Be Informed

Medical Advances

The fast pace of advances in genetic research over the past two decades has challenged many scientists, health care professionals, ethicists, government regulators, legislators and consumers to stay current. The scientific aspects of the research are daunting for many of us to understand, especially when we read about new findings or uses in the press that were not even imagined until recently. As a society, we will need to make informed decisions about the ways genetic research will impact us.

The results of genetic research hold enormous potential for improving the health and quality of life for untold numbers of people. The primary function of all science is to discover new knowledge about some aspect of existence. New knowledge often leads to change and how that knowledge is applied depends on who is using it and for what purpose.

	Safer Medicines

In our society, this responsibility is often shared among citizens, scientists, ethicists, legislators and regulators. For example, 5% of the budget of the Human Genome Project was allocated to the study of ethical, legal and social issues related to that research. There are no easy answers to these questions, but education and accurate information will help everyone make the bestdecisions regarding their own healthcare.

GSK's involvement in genetic research focuses on areas having to do with disease susceptibility, medicine response and the discovery, development and delivery of safer, more effective medicines. GSK recognizes the importance of the ethical, legal and social issues related to this research and is a leader in the pharmaceutical industry in this regard. GSK is actively involved in:

• providing education on genetics and its research activities to GSK employees, health care professionals, clinical research study participants and the public;

• interacting with national and international pharmaceutical industry groups and drug regulatory bodies to discuss the conduct and application of pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic research;

• interfacing with national and international bioethics organizations with an interest in human genetic research.