A case study approach was adopted, with the aim of capturing the different ways in which genomic science and technology are being pursued for public health purposes in each of the different national settings. Rather than attempt to impose, a priori, a strictly comparative approach on this small and potentially unrepresentative sample, transnational patterns were identified inductively from the case studies in the course of data analysis. By contrast the development of stratified medicine tends to be seen as primarily a national issue, with international initiatives in this area directed towards fostering an appropriate regulatory and economic environment supportive of national innovation.