Matt Nelson-Beyond the hype the evidence behind the role of genetics in drug response

Much has been made in the popular press about importance of our "genes" in everything from our weight, intelligence, and our risk of disease. While there is a scientific basis for many of these claims, the truth is generally far more nuanced and the medical implications far less obvious than the headlines, or even the back page story details, tend to acknowledge. This holds true for the genetics of drug response. That is, how our genes impact how well we respond to a particular drug, or how likely we are to have an adverse outcome. In this presentation, we will delve into some of the science underlying these claims and hopefully come away with a clearer idea of the role, revealed to date, that genetics plays and potential implications for medical care.