DECENTRALIZED DATA VERIFICATION

1 .- 58 . (canceled)

59 . A computer-implemented method for managing electronic records, comprising:

(a) obtaining an electronic record comprising identifying information for an individual or entity;

(b) generating a first data structure comprising said electronic record, wherein said identifying information is stored within said first data structure as a first identifying data hash;

(c) hashing said first data structure using a cryptographic hash function, thereby generating a first data hash;

(d) publishing a transaction comprising said first data hash to a distributed blockchain computing network;

(e) obtaining an update to said electronic data record, said update comprising updated identifying information for said individual or said entity;

(f) generating a second data structure corresponding to said update to said electronic data record;

(g) hashing said second data structure using said cryptographic hash function, thereby generating a second data hash; and

(h) publishing an updated transaction comprising said second data hash to said distributed blockchain computing network, thereby generating a version history corresponding to said electronic data record.

60 . The method of claim 59 , wherein said distributed blockchain computing network corresponds to one or more blocks of a blockchain.

61 . The method of claim 59 , further comprising selecting said blockchain from a plurality of blockchains on said distributed blockchain computing network.

62 . The method of claim 59 , further comprising sharing said blockchain over a plurality of nodes of said distributed blockchain computing network, wherein participants in said distributed blockchain computing are one or more of: scientists, research teams, pharmaceutical companies, universities, private enterprises, or companies.

63 . The method of claim 59 , wherein said electronic record comprises one or more of: an electronic lab notebook or entry, electronic health record, structured data, log entry, supplier audit information, electronic file, statement of work, signed legal document, compliance manifest, or a supplier RFI.

64 . The method of claim 59 , wherein said blockchain utilizes a blockchain platform comprising one or more of Ethereum, Zcash, Litecoin, Namecoin, Swiftcoin, Bytecoin, Peercoin, Emercoin, Feathercoin, Gridcoin, Primecoin, Ripple, Auroracoin, Dash, Zetacoin, Monero, Tether, Mazacoin, Vertcoin, or Zcash.

65 . The method of claim 59 , further comprising verifying said electronic record by:

(i) obtaining a copy of said data structure;

(ii) hashing said data structure to generate a verification hash; and

(iii) comparing said verification hash to said first data hash stored on said blockchain, wherein said electronic record is verified when said verification hash matches said first data hash.

66 . The method of claim 59 , further comprising anonymizing said electronic record.

67 . The method of claim 66 , wherein anonymizing said electronic record comprises removing said identifying information while allowing data verification of said electronic record.

68 . The method of claim 66 , wherein anonymizing said first electronic record comprises removing said electronic record from a database while maintaining said data structure, wherein said data structure comprises non-identifying information and said identifying data hash.

69 . A computing device in communication with a plurality of computing devices, said computing device comprising at least one processor, a memory, and a computer program comprising instructions executable by said at least one processor to perform operations, comprising:

(a) obtaining, from a user or authorized third party, an update corresponding to an electronic health record;

(b) generating a data hash corresponding to said update to said electronic health record using a hash function; and

(c) publishing a new transaction comprising said data hash to a distributed blockchain computing network for validation and addition to a blockchain within a new block, said new transaction comprising information corresponding to said update to said electronic health record.

70 . The computing device of claim 69 , wherein said new transaction further comprises (i) a digital signature of said data hash created using a private key of a cryptographic key pair, and (ii) a public key of said cryptographic key pair.

71 . The computing device of claim 69 , wherein said computing device is in communication with said plurality of computing devices based on a peer-to-peer protocol.

72 . The computing device of claim 69 , wherein said blockchain comprises information corresponding to said electronic health record.

73 . The computing device of claim 72 , wherein publishing said new transaction at (c) thereby generates a version history corresponding to said electronic data record.

74 . The computing device of claim 73 , wherein said blockchain comprises information corresponding to said version history.

75 . The computing device of claim 69 , wherein said instructions executable by said at least one processor perform operations, further comprising selecting said blockchain from a plurality of blockchains on said distributed blockchain computing network.

76 . The computing device of claim 69 , wherein said instructions executable by said at least one processor perform operations, further comprising sharing said blockchain over a plurality of nodes of said distributed blockchain computing network, wherein participants in said distributed blockchain computing are one or more of: scientists, research teams, pharmaceutical companies, universities, private enterprises, or companies.

77 . The computing device of claim 69 , wherein said blockchain utilizes a blockchain platform comprising one or more of: Ethereum, Zcash, Litecoin, Namecoin, Swiftcoin, Bytecoin, Peercoin, Emercoin, Feathercoin, Gridcoin, Primecoin, Ripple, Auroracoin, Dash, Zetacoin, Monero, Tether, Mazacoin, Vertcoin, or Zcash.

78 . The computing device of claim 69 , wherein said hash function comprises a cryptographic hash function.