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Biomedical Data Race: US vs. China Biobank Battle
28 Apr
Summary
- Nations increasingly treat biomedical data as national security assets.
- China is rapidly expanding its biobank network to challenge Western dominance.
- US and Western nations are restricting Chinese access to sensitive biological data.
Biomedical data is now viewed as a strategic resource, intensifying a geopolitical rivalry over global biobanks. China is significantly investing in its biobank infrastructure, aiming to reduce its reliance on Western data and establish itself as a leader in biotechnology. This push for self-sufficiency has become more urgent as the United States and other Western countries have begun restricting Chinese researchers' access to sensitive biomedical datasets and international collaborations.
These restrictions, including blocking access to NIH datasets and limiting participation in EU funding programs, are seen as a shift away from open scientific exchange. The US cites national security and potential military advantages as reasons for safeguarding advanced genetic information. China, meanwhile, passed a biosecurity law in 2020 to control its own genetic data.
Despite initial fragmentation