Thread by @rossamcmahon

Finally read full article; situation with GMI worse than I thought.

GMI is engaged in highly sensitive data collection: harvesting genetic material on a population-wide scale. Its approach to doing so & lack of clarity/appropriate behaviour on foundational issues v. worrying.

https://twitter.com/sundaybusiness/status/1145089560369606657

The attitude of the company is an even greater red flag.

I cannot understand why @roinnslainte (@SimonHarrisTD) & @NTMA_IE (@Paschald) have not long since paused the Government's $70m investment in GMI, why @DPCIreland has not stepped in with an urgent investigation.

Aside from hoovering up genetic material from Irish hospitals, GMI operates a high street presence, gathering up further genetic material in "exchange" for gimmicky health/fitness "metrics".

Remember GMI is a private company, not a State research org.

genofit.ie

Here is what I find most worrying about GMI.

GMI is a big, expensive company. It announced planned investment injection of $400m last year. It is engaged in a hot industry - hot because of investor interest and hot because of regulatory/ethics concerns.

GDPR is not new. It has been known since 2016. Data protection law is not new. It has been known since 1988. The impact of these laws on genetic data collection & use is not a surprise.

So if you have a $400m+ business and this is a key business issue, you have taken advice.

And you have, no doubt, been in a position to take that advice from some of the best and/or most expensive advisors available. Assumptions are dangerous, but I think it is fair to assume this has happened.

So read the story again.

Would you be looking for repeated meetings with DoH, answers to questions on regulatory matters and assurances from the State if you had legal advice of your own to the effect that you are operating or can operate as your currently are?

I'll say again: GMI is a private company. Please remember this, because it can be hard to tell.

I mean.

genomicsmed.ie/an-taoiseach-l…

An aside: the reassuring warning that greets me as I attempt to read the ISIF portfolio page.

“there needs to be a dialogue about how we can collaborate with GMI who can provide some of the lab capacity that clinical services in this country require”

Or: we built it, so they must come.

linkedin.com/feed/update/ur…