Using genome-wide mapping in the mouse to identify genes that influence drug response

Differential drug response is most often likely to be a complex trait, controlled by the combined influences of multiple genes and environmental influences. As a result of theoretical and technical limitations, to date, most clinically useful pharmacogenomic studies in humans have been limited to a small number of candidate genes that have a relatively major impact on drug response. Here, the problems involved in identifying genes that underlie drug response in humans are discussed and the power of mouse genetics as a tool for pharmacogenomic discovery is highlighted.