Richard Houlston, MD, PhD from the Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK explains the genetic risks associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Prof. Houlston discusses the high familial relative risk observed in CLL compared to other cancers. Those with a first-degree relative have an 8-fold increase risk of developing CLL. Prof. Houlston goes on to explain how genome-wide association studies have shed light on the common genetic variants which can increase the risk of developing CLL. This interview was recorded at the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (iwCLL) 2017, New York, NY.