World’s First Development and Demonstration of a Quantum Cryptographic Communication Technology Applied System for Genomic Medicine

(FinanceYahoo) Toshiba Corporation, Tohoku University Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, and Tohoku University Hospital have demonstrated that quantum cryptographic communications technology can provide genomic medicine with a safe, completely secure data management environment. This was achieved by (1) developing a system which applies quantum cryptographic communications technology to clinical sequencing, and (2) using that system to safely transmit cancer genome analysis data (exome sequence ^{(Note 1)} data), via online expert panel attended by physicians and other experts to analyze the sequenced data (Figure 1). This is the world’s first development and demonstration of a system using quantum cryptographic communication technology in the field of genomic medicine.
Clinical sequencing is a new examination in genomic medicine that uses a next-generation sequencer to read a patient’s gene sequence at ultra-high speed. The results of the genomic data analysis are then provided to physicians and other experts to assist in patient diagnosis and treatment selection.
This research was carried out as part of the Strategic Innovation Creation Program (SIP) of the Council for Science and Technology and Innovation of the Cabinet Office, “Society 5. 0 Realization Technology Utilizing Light and Quantum” (Quantum Science and Technology Research and Development Organization).