Welcome to RAMP! Let us start by introducing yourselves and your roles at Project Shivom.
Hi everybody I’m Henry, the CIO for Shivom. I’m based in the SF Bay Area. Thanks for the interest and support.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/henryines/
Hi everyone, Natalie here, CSO for Shivom. Thanks for having us!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-pankova-phd-028a3a34/
First off. Can you tell us about Project Shivom?
Henri: Shivom is focused on creating the worlds largest genomics datahub and healthcare services platform on the blockchain. We aim to tackle many of the existing problems with healthcare system and usher in era of precision medicine driven by genomics.
Natalie: We’re a precision medicine company using the latest technologies such as blockchain and AI to provide solutions to some of the major problems in healthcare and genomics today, such as siloed and inaccessible data, loss of privacy and security and wide health data breaches, and inability of users to maintain ownership of their genomic data which gets sold by sequencing companies for large sums of money. With blockchain, genomics data can be securely stored and donors can be incentivized to upload and share their data effectively allowing pharma and rearch to use that to advance medicine.
So when you talk about genome sequencing, the first thing that comes to mind is the company — 23andme, what is the difference with that and Project Shivom?
Henri: Key difference with Shivom is that all donors via crypto keys maintain full access and control over their genomes. Beyond the business model and data rights, another key aspect is that Shivom is focused on patient stratification and inclusion of genomes worldwide. We seek to democratize genomic sequencing and aim to have as much participation worldwide.
Natalie: 23andme is a genotyping company that provides users a select panel of genetic results via a kit that they can purchase. 23andme retains the data and sells it to pharma for large sums of money while the user doesn’t get any of those funds. Shivom allows the user to retain ownership and allows the user to share the data with interested third parties while the incentive goes to the user.
Shivom will also a greater range of products and services then 23andme, including multiple sequencing kits, and an app marketplace where developers can dock their apps that analyze the data and provide users multiple insights based on their genetic information.
Additionally Shivom is really exploring developing economies and unique populations globally, while 23andme is primarily focused on the North American and Western Europe population.
Interesting: Tell us how it works? Do we order a kit or do we go somewhere to have our genomes sequenced?
Natalie: A kit will be available for order where a user will send in their sample which goes to one of our dedicated labs to get sequenced and the data uploaded to the platform.
What is your token used for?
Henri: The token is the fuel for the Shivom ecosystem. Every transaction and activity that occurs on the Shivom platform will require tokens. So sequencing services, genomic counseling, third party apps, sponsored projects and research will all require the use of tokens.
Moreover, there will be instances where individuals will be able to earn tokens, via action on our platform and within ecosystem; additionally there is also the possibility that tokens may be gifted or donated.
Will Shivom own their own lab? If not who’s labs are you using?
Natalie: We are currently setting up labs with partner institutions. One example is we have signed a partnership with Australian-based GTG labs which is a publicly traded company. They have US accredited labs as well where we can get our sequencing done.
How far along is the platform and the blockchain network?
Natalie: We’re currently building a proof of concept product which is a few weeks away from being released. This product will allow the user to upload a data file if they have one from another sequencing co (such as 23andme), and will generate a hash. It will also have wallet integration. The pharma login side of the platform and the app marketplace is still under development, but the users will be able to see how these are planned to look like.
By having users upload their data files from other service providers it will also allow us to start building a large user base rapidly.
Do you have plans to have your own labs or are they all partner labs?
Henri: Initially we are focused on establishing partnerships. However in the future we plan to establish our own labs.
Natalie: If we need to have our own labs down the road we can do this. However it is better to have fewer sequencing machines operating at max capacity to drive down costs than having more labs/equipment that aren’t as efficient. Thus we will expand as needed only.
Can you tell us about other partners?
Henri: In addition to GTG labs mentioned above, which is focused on early detection and prevention of breast cancer, we also recently announced our partnership with the Andrah Pradesh Government. We will work closely with the government and local hospitals to provide technology and secure genomic sequencing solutions to local population.
Natalie: Apart from our partnership with GTG labs, which allows us access to a SNP panel to test for breast cancer, codevelop new panels, and access to lab and data storage space, we also recently partnered with the Indian Govt in Andhra Pradesh to gain access to a population of up to 60m people for sequencing, and a pilot project in a large regional cancer center. We also have partnerships with Spherity and Ocean protocols for encryption and AI integration respectively.
And more exciting partnerships in the works!
What jurisdiction will you operate in? Where is the data stored? And do you have a contingency for any govt. policy change as 23and me did?
