Mark Skolnick

Mark Skolnick co-discovered the BRCA1 gene in 1994, a discovery that fundamentally transformed understanding of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk. He co-founded Myriad Genetics to translate this discovery into clinical genetic testing, enabling millions of patients to learn their inherited cancer risk. The BRCA1/2 testing paradigm he helped establish directly led to risk-reducing surgical interventions and targeted treatments with PARP inhibitors. His entrepreneurial translation of cancer genetics discovery into a global diagnostics company represents one of the most impactful bench-to-clinic journeys in oncology history.