To classify any research results as worthy of returning to individual subjects requires the establishment of criteria by which to assess their significance. Thus, criteria relevant to answering the question include not only professional characterization of the findings (e.g., scientific validity or clinical utility), but also whether, and if so how, the possibility of returning results to individuals is addressed in the research consent form — an inclusion that may itself heighten public expectations about the direct clinical relevance of research results. Importantly, NHGRI has recently funded research on these topics through several grant mechanisms.11