Herni: We plan to encrypt and store the genomic data off chain. This is necessary for a variety of reasons to include GDPR and other compliance reasons. From the start we aim to work closely with governments to ensure we are in alignment with their policies.
Natalie: We’re working with the highest standards of regulation, currently GDPR and implementing privacy by design, ensuring that all compliance protocols are met.
Which geographical location will the data be stored in? What method of encryption ?
Natalie: Location will be based on jurisdiction where the data is obtained, and we will work with local institutions and authorities to ensure portability of data. However the highest level of security will be used, currently this is GDPR. We are developing our own encryption protocols via our partnership with Spherity. They are encryption protocol experts.
Henri: In addition to Spherity protocol, we are also partnered with Ocean Protocol for data exchange layer. This will be essential for not only unlocking siloed data but also for AI in long run once sufficient datahub is populated.
Can u share with us whats behind the name Project Shivom and the ticker OMIX?
Natalie: Shivom comes from the Indian language Shiv and Om representing destruction and new life. Our goal is to eliminate disease and foster healthy living.
OmiX comes from the word Omics which is the general word used to describe fields of study in biology such as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc. Our goal is to add some of these other analysis methods to the platform to combine with genomic data to generate bigger and better insights for healthcare.
Henri: “Om” is also reference to genomics, epigenomics, etc.
Natalie, can you tell us what attracted you to the project?
I spent a lot of time in research focused primarily on retinal disease, inflammatory disease such as diabetes and atherosclerosis. These disease have huge genetic components and there’s so much difficulty developing effective treatments for them. I’ve watched and worked with people get sicker and sicker without proper treatment, and I understand the importance of genomic biology in generating insights for pharma and drug development via my work in biotech. I also saw the challenges that pharma has been having in innovating and running clinical trials. When blockchain technology came into the space I really saw the potential for this to change the face of medicine and healthcare.
There’s also great importance now to be able to access various global populations to obtain genomic data. This is the only project doing so, and pharma will no doubt see the value here.
How about you Henri, what does being a Chief Innovation Officer entail in the company?
In this capacity I am actively focused on prioritizing the innovations, ie tech, business models, and partners needed to advance the project in the long run. This will range from partnerships, investments, acquisitions to organic in house development.
Early on I’ve also worked to assemble our Shivom Innovation Council, our internal think tank of world class experts and visionaries.
Please can you elaborate on the developments completed since the Seed round in March 2017 and when the SHIVOM platform goes live? The roadmap in the whitepaper has BETA release date of Q2 2018 but the date for Rollout of SHIVOM platform is Q3–Q4–2018
Natalie: The early version will be released in the next few weeks. Since last year we have been working a lot on building our team and company, recruiting excellent advisors, developing partnerships, building our innovation council, designing and building the basic platform. Such that we’re ready to hit the ground running with the sequencing efforts when our financing closes.
Henri: Since the seed round, Shivom has been active in developing a POC, assembling a world class team, and establishing global partners. Additionally, we’ve been of course active in generating momentum with project and crowd support.
We anticipate closing our crowdfunding by early May and rollout would commence thereafter. In the interim of course we’ve been developing beta. We anticipate commencing with sequencing in Q2-Q3 timeframe. As we are completely focused early on on privacy and security, we want to make sure platform is fully ready before roll out.
What percentage of the revenue you envisage come from users versus Pharma companies / Organisations. As you are targeting developing countries Initially, do you think your price point will be low enough for mass user adoption?
Natalie: Governments and genomics interest groups may be interested in purchasing the information to guide things like public/population health initiatives and policy development. Contract research organizations who run clinical and research trials, to help them guide trial/study design.
Our initial work will be directly with local medical institutions and governments, so we expect co-sponsoring efforts here to generate a user base and to generate datasets rapidly. This will be the best way to reach rural and underdeveloped communities.
Our sequencing kits will be comparatively priced. But our goal is to provide a broader offering. More options for types of kits, eg specific panels, whole exome, whole genome. These will have differential pricing with the more advanced sequencing being more expensive of course. But the costs are rapidly decreasing in this space, so it can be predicted that even the prices we set this year will decrease a couple years from now.
Henri: Part of the innovation will come from the models we employ to onboard those who lack resources. We will work with our partners to devise such models to include sponsor programs, ie those conducting research and clinical trials, to reward genomic contributors in developing economies.
What are some interesting non obvious customers of the genomics data?
