Border security for China’s genomes

China’s policies on sharing genomic data have so far produced cumbersome but manageable hurdles for cross-border clinical trials and translational research. But the explosive growth of its genomics industry, and the backdrop of rising political tensions, present challenges to domestic and foreign companies aiming to translate China’s data troves into precision medicines for its population.

The regulations require foreign companies to find domestic partners for any work involving Chinese genomic data or biological samples, and to have their project approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MOST)...