NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Shivom, an organization developing a decentralized, blockchain-based hub for genomic data storage, is partnering with nonprofit eMQT in an effort to sequence the genomes of 1,000 sickle-cell disease patients in sub-Saharan Africa.
The project will run in two phases. First, London-based eMQT will work with its institutional partners to collect data from 100 sickle-cell patients and store the information on the Shivom platform to provide security and data-sharing capabilities in a proof-of-concept study. If that works, the organizations will expand the database to 1,000 patients.
The organizations said they intend to make the data available to the general medical and research communities.
"We have the ability to make a real impactful change to precision medicine and global healthcare as a whole," Shivom Chief Operating Officer Natalie Pankova said in a statement. “Using our innovative technology, we will collect and store genomic data that will be properly assessed and researched by authorized professionals, to streamline treatment and disease management to an underserved population."
This year, Shivom also has partnered with SingularityNet on artificial intelligence in genomics and with Australian molecular diagnostics firm Genetic Technologies to store genomic data for cancer diagnostic development.