Henri: Governments and genomics interest groups may be interested in purchasing the information to guide things like public/population health initiatives and policy development. Contract research organizations who run clinical and research trials, to help them guide trial/study design.
What do companies typicaly pay for when they use data from 23andme for example? would Shivom bring the cost down — by how much?
Natalie: Our sequencing kits will be comparatively priced. But our goal is to provide a broader offering. More options for types of kits, eg specific panels, whole exome, whole genome. These will have differential pricing with the more advanced sequencing being more expensive of course. But the costs are rapidly decreasing in this space, so it can be predicted that even the prices we set this year will decrease a couple years from now.
Henri: Also by providing the user with the ability to retain ownership, be incentivized for uploading and sharing data, the goal is that they will opt to use our platform over 23andme.
What revenues can the individual get for their data? If they retain ownership then they should be entitled to a share of any rev from big pharma?
Henri: Individuals are able to receive tokens via access to their genomes, ie sponsored studies, and to earn tokens via various engagement activities on the platform. Individuals in turn are expected to be able to use the tokens for products and services on the platform.
Natalie: Yes that’s the idea, that they get some of the revenue in return. That’s the incentive for sharing data. The actual numbers will depend on the type of data so every case will be different. eg extent of sequencing, extent of phenotypic information provided. Users will also be able to get incentives for things like filling out health surveys.
As a consumer with an existing 23andme profile, what insights can your 3rd parties give me that 23 and me can’t?
We’re aiming to work with lots of different partners to provide really advanced analytics, integrate artificial intelligence to gain new insights. Some of what we develop hasn’t even been discovered in the research institutions yet. These will be novel data that no company yet has and Shivom will be the first to have.
When the data is shared what level of anonimity is given and how do you achieve this?
The individual will control the extent of the anonymity. They can give complete anonymity, and can create pseudonyms linked to their actual profile on the blockchain. Thus pharma will only get the final data but not the individuals identity and not their full genetic code. For example just the differences in sequences, or specific base pairs in a report.
The idea is that users could decide to share the data if they like; ie with doctor or genomic counselor. Otherwise, data is encrypted and anonymized; pharma for example will not get access to the raw data but would be able to run analytics on discrete datasets.
Would there be plans to include other data like sleep patterns or heartbeat patterns from an Apple watch for example?
Yes absolutely. We’re looking at including algorithms that can integrate IoT into the system to provide phenotypic insights. These tools can then be available in the app marketplace linked to our blockchain. It’s one reason we are exploring IOTA tangle
Yes we have ongoing discussions now on integrating partners solutions that will enable additional datasets ie via wearables.
Can you tell us anything interesting about @Axel_Shivom the CEO?
Natalie: Axel has a wealth of experience in precision medicine, genomics, and healthcare. He was the first one to publish on the use of blockchain in healthcare and his book has been widely used by pharma and actually brought a lot of interest from pharma into the blockchain space. He’s one of the reasons pharma are so keen about Shivom and all the interest that we’re generating globally. We’re almost a household name because of him in the likes of Roche, Pfizer, Novartis, who are all following us closely. He’s also a faculty at the Blockchain Research Institute run by Alex and Don Tapscott, and contributed to their papers and new book :)
Are we assuming that there is a general crypto knowledge everywhere and majority of the people know how to use it or convert tokens to their local currency? Will you be providing any conversion facilities through app or tie-ups with other Crypto to fiat conversion facility? So that the users can actually see the earnings in their local currency and get paid in fiat? Unfortunately for next 3–4 yrs at least general people will be happy seeing fiat earned than tokens.
Henri: We are actively exploring a variety of possibilities particularly since our audience will range from sophisticated to those who may be uneducated, impoverished and lack any knowledge of crypto. For the latter cases, we are focused on working with partners to provide simple understandable healthcare solutions and low tech approaches, perhaps simple non-smart phones with embedded wallets, to facilitate transactions onto our platform. As mentioned some of this will be novel. But we are focused on educating and removing as much friction in order to onboard potential donors.
Ok. As I am running out of questions and itching to invest myself…
Let us end on a high note. Any parting words or things you want to share to the RAMP group?
Natalie: Thanks everyone for having us, remember that the healthcare market is ripe for disruption and there’s huge opportunities in this space with technologies like blockchain, genomics and AI, and we’re the biggest project in the space doing that! :)
Henry: Thanks to all for the interest in our project and support for our vision of the future of healthcare. We hope you will also join us and be early champions and supporters!
