Prevention Through Connection: How Dr. Brian Shirts and ConnectMyVariant Help Families Reduce Hereditary Cancer Risk

In this insightful episode of The Positive Gene Podcast, host Sara Kavanaugh sits down with Dr. Brian Shirts, Associate Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology at Vanderbilt University and founder of ConnectMyVariant.org. Together, they explore the powerful potential of family-based genetic outreach as a pathway to preventing hereditary cancer.

Dr. Shirts shares the pivotal research discoveries and patient stories that led to the creation of ConnectMyVariant—a nonprofit connecting individuals with shared genetic variants to facilitate life-saving family communication. From building networks of third cousins to training family outreach navigators, this episode highlights a revolutionary model of prevention through connection.

Sara also shares her own experience joining the platform, offering listeners a firsthand look at the simple but impactful steps they can take to protect themselves and their families.

This conversation is a must-listen for hereditary cancer previvors, survivors, healthcare providers, and advocates alike—offering a new lens on what prevention really means and how each of us can be a link in a life-saving chain.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Connect My Variant: https://connectmyvariant.org

• FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered – https://www.facingourrisk.org

• My Faulty Gene – https://www.myfaultygene.org

• ICARE Registry - https://inheritedcancer.net/

• BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy - https://cfhg.byu.edu/

• AliveAndKickn (for Lynch Syndrome) – https://www.aliveandkickn.org

• Positive Gene Podcast Blog – https://positivegenepodcast.com

Listen & Subscribe:

• Find The Positive Gene Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
• Full episode + blog post here → www.sarakavanaugh.com/podcast

Want to support this incredible work? You can donate to help expand family outreach and cancer prevention efforts here: ** every.org/connectmyvariant

Note on Timing: This episode was recorded in January 2025, shortly after I began the sign-up process with ConnectMyVariant in December 2024. The process of connecting with others who share my variant took only a few weeks—quick, easy, and incredibly meaningful. While this episode is being published in April 2025, please don’t let the delay suggest the process takes that long. I’m just a one-woman podcast team—and good things are always worth the wait!