Keeping genetic and medical data private while sharing it for research
Tools to Address the Challenges of Preserving Privacy in Sharing and Analysis of Biomedical Data
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11125775
This project builds software to keep people's genetic and clinical information private while letting researchers use the data to study disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11125775 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
As a patient, I want my genetic tests and medical records to help research without exposing my identity. The team will measure how much private information can leak from different kinds of human biological data and build tools that stop those leaks. They will create a modular software suite to protect genomics, transcriptomics, and clinical/phenotype data at scale and update it for new data types. The goal is to make data sharing safer so more researchers can work with these data while reducing the risk of privacy breaches.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people willing to let researchers use their genetic, molecular, or clinical data under enhanced privacy protections.
Not a fit: People who do not share medical or genetic data, or whose data are not part of research, likely won't see direct benefits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients' health and genetic data could be used for discoveries without risking personal privacy.
How similar studies have performed: Some privacy methods like de-identification and differential privacy exist, but applying and scaling them to genomic and clinical data is still relatively new and partly untested.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GURSOY, GAMZE — COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: GURSOY, GAMZE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.