Psychologist

Donna Edbril, JD

Madelyn Bucksbaum Adamson: Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York (Member of the: Board, Executive Committee, Visionary Circle), Isha Koach (Co-Chair) The Hadassah Foundation (Board Member), Moving Traditions (Board Member)

BFOR Community Partnerships