Aims : Many genome wide studies (GWS) have shown that various genetic polymorphisms influence asthma development. In particular, the risk of asthma seems to be modified by mutations that shape the acquisition of (or susceptibility to) respiratory infections; these mutations also interact with early life environmental factors and other unknown risk factors to modulate asthma risk. The first aim of this session is to give an overview of the basic techniques and results of the GWS on asthma. The second aim is to describe the implications of these results for clinicians, and how and whether this information can be translated into clinical practice. The third aim is to discuss the possible implications of pharmacogenetics in asthma research for future asthma therapy.