Protocol for trustworthy, privacy preserving genomic database discovery

1 . A method for validating by a requestor that a responder has genomic data meeting specified requirements, comprising:

digitally publishing the specified requirements, wherein the specified requirements comprise at least: (1) a public digital signature key for sources of genomic data that the responder trusts, and (2) a threshold value indicating a minimum amount of trustworthy genomic data required from a responder;

performing a non-interactive zero-knowledge (NIZK) proof with the responder;

verifying that the responder has genomic data meeting the specified requirements based upon the results of the NIZK proof, including the required amount of trustworthy genomic data required from the responder; and

receiving, after verifying, encrypted genomic data meeting the specified requirements from the responder.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the NIZK proof uses one of zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive arguments of knowledge (zk-SNARK) protocol, zero-knowledge scalable and transparent argument of knowledge (zk-STARK) protocol, and succinct non-interactive arguments (SNARG) protocol.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the specified requirements further include an origin requirement for the genomic data.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the public digital signature key is for a specific genomic sequencer.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the origin requirement for the genomic data comprises a requirement for genomic data from a medical trial.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the NIZK proof receives as input the specified requirements and genomic data with associated digital signatures from the responder that satisfies the specified requirements.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the digital signature uses elliptic curve digital signature protocol.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the genomic data is hashed before being input to the NIZK proof.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the specified requirements are published on one of a webpage or a blockchain.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising publishing a proving key and a verification key, wherein the proving key and verification key are output from the NIZK proof.

11 . A method for providing a validation by a responder that the responder has genomic data meeting specified requirements of a requestor, comprising:

determining that responder has genomic data meeting the specified requirements published by the requestor, wherein the specified requirements include at least: (1) a public digital signature key for sources of genomic data that the responder trusts, (2) a threshold value indicating a minimum amount of trustworthy genomic data required from a responder, and (3) an origin requirement for the genomic data;

performing a non-interactive zero-knowledge (NIZK) proof with the requester;

receiving a request from the requestor for the genomic data meeting the specified requirements; and

transmitting encrypted genomic data meeting the specified requirement to the requestor.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the NIZK proof uses one of zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive arguments of knowledge (zk-SNARK) protocol, zero-knowledge scalable and transparent argument of knowledge (zk-STARK) protocol, and succinct non-interactive arguments (SNARG) protocol.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the origin requirement for the genomic data comprises a requirement for genomic data from a sequencer and/or a predetermined medical trial.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the NIZK proof receives as input the specified requirements and genomic data with associated digital signatures from the responder that satisfies the specified requirements.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the digital signature uses elliptic curve digital signature protocol.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the genomic data is hashed before being input to the NIZK proof.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the specified requirements are published on one of a webpage or a blockchain.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising publishing a proving key and a verification key, wherein the proving key and verification key are output from the NIZK proof.