• Katharina Mader

• Friederike Wütscher

20.–21.3.2003 

The expert meeting took place in Berlin, in co-operation with the Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine. The aim of the meeting was to sound out the state-of-the-art research in the field of “Pharmacogenomics” and the scientific, legal and ethical problems involved in this connection. 

In an initial section, fundamental issues regarding pharmacogenomic research were dealt with; furthermore, the chances of increasing the effectiveness of cytostatic therapy and/or the optimisation of psychiatric therapy by the application of pharmacogenomic research were discussed. The second section covered the ethical implications of pharmacogenomic research and its application. The Estnic Gene-Screening Programme served as an example. As to the question concerning the change in the conception of illness brought about by pharmacogenomic research, the consequences affecting the conceptuality of medical science were discussed. The economic aspect was reflected upon in questions concerning patent laws regarding gene typification. One pharmaceutical research problem is brought about by questions, which were determined by concrete research projects, concerning patient enlightenment. All aspects mentioned so far should have a bearing upon health policy and influence decisions made in this field. 

Participants: Professor Dr. I. Roots, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, CCM, Berlin; Professor Dr. M. Eichelbaum, Fischer-Bosch-Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Stuttgart; Professor Dr. F. Holsboer, Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, München; Professor Dr. M. Sutrop, Philosophische Fakultät Universität Tartu (Estland); Dr. D. Lanzerath, Deutsches Referenzzentrum für Ethik in den Biowissenschaften, Bonn; Dr. St. Stürzebecher, Schering AG Berlin; Dr. I. Härtel, Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Weiterbildung, Forschung und Kultur, Mainz.