Dr Jane Tiller, who is research co-lead of Monash University's DNA Screen program, last night appeared on an SBS Insight program about DNA testing, which raises a number of issues around genetic testing.
Dr Tiller introduced DNA Screen, a pilot study of preventive genetic screening in young adults, for prevention of certain cancers and heart disease. This study, completed in 2024, tested 10,000 18-40-year-olds, finding over 200 at-risk individuals. Most of these were not eligible for publicly-funded genetic testing, and would have remained unaware of their risk if not for the DNA Screen study.
Dr Tiller was joined on the program by Sammi, one of the participants found by DNA Screen to have a high-risk BRCA1 variant. Sammi spoke of the power of receiving this life-saving information, and discussed her sister who has chosen not to have testing despite being at 50 per cent risk of having a BRCA1 variant, because of the life insurance implications.
Dr Tiller explained the ongoing legal right of life insurers to discriminate based on individuals' genetic test results, and its impact on Australians' willingness to have genetic testing.
