Seeking some feedback and input about application of DIDs and VCs in life sciences

Hi everyone,

Earlier this year, I co-authored a paper published in /Science/ about 
using blockchains, DIDs and verifiable credentials in the arena of life 
science and outbreak research. (See: 
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6492/719)

The thinking embedded in that paper was recently integrated into a white 
paper funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research 
(Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung, BMBF), which was 
co-authored by one of my co-authors in that paper. The project is called 
"WILDSI" which stands for Wissenschaftliche Lösungsansätze fur Digitale 
Sequenzinformation -- ie, scientific approaches for digital sequence 
information (DSI). It represents the thinking of over 150 scientific 
stakeholders at a workshop associated with organizations like WHO and 
the CDC. You can download the paper here: 
https://www.dropbox.com/s/49ihdccxrymfhxr/Final_WiLDSI_White_Paper_Oct7_2020.pdf?dl=0

The current model for digital sequencing data is “open-access” which 
enables global non-monetary data sharing. However, openness raises
questions about "lost opportunities" in terms of "benefit-sharing". And 
so, some stakeholders desire to maintain control over digital sequencing 
data and genetic resources (GR), so one solution is to attach some legal 
and scientific metadata to that information.

Our proposal was to use blockchains, DIDs and verifiable credentials to 
attach scientific and legal metadata into a blockchain layer above the 
core digital sequencing data, allowing for the tracking of data access 
and to drive fair sharing of monetary benefits that could drive enhanced 
innovation.

However, the consensus of the life science experts is that although 
blockchain technology is evolving rapidly and being adopted in a number 
of fields, there is no solid proof-of-principle for applying blockchain, 
DID, VCs and smart contracts - they believe that a near-term 
implementation is not foreseeable.

I was wondering if any of you might know of some pilots and proofs that 
we can point to, to encourage this group, associated with WHO and other 
intergovernmental public health organizations, to give blockchains, DIDs 
and verifiable credentials serious consideration?

You can respond via the mailing list, or write back to me directly if 
you feel that this issue is not germane to the interests of the working 
group.

Thanks for any input or suggestions you might be able to provide! Stay 
healthy!

Moses



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