About Project DNA
Improve your family’s future through insight into its past. Families affected with hereditary cancer syndromes are at high risk for developing multiple cancers at an early age. These cancers can have devastating effects on families.
The good news is that with appropriate screening, many of these cancers can be prevented. Unfortunately, physicians and patients have not been adequately educated about these syndromes and as a result, many families are not diagnosed.
Project DNA was designed to create simple but effective tools to help facilitate diagnosis, and provide educational materials that allow physicians and patients to develop appropriate screening programs.
Educational Materials: Designed for both physicians and patients, a rich database of information is at your fingertips. Just select a particular mutation or syndrome for detailed information about that syndrome and screening guidelines.
It’s our hope that all patients will fill out the smart family history, and appropriate, high-risk patients will be screened for hereditary cancer syndromes. By screening patients and identifying these syndromes early, we stand a better chance of preventing cancers from developing.
Board of Directors
Daniel G. Luba, M.D. | Chairman of the board, President of Project DNA
Dan Luba graduated from Boston University Medical School and completed his fellowship in gastroenterology at Stanford. He has been in private practice since 1991 and is the managing partner of Gastroenterology Consultants in Monterey, California.
In addition to caring for patients, he continues to do research in new endoscopic techniques, Lynch syndrome, and systems based delivery of care
Sonia Kupfer, M.D.
Sonia Kupfer is an adult gastroenterologist with clinical and research interests in gastrointestinal cancers and health disparities. She graduated from Yale University and completed her medical training including Chief Residency and Gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Chicago. Dr. Kupfer holds grants from the National Institute of Health to study colorectal cancer disparities. She is an Associate Professor, Associate Section Chief for Education, and Director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Risk and Prevention clinic at the University of Chicago. In 2022, Dr. Kupfer was appointed as Director of the Physician-Scientist Development Program in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Kupfer is Past-President of the Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Gastrointestinal Cancer. She serves on several committees for the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and is on the Board of Editors for the journal Gastroenterology. In 2017, Dr. Kupfer was awarded the Division of Biological Sciences Diversity and Inclusion Junior award and the Joseph B. Kirsner Mentorship Award. In 2019, Dr. Kupfer was awarded the AGA Young Investigator Award.
Twitter handle: @SoniaKupfer
Dr. Patrick Welton | Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer
Dr. Welton is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Welton Investment Corporation where he chairs the Investment Committee and actively participates in ongoing research. Â As an investment leader, Dr. Welton has served on committees for the Managed Funds Association (MFA) and as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Futures Association (NFA) from 1997-2000. He is a frequent speaker on panels and at conferences globally and has authored numerous articles about alternative investments.
Dr. Welton is currently a Trustee and investment committee Chair of a California foundation and a California pension plan. He is a cofounder of the private Welton Foundation which principally focuses on educational excellence, opportunity and access. He formerly cofounded Axios Data Analysis Systems, an early commercial entrant into large scale data mining and data fusion as applied to healthcare informatics.
Leslie Silguero | Treasurer and Website Maintenance
Leslie is the current treasurer of Project DNA and has been assisting Bryan Louie with website maintenance since 2018. She also handles our Social Media accounts and assists in marketing.
Leslie graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a degree in Sociology and Business Administration and has been volunteering with nonprofit organizations for over 15 years.