Mike Richman of VA Research Communications interviews Dr. Jason Vassy, a clinician and researcher at the VA Boston Healthcare System. Vassy is leading a study that is focusing on whether a test for a specific gene can help patients and doctors choose the right type and dose of statin drugs, which are often used by people with high cholesterol, a risk factor for heart attack, heart disease, and stroke. Statins have been shown to help lower harmful cholesterol levels. Vassy is eager to learn whether pharmacogenetics can help in choosing the right statin medication. The relatively new field of medicine examines how a patient’s genetic make-up affects how he or she responds to a particular drug.

Read more: It's in the genes