What's our story?

What's our story?

Our story began in 1976 when our co-founder, Associate Professor Leslie Sheffield, became the first qualified clinical geneticist in Australia. A true pioneer in the field, his leadership at the Royal Women’s and Children’s Hospitals helped introduce groundbreaking genetic screenings, including the first for Down’s syndrome in pregnant women. 
 
This legacy of innovation continued in 2007 with the founding of myDNA with the mission to eradicate guesswork from healthcare. We launched our first pharmacogenomics test, making it accessible to more people with a simple at-home swab. This innovation allows healthcare professionals to make more accurate prescribing decisions based on a patient’s unique genetic makeup. Building on this success, we expanded into nutrigenetics with our Personalised Wellness Test and a suite of advanced practitioner tests. Guided by Dr. Carlotta Petti, our Scientific Director, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of actionable science. 

In January 2021, myDNA acquired Gene by Gene in Houston, Texas, a move that accelerated our global expansion and bolstered our laboratory capabilities with over 20 years of service innovation and state-of-the-art automation. This acquisition strengthened our ability to provide high-throughput clinical testing, including next-generation sequencing.

In 2025, myDNA was acquired by DBG Group, one of Australia’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Dennis Bastas, a long-time investor and advocate for our mission, saw the synergy between our precision health solutions and DBG’s broader portfolio of health, wellness, and beauty brands. This partnership allows us to further scale our mission of building a healthier world.

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