Dissemination of information and enhancements in training of primary care physicians to deliver pharmacogenetically tailored therapy also represents a significant challenge for translation to practice (Shields & Lerman, 2008). Additional ethical and health policy issues to be addressed include the potential for discrimination and stigmatization, based on collateral information obtained through genetic testing (Shields et al., 2004). The potential for a clinical impact of research on genetic variation in nicotine-metabolizing enzymes will be greatest if research on these ethical and health policy issues is conducted in parallel with the clinical investigations. A transdisciplinary team approach to achieve these goals is likely to have the greatest public health impact.
