Australian Digital Health Agency is considering adding DNA data to My Health Record

Crikey.com.au, 6 April 2018:

DNA DEBATE

The federal government’s controversial My Health Record program is capable of storing genomic data, such as cancer risks, using technology that both has huge research applications and highlights privacy and security concerns.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that genome-sequencing company Genome.One, which can track genetic variations and therefore disease risks, has built “necessary infrastructure” for uploading sensitive genomic data into the opt-out system.

University of Canberra privacy expert Bruce Arnold has criticised the inherent risks of DNA-tracking technology and, just a week after the government backdown on police access to My Health Records, today’s news as again demonstrating a lack public consultation.

The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) which is responsibe for My Health Record gave Genome.One, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Garvan Institute, $40,000 in September 2017 to support the development of this software.

Its GoExplore™ software provides sequencing and analyses of patients’ DNA samples to assesses their risk of developing 52 hereditary conditions, including 31 cancers, 13 heart conditions, as well several other conditions where monitoring or intervention can be of benefit. 

In a change of focus, Genome.One and The Garvan Institute are reportedly no longer offering clinical reporting for genetic disease diagnosis or personal health genomics in Australia. This service was priced at $6,400 plus GST, with no Medicare rebate.

Staffing numbers in Genome.One have been severely cut, new capital is being sought and, Gavan has stated that it intends to spin off Genome.One software into a new company in which it will be a minority shareholder.

However, Genome.One still intends to pilot its genomics technology integrated into GP practice software and on !8 April 2018 its CEO stated; “We're working with some electronic medical record providers and we're hoping that we can get a trial underway at some point this year”.

Corporate domination of global seed stocks led to this in less than 80 years?

Our Dwindling Food Variety
National Geographic Magazine,
July 2011
Click on graphic to enlarge

Fighting back against gene patents in 2009

This year the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Association for Molecular Pathology have led a court challenge to the legality of the U.S. Patent Office practice of granting patents on genes.

COMPLAINT against United States Patent and Trademark Office, Myriad Genetics, Lorris Betz, Roger Boyer, Jack Brittain, Arnold B. Combe, Raymond Gesteland, James U. Jensen, John Kendall Morris, Thomas Parks, David W. Pershing, Michael K. Young. (Filing Fee $ 350.00, Receipt Number 687779)Document filed by American Society For Clinical Pathology, College of American Pathologists, Association For Molecular Pathology, Haig Kazazian, Arupa Ganguly, Wendy Chung, Harry Ostrer, David Ledbetter, Stephen Warren, Ellen Matloff, Elsa Reich, Breast Cancer Action, Boston Women's Health Book Collective, American College of Medical Genetics, Lisbeth Ceriani, Runi Limary, Genae Girard, Patrice Fortune, Vicky Thomason, Kathleen Raker.(ama) (Entered: 05/12/2009)

According to the ACLU on 2 November 2009 and WebWire on 3 November 2009:

Several major organizations, including the American Medical Association, the March of Dimes and the American Society for Human Genetics, filed friend-of-the-court briefs in support of the challenge to the patents on the BRCA genes.

and

The court noted the significance of this case. The court's opinion stated, "The widespread use of gene sequence information as the foundation for biomedical research means that resolution of these issues will have far-reaching implications, not only for gene-based health care and the health of millions of women facing the specter of breast cancer, but also for the future course of biomedical research… The novel circumstances presented by this action against the USPTO, the absence of any remedy provided in the Patent Act, and the important constitutional rights the Plaintiffs seek to vindicate establish subject matter jurisdiction over the Plaintiffs' claim against the USPTO".

This case has survived a plaintiff's motion to dismiss and is going forward.

With patents now being held on approximately 20 per cent of identified human genes, this court case is of more than passing interest.

Australian GMO crop sites: Bayer joins Monsanto while DuPont gears up

First map: GMO Canola.
Second map: GMO Canola & Indian Mustard.
Third map: GMO Wheat.
Possible that CSIRO wheat research is indirectly funded in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

All maps found at the Australian Office of Gene Technology Regulator.
Sites depicted by yellow dot are post harvest. Red dots denote current trial plots.

DuPont has recently announced a partnership with Hexima to undertake trials of GMO Corn, Soya Bean and other crops in Australia.

How deeply is Monsanto embedded with the Australian Government?

It has been reported that Monsanto spent $ 1.3 million in the first quarter of 2008 on lobbying in the U.S.

Monsanto also appears to have embedded at least one employee of a lobbyist firm it uses, Ogilvy Government Relations, in the Obama for America campaign team.

Given the flurry of lobbying activity which usually surrounds any new regime such as the Rudd Government, one has to wonder exactly who is lobbying for Monsanto in Australia besides those farmer groups that the GM seed monolith is currently fostering.

While that question remains unanswered everyone on the newly updated Australian Government Lobbyists Register remains suspect.

Best Monsanto quotes

"What you are seeing is not just a consolidation of seed companies, it’s really a consolidation of the entire food chain" - Robert Fraley, co-president of Monsanto's agricultural sector 1996, in the Farm Journal. Quoted in: Flint J. (1998) Agricultural industry giants moving towards genetic monopolism. Telepolis, Heise.

"People will have Roundup Ready soya whether they like it or not" - Ann Foster, spokesperson for Monsanto in Britian, as quoted in The Nation magazine from article "The Politics of Food" [47] by Maria Margaronis December 27, 1999 issue

Quotes and photo from SourceWatch

Update:

Greetings to our Monsanto visitor routing through Europe late yesterday afternoon AEST.

Nice to see you'll are still reading!