Fifteen years ago, the full human genome sequence was published for the first time, heralding a new era of medicine. Since then technology has markedly speeded up genomic sequencing. Genomics is a fast-growing and highly dynamic industry, driven by a number of factors such as the falling cost of sequencing, growing investment from national and international government-sponsored projects, and pharmaceutical companies. If you did not know, Genomics is the study of the complete set of DNA within an individual. Knowledge of individuals’ genetic makeup can help understand their predisposition toward certain genetic diseases, inform the best course of treatment and contribute to precision medicine.

However, the current healthcare system is ineffective with all healthcare data being siloed and stored in different formats on many under maintained databases and is not readily available for the maximum utilization of the society. The limited data available makes it hard for researchers to come up with innovative healthcare solutions. Shivom's project is on the verge of saving the current situation by implementing the revolutionary blockchain technology to help address this situation.

Shivom is a blockchain venture that plans to utilize blockchain technology to create a universal database for DNA sequences. Instead of using traditional databases to store the sensitive genomic data, Shivom makes use of the blockchain to store this data more securely and make it available for the healthcare sector to make use of it for research purposes.

The idea of utilizing the blockchain to store the genomic data may not seem simple to implement. Evidently, it does get complex due to different types of data and the sheer volume of it. Additionally, the whole process of adding genomic data onto the blockchain has been made simple and you can make use of smart contracts to do the addition. This means that each and every genomic information is not only secure and readily available but now your genomic information is also worth some value in the real world. Users can sell their genomic information to the researchers in exchange for an Ethereum based ERC20 token called OmiX. Once popular, Shivom intends to partner with third-party healthcare apps for users to benefit further.

Competitors 📊

Zenome

The Zenome project is a decentralized blockchain-driven database of genomic information. This platform supports the possibility to manage your genomic data while maintaining privacy and ability to make a profit from selling access to different parts of the genome. It will establish equal conditions for drug development and for the progress of scientific and medical technologies, similar to what Shivom is trying to achieve. Zenome has already hit soft cap with their ICO live and so investors will tend to choose one between Zenome and Shivom to invest in an ICO concentrated on genomic information.

Nebula Genomics

Similar to Shivom, Nebula Genomics will leverage blockchain technology to eliminate the middleman and empower people to own their personal genomic data. Their protocol will leverage the genomic data growth by enabling data buyers to efficiently aggregate standardized data from many individuals and genomic databanks. Nebula are a direct competitor to Shivom with strong fundamentals but are yet to do an ICO and are still in planning and discussion stages. In that sense, Shivom has the upper hand.

Final Thoughts 📡

Shivom is based on the concept that is unique and definitely deserves to be looked upon as a game-changing project. The idea of storing the genomic data on the blockchain makes it acceptable and at the same time very secure. This could most certainly lead to great advancements in the healthcare field and can one-day lead to the eradication of major genetic conditions.