EncrypGen Initiates Genomic Blockchain Consortium: A Bold Call to Action
Jan 22, 2018
EncrypGen proposes a Genomic Blockchain Consortium for consumer rights protection and further advancement in genomics data use.
Coral Springs, United States - January 22, 2018 /PressCable/ —
CEO and Founder, David Koepsell, PhD, reaches out to all would-be competitors to come together for consumer rights and acceleration of advancement in genomics data use. In a recent blog, Dr. Koepsell, cites past industry competition that inhibited advancement and the consumer lost, as a way to ignite collaboration in the development of a true global, Genomic Blockchain Consortium. This visionary and bold initiative, was well received by key industry managers. As of this release, the second signature is officially in from MyGenomeBank, Co-Founder, Alex Schmid, Switzerland…
Noted by Dr. Koepsell, “As the genesis of EncrypGen’s Gene-Chain was being fleshed out, we assumed that a first mover advantage would allow us to define the standard for the up-and-coming genomic blockchain. Now, as a number of other companies begin to vie for the same or similar space, our initial concerns for the privacy of consumer data and advancing scientific research impel us to call for a joint effort to protect both aims, understanding that others in this space share these values. The alternative, where competitors create blockchains that cannot ensure the protection of consumer data, and the interaction of chains to allow maximal use in scientific research, smacks of war, bloody war, with casualties among the stakeholders we hold most dear — the individual consumers.”
A letter was reportedly sent to industry leaders and a few noted up-an- comers in the Genomic Blockchain space, followed up by personal phone calls from Dr. Koepsell. https://encrypgen.com/?p=32979
Dr. Koepsell reports, “The initial feedback has been nothing short of fantastic. We believe that we have a great opportunity now, before the wide adoption of any particular genomic blockchain, to create an environment that both fosters competition and helps advance the goals of consumer empowerment and scientific advancements, that we have all stated publicly, motivate our products and services.”
A second signature commitment has already come in from MyGenomeBank , Co-Founder, Alex Schmid, Switzerland, that stated in an email, “Thank you for your proposal to form a Genomic Blockchain Consortium to which we very much agree. I am the co-founder of MyGenomeBank, and we are also active in the space and see the potential of the blockchain for genomic and health data. But at the same time we realized, as you do, that a race of different blockchain applications for the benefit of the consumer makes no sense. Only a common ground will ultimately be beneficial for the widespread use of the technology, and the development of valuable services and offers on top of it, and in the end build trust in the technology.”
Proposed, in order to avoid the potential pitfalls that would inhibit the consumer, and enable the benefits that genomic blockchains promise, is the intention to:
1.) Form a Consortium of Genomic Blockchains
2.) Organize as a separate not-for- profit entity this consortium
3.) Create a democratic governance structure
4.) Under the consortium, propose, vote on, and establish technical as well as ethical standards for the purposes of:
a) ensuring that consumers and their data are portable, safely preserved, and protected
b) creating some interoperability at some level to better serve the searching for, payment, and use of genomic data by platform customers
c) devising ethical guidelines to protect privacy of user data across platforms
The motivation: If consumers believe that the choices they make today for storing and sharing sensitive data may limit them in their connections to networks of similar data, as opposed to opening up a range of choices for transacting data, then they will be wary to move to blockchains while they wait for a clear “winner” to emerge. In the early days of automobiles, competing companies realized that by agreeing to certain standards they could ease adoption generally of the new technology, and make the lives of consumers better, as well as sell more cars in the process.
While EncrypGen knew that the genomic blockchain space would soon become crowded, Dr. Koepsell acknowledged, “Competition is good, in general, to ensure progress, and time will tell which platforms will become best suited to the demands of the market, and which enjoy the largest consumer bases and market penetration. Meanwhile, it behooves those of us who share the goals of promoting individual ownership, benefit and control of genomic data, and advancing genomic science, agree to develop mutually beneficial standards, platforms that can communicate with each other, and mechanisms for people to more easily move their assets among our competing platforms, to avoid the sorts of monopolies that cell phone carriers and cable companies have had to cede, for the sake of freedom.”
Consortia in science and technology, to create and advance standards, abound. The Gene Ontology Consortium is but one prominent example…
About EncrypGen
EncrypGen LLC, provides customers and partners best-in-class, next generation, blockchain security for protecting, sharing and re-marketing genomic data. We empower science, business and individuals to securely and efficiently achieve their goals.
Press Contact:
EncrypGen, CEO, Dr. David Koepsell
About MyGenomeBank
MyGenomeBank is to establish the full private ownership and control of genomic data based on blockchain-based identity certification and decentralized storage. Health information data rights must be given back to their natural owners. MyGenomeBank is your personal high-security DNA service provider, enabling the future of personalized medicine.
MyGenomeBank , Co-Founder, Alex Schmid
Contact Info:
Name: Dr. David Koepsell
Email: [email protected]
Organization: EncrypGen
Address: 9900 West Sample Road , Coral Springs, Florida 33065, United States
Phone: +1-916-875-2235
For more information, please visit https://encrypgen.com/
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 290254
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