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Genotyping the future: scientists' expectations about race/ ethnicity after BiDil
Richard Tutton1, Andrew Smart, Paul A Martin
1ESRC Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics (CESA-Gen), Institute for Advanced Studies, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
Summary
The FDA approval of BiDil, a race-based drug, highlights ongoing debates about race in medicine. Scientists in pharmacogenetics are shaping future drug development using genetic technologies and racial categories.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacogenetics
- Sociology of Science
- Medical Ethics
Background:
- The 2005 FDA approval of BiDil, the first race-specific drug, sparked significant debate.
- This event underscores the persistent role of race and ethnicity in medical and scientific discourse.
- Visions of the future in medicine are influenced by both optimistic and pessimistic outlooks regarding race.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze how pharmacogenetics scientists construct future visions.
- To examine the role of race/ethnicity as a social category in scientific practice.
- To understand the impact of high-throughput genotyping technologies on future scientific endeavors.
Main Methods:
- Sociology of expectations framework.
- Analysis of scientific discourse and future visions in pharmacogenetics.
- Examination of the integration of race/ethnicity and genotyping technologies.
Main Results:
- Scientists' expectations shape the future application of race/ethnicity in pharmacogenetics.
- High-throughput genotyping technologies are influencing how race is conceptualized and utilized.
- The discourse reveals both potential benefits and ethical concerns regarding race-based medicine.
Conclusions:
- The future of race in medicine is actively being constructed by scientific expectations and technological advancements.
- Pharmacogenetics research navigates complex ethical and social considerations surrounding race.
- Understanding these constructed visions is crucial for responsible innovation in personalized medicine.
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