The WISDOM Study

What The WISDOM Study does

The WISDOM Study (Women Informed to Screen Depending on Measures of Risk) is a national longitudinal breast cancer screening research initiative led by UC San Francisco (UCSF) and the Athena Breast Health Network, with Dr. Laura Esserman serving as principal investigator. Founded in 2016 and coordinated through the UCSF Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center, the study compares two approved screening approaches — annual mammograms starting at age 40 versus a personalized, risk-based protocol — for women aged 30–74 across the United States. As of recent reporting, 86,593+ women have enrolled from all 50 US states, with approximately 30% drawn from non-white populations, deliberately addressing the historical underrepresentation of diverse ancestries in breast cancer research.

The study's technical platform combines the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) risk calculator with saliva-based hereditary cancer genetic testing (delivered through Color Health's Hereditary Cancer Panel), ancestry-calibrated polygenic risk scores, breast density analysis, family history, and lifestyle factors to stratify participants into four risk tiers. These tiers drive tailored recommendations: 26% low risk (delayed screening), 62% moderate risk (biennial), 8% high risk (annual), and 2% highest risk (twice-yearly alternating mammogram and MRI). The platform is operationalized through the online athena-wisdom.org participant portal, which handles registration, health questionnaires, saliva sample logistics, and annual follow-ups over a five-year study period. WISDOM 1.0 results published in JAMA in December 2025 and presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium demonstrated that personalized screening did not increase advanced cancer rates compared to annual mammography, with nearly 90% of participants choosing the personalized arm when offered.

The entity is not a commercial company but a funded research initiative. Operating capital comes from research grants — primarily the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) — with cumulative foundation and philanthropic support exceeding $25 million. Participation is free for eligible women; a single payer partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota covers costs for that plan's members with no cost-sharing, providing an early proof point for a payer-coverage model. The study operates through five UC medical centers (UCSF, UCLA, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego) and 10 national recruitment hubs including Sanford Health, LSU, University of Chicago, University of Alabama, and TopLine MD Alliance. A new June 2025 funding tranche is dedicated to mammographic AI research using deep learning for image interpretation, representing an emerging product/technology extension beyond the screening study itself.

Name

The WISDOM Study

Legal name

The WISDOM Study (Women Informed to Screen Depending on Measures of Risk)

Website

https://thewisdomstudy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The WISDOM Study is a UCSF-led national longitudinal research initiative that has enrolled over 86,500 diverse women across all 50 US states to validate personalized, risk-based breast cancer screening against annual mammography, funded by NCI, PCORI, and RWJF.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Breast Cancer Screening Research

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Population Genomics & Preventive Precision Health Programs (HLAAANAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Genetic & Genomic Testing (germline, somatic, carrier, pharmacogenomics) (HLAAALAD), Women’s Imaging & Breast Health Centers (HLAFAJAJ), Breast Imaging Centers (Mammography/Tomosynthesis) (HLAFAKAD), Genetic, Cytogenetic & Prenatal Screening IVD (HLAHAAAI)

Keywords

• Breast cancer screening
• Risk-based screening
• Genetic testing research
• Polygenic risk scores
• Clinical research study

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Grants: Funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Received a $9 million NCI grant specifically aimed at increasing ethnic diversity in the study.
2. Healthcare Payer Partnerships: Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota covers the cost of study services for their members with no cost-sharing, including risk assessments, annual follow-ups, and genetic testing where beneficial.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The WISDOM Study is a longitudinal research platform that compares annual mammograms starting at age 40 against a personalized risk-based breast cancer screening approach. Eligible women aged 30-74 across the U.S. register online, complete health questionnaires, and (in the personalized arm) provide a mail-in saliva sample for genetic analysis through Color Health. Participants receive individualized screening recommendations stratified into four risk tiers based on genetics, breast density, family history, and lifestyle factors.

Product overview

The WISDOM Study is a longitudinal research study acting as a digital health platform for breast cancer screening research. The platform compares two screening approaches: standard annual mammograms for all women versus personalized risk-based screening. The study utilizes the Color Health Hereditary Cancer Test for genetic testing and employs a multi-factor risk assessment questionnaire to stratify participants into four risk categories, each receiving tailored screening recommendations and access to educational resources and specialist support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WISDOM Study Platform National longitudinal research platform comparing personalized risk-based breast cancer screening versus annual mammograms, enrolling 100,000 diverse women to determine the safest and most effective detection approach for every woman.
• WISDOM Participant Portal Online participant portal (athena-wisdom.org) for registration, health questionnaires, genetic sample collection coordination, screening recommendations, and annual breast health tracking over the 5-year study period.
• Color Health Hereditary Cancer Test Genetic testing panel providing pathogenic variant screening and polygenic risk scores (PRS) that contribute to participant risk stratification and personalized screening recommendations within the WISDOM Study.
• WISDOM Risk Assessment Questionnaire Detailed health questionnaire using the BCSC (Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium) Risk Calculator to collect family history, exposures, breast density, comorbidity, and lifestyle factors for generating personalized risk scores.
• Personalized Screening Recommendations Risk-stratified screening recommendations: low-risk (26% of participants) delay screening until age 50; medium-risk (62%) screen every 2 years; high-risk (8%) screen annually; very high-risk (2%) screen twice yearly alternating mammography and MRI.

Quantifiable outcome

• Risk-based screening did not increase advanced cancer rates compared to annual mammography (WISDOM 1.0 results from 46,000 women)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• ColorcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Color provides genetic testing services through their Hereditary Cancer Panel for WISDOM participants. Nearly 30,000 participants have received genetic testing through Color. Color is expanding testing to include additional cancer-related genes beyond breast cancer-associated genes.
• UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2021UC Davis is one of five UC medical centers collaborating in the national study, focusing on recruiting women of color to address breast cancer health disparities.
• Sanford HealthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Sanford Health serves as one of the 10 recruitment hubs across the United States, helping to engage women from diverse geographic areas in the study.
• TopLine MD AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021TopLine MD Alliance in Florida is one of the 10 recruitment hubs helping to engage women across the country in the WISDOM Study.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 May 2020BCBSND covers the cost of study services for their members including initial and annual risk assessments and genetic testing where beneficial. This partnership removes financial barriers for BCBSND members to participate in the study.
• Louisiana State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020LSU is part of the national partnership effort to recruit women across diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and geographic locations, led by Dr. Kim Rhoads.
• University of Chicago and Ingalls Memorial HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020University of Chicago Medicine collaborates with WISDOM, including Dr. Funmi Olopade leading genetics-based risk assessment work. Part of the effort to improve diversity in breast cancer screening research.
• University of AlabamaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020University of Alabama serves as a recruitment hub for the WISDOM Study, contributing to national enrollment efforts.
• UCSF (University of California, San Francisco)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016UCSF serves as the coordinating center for the WISDOM Study. Dr. Laura Esserman, director of the UCSF Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center, leads the overall project. UCSF provides the primary research infrastructure, leadership, and institutional backing.
• Athena Breast Health NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016The Athena Breast Health Network is a University of California-wide collaboration that serves as a key institutional partner. Allison S. Fiscalini serves as director of the Athena Breast Health Network and WISDOM.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• GRAIL: Multi-cancer early detection company using genomics and population-scale screening models. Comparable to WISDOM in its ambition to use genetic and risk-based approaches to reshape cancer screening paradigms.
• iCAD: Breast AI and risk modeling company providing mammography decision support and density assessment. Comparable to WISDOM's mammographic AI research line and risk-based screening workflow.
• Natera: Genetic testing company with hereditary cancer and women's health offerings, expanding into risk-based screening programs. Comparable to WISDOM's preventive, risk-stratified approach to cancer detection.

Direct peers

• Myriad Genetics: Established provider of BRCA1/2 and hereditary cancer genetic testing used in breast cancer risk assessment. Directly comparable core offering to WISDOM's genetic testing arm via Color.
• Invitae: Genetic testing company offering hereditary cancer panels including breast cancer genes, with digital risk tools for clinicians. Comparable to WISDOM's combination of genetic testing and personalized screening recommendations.
• Ambry Genetics: Hereditary cancer genetic testing lab with multi-gene panels and risk stratification services used in breast cancer screening decisions. Operates in the same genetic testing + risk recommendation space as WISDOM's genetic testing component.
• Volpara Health: Breast density and risk assessment software used in mammography practices to personalize screening. Directly comparable to WISDOM's breast density + polygenic risk score-based personalized screening recommendations.
• Color Health: Population-scale genetic testing provider and WISDOM's testing partner for BRCA1/2 and expanded hereditary cancer panels. Operates the same population genomics + screening-recommendation model that anchors WISDOM's risk engine.

Broad incumbents

• Foundation Medicine: Genomic profiling company with broad oncology applications; comparable to WISDOM in applying genomic data to personalize cancer-related risk and clinical decisions.
• Exact Sciences: Established cancer screening company (Cologuard) with a roadmap to multi-cancer screening. Comparable to WISDOM in applying population-scale, non-invasive screening to shift cancer detection paradigms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thewisdomstudy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGvjrhh8_5Ml-YyCdMfF0ew
• Facebookfacebook.com/thewisdomstudy.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thewisdomstudy
• Instagraminstagram.com/joinwisdom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The WISDOM Study