We're 32,000 participants away from 50K, the number that unlocks statistical power to find rare genetic variants and new drug targets.
Choose your action—or do them all!
Facebook, Instagram, or Reddit
Personal outreach that works
Video or written testimonial
Know an org that could help?
Thank you for joining the fight—here's how to multiply your impact.
2 min
5 min
15 min
2 min
Connect us
Share your Story
Email Friends
Share on Social
I'm participating in a breast cancer genetics study that needs to reach 50,000 people by December. We're at 18,000 now → need 32,000 more. Why? More participants = more power to find rare genetic variants, analyze diverse populations, and identify new drug targets.
It takes 5 minutes at home:
✓ Free saliva kit mailed to you
✓ Spit in tube, mail back
✓ Get free ancestry report
Open to anyone with breast cancer or a close family member who's had it.
[ADD YOUR PERSONAL REASON - Example: "I joined because I want to help find better treatments and protect my family"]
Join here: [YOUR REFERRAL LINK]
No one fights alone.
Choose an image (Right click and "Save image as")
Use this text or make it your own:
[Title]
Sharing a BC genetics study I'm part of (might help someone here)
[Body]
[Share YOUR story in 2-3 sentences - why you joined, what it means to you] I found this Rutgers study that's trying to find genetic variants for better treatments and prevention. It's fully remote—they mail you a saliva kit, you spit at home, mail it back. You get a free ancestry report as a thank you.
Who can join: Anyone 18+ in the U.S. who's had BC or has a first-degree relative who has.
The reason I'm sharing: the more diverse the participants, the better chance we find answers that help all of us—not just the communities already studied.
If you want to check it out: [YOUR REFERRAL LINK]
[Title]
I joined a Breast Cancer genetics study from home— sharing in case it helps
[Body]
[Share YOUR story in 2-3 sentences - why you joined, what it means to you] This Rutgers study is looking for genetic clues to prevent BC and create better treatments. It takes 5 minutes to sign up, they send a free kit, you spit at home and mail it back. That's it.
Who can join: Anyone 18+ in the U.S. with breast cancer or a first-degree relative who's had it.
Why I'm posting this: more participants = better science for everyone, especially communities that haven't been studied enough. Link if you're interested: [YOUR REFERRAL LINK]
No one should fight this alone.
Choose an image
(Right click and
"Save image as")
Don't forget to add the link
Personal stories get more engagement than copy-paste. Share why you joined!
Potential subreddits to explore: r/breastcancer (start here), r/cancer, r/WomensHealth, r/ClinicalResearch, and others.
Create a sharing chain! Tag 3 friends and ask them to repost the story!
Posts stay visible forever. Share in BC support groups, your alumni network, local community pages, or anywhere your story might inspire someone.
Choose an image
(Tap the image and "Save in photos")
Choose an image
(Tap the image and "Save in photos")
Hi [Name], I wanted to share something I'm involved in that could make a real difference. I joined a breast cancer genetics study at Rutgers that's building the largest database of BC genetics to discover better prevention and treatment strategies.
[YOUR PERSONAL REASON - Example: "I joined because my mom had breast cancer, and I want to help find ways to protect my kids from going through that."]
They're trying to reach 50,000 participants by December (at about 18,000 now), and I'm hoping you might join too.
Why I think it's worth 5 minutes:
• Completely free (kit, shipping, everything)
• Done at home (spit in tube, mail back)
• Get free ancestry report as thank you
• Most direct way to contribute to BC research
Open to anyone with breast cancer or close family member who's had it.
Here's more info: [YOUR REFERRAL LINK]
Thanks for considering. Every participant truly accelerates discoveries.
[Your name]
Personalize the subject line with their name. "Sarah—thought you'd want to see this" gets 3x more opens than generic forwards.
Personalize every post with your story
Don't spam the same groups repeatedly
Never promise clinical genetic results (we provide ancestry only)
Check group rules before posting
Hi, I'm [Name]. I joined this breast cancer genetics study because [YOUR REASON - example: "I'm a survivor and want to help prevent others from going through what I did"]. It took me 5 minutes at home—
I just spit in a tube and mailed it back. They're trying to reach 50,000 participants to unlock major discoveries. If you've been affected by breast cancer, please join. Every person matters. Together, no one fights alone.
We want to feature real participant voices in our newsletters, social media, and website.
If you've referred 20+ people, we'll arrange professional video filming of your story (virtual or in-person, depending on location). Your video will be featured prominently in our campaign materials.
Prefer to write? Send us your story (200-400 words) about why you joined and why others should too. We'll feature it in our newsletter and on our website.
A 30-second video from you can inspire dozens of people to join! Use this script or make it your own.
Film in with your phone in natural light near a window. Talk like you're telling a friend.
@RugccSocial
Or post it and tag us
→ Instagram: @RugccSocial
→ Facebook: @Rutgers University Genetics Coordinating Center
@Rutgers University Genetics Coordinating Center
Post it and tag us:
Healthcare providers who work with BC patients
Breast cancer support groups
(in-person or online)
Cancer advocacy organizations (local or national)
Hospital networks with oncology departments
Facebook groups for breast cancer survivors or caregivers
Corporate wellness programs at large companies
Bring this flyer. Perfect for health fairs, support group meetings, or community events.
Our team at community events — this is what partnership looks like.
A: The study is IRB-approved and led by Rutgers University researchers. Your data is de-identified and protected by the same standards as any medical research.
Q: "Is this safe? What about my privacy?"
Q: "Will I get results about my breast cancer risk?"
A: You'll get an ancestry report, but NOT clinical genetic testing (like BRCA results). This is research to help future discoveries, not individual medical advice.
Q: "How long does it take?"
A: 5 minutes to order, 5 minutes to spit in tube at home. Ancestry results back in 8-12 weeks.
Q: "Why do they need 50,000 people?"
A: Statistical power. More diverse genetic samples = more likely to discover novel patterns and drug targets. Large-scale studies find things smaller studies miss.
© 2025 Rutgers University Genetics Coordinating Center
Follow us on:
