AbstractThis paper seeks to stimulate consideration of the short‐ and long‐term possibilities raised by research into pharmacogenetics and pharmacoepidemiology, to identify potential tissue databanks linked to population data, and to summarize our ethical responsibilities. Short term, we might identify selected disorders or risk factors, such as for drug‐associated serious events, and might find selected target populations. Long term, we might incorporate genomics techniques into population data and map genetic risk factors for diseases and drug responses. Tissue specimens that might be linked to clinical data lie in certain data resources: clinical trials, ad hoc cohorts, case registries, and cross‐sectional and longitudinal population samples. Specific areas must be addressed in research using human tissue and genetic material, including the ethical threat to privacy. We must avoid misuse of genetic information by breaching confidentiality and putting at risk specific genetically identifiable groups. The National Bioethics Advisory Commission recently addressed the issue of serum and tissue data banks in a published report summarized in this paper. Social, methodologic, and ethical issues relate to any protocol using serum and tissue, and indicate a need for broad educational efforts. We must set guidelines as pharmacogenetics research becomes a dimension of pharmacoepidemiology. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.