The WISDOM Study is excited to announce new funding from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to support exploration into how artificial intelligence, mammograms, a person’s genetics, and other breast cancer risk factors can be combined to improve personalized screening.

More than 100,000 women have joined WISDOM to help answer an important question: Can breast cancer screening be tailored to each woman’s individual risk for the disease rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach? In December 2025, WISDOM published landmark findings showing that risk-based screening was as safe and effective as annual screening, while reducing unnecessary mammograms for many women.

Now, WISDOM researchers are building on those findings in the second version of the study, WISDOM 2.0.

With support from BCRF, the team will evaluate new AI tools that analyze mammograms and compare them with other important risk factors, including genetics, breast density, family history, and personal health information like breast health history, BMI and other lifestyle factors. The goal is to better understand how these approaches can work together to identify women who may benefit from earlier, more or more intensive screening, or a different mode of screening.

A unique aspect of this project is the creation of a secure mammogram image library using images contributed by WISDOM participants across the country (with their consent). This resource will allow researchers to evaluate multiple AI models using the same set of images and compare their performance directly. It will also help researchers study whether combining AI with genetic testing results and other risk factors can improve the prediction of different types of breast cancer, including those that may grow more quickly.

This project brings together experts in breast imaging, genetics, informatics (the science of information and application of computer systems to store, process and retrieve data), and risk prediction. Led by Dr. Laura Esserman and the WISDOM team, researchers from UCSF and UC Davis will work alongside technology experts and research partners to evaluate how emerging tools can best support personalized screening in the future.

Most importantly, this research is possible because of WISDOM participants. The information shared by study volunteers has already helped transform our understanding of risk-based screening. This new project builds on that foundation and will help answer some of the next generation’s most important questions about breast cancer prevention and early detection.

Ultimately, our goal is to better predict who is at risk for developing breast cancer so that we can help prevent cancers whenever possible and find them earlier when they do occur. As new technologies emerge, WISDOM researchers will continue to evaluate and incorporate the most promising advances—from genetics and imaging to artificial intelligence and beyond—to improve personalized screening, prevention, and early detection.