Federated Secure Computing, a Stifterverband-funded research project, leverages the latest cryptographic methods, secure multiparty computing, to cross borders in the European health data space without sharing the actual data. Processes patient data analysis. The European research team includes scientists from Germany’s Munich LMU, Italy’s Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, and cryptography experts from Estonia’s Cybernetica.
In a new pilot study, researchers develop an approach that overcomes the technical and legal challenges in the demanding context of clinical research on cancer patients, while adhering to strict European regulations on protecting patient privacy and data protection. presented and tested. The results of this study were recently published in the journal NPJ Digital Medicine.
Hendrik Ballhausen, founder of Federated Secure Computing at LMU, explains how several partner institutions form a secure computer network: “Neither party has access to the other’s data. End-to-end encrypted computations are performed with shared secrets over the network. This protocol reveals only the results of joint computations, leaving individual It is mathematically proven that patient data will never be revealed.”
Health data from patients at LMU University Hospital and Agostino Gemelli General Hospital in Rome were used as datasets. Specifically, this surgery benefits patients with adrenal tumors who are undergoing radiation therapy. Professor Stefanie Corradini, Deputy Director of Radiotherapy at LMU University Hospital, sums up the motivation:
Through this research, we may be able to better understand risk factors and develop targeted therapies with fewer side effects. This improves patient survival and quality of life. ”
Stephanie Corradini, Professor at LMU University Hospital and Deputy Director of Radiotherapy Clinic
“Our facility offers state-of-the-art radiotherapy using magnetic resonance imaging,” added Luca Boldrini, a doctor at Gemelli ART, an advanced radiotherapy center. “We are just beginning to see data from this modality. By joining forces, our two institutions will be able to provide data on this innovative but still rare radiotherapy technique that would otherwise be possible without a cooperation agreement.” Delivered twice as fast.”
The team built an architecture around Sharemind MPC, an industry-grade platform for secure computing by Estonian company Cybernetica. “Secure multiparty computing can greatly enhance privacy and interoperability in the medical field,” said Dr. Dan Bogdanov, Cybernetica’s chief scientific officer. “When you need strong end-to-end security and proven policy enforcement and compliance, encryption provides that tool,” continues Dr. Bogdanov.
Close collaboration with the Data Use and Access Committee and the Data Protection Officer was an important part of this effort. This project was supported by a specialist law firm and managed by a collaboration agreement between three partner institutions, an ethics vote, and written consent from patients. “In the future, health data will need to be used more effectively and faster in research. This is exactly the aim of the Bavarian Cloud for Health Research as part of the Bavarian Heimed agenda,” says the University of Bavaria. Professor Markus Lerch, CEO and Medical Director, emphasizes: LMU University Hospital supported the project.
The team is already working on further use cases. Hendrik Ballhausen encourages industry, scientific and public sector stakeholders to: “We would like to provide advice on applying our approach to other areas as well. Federated Secure Computing represents modern European data protection that increases the value of data. A new approach to data protection does not slow down cooperation, but rather facilitates and accelerates further action.”
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Ludwig Maximilian University Munich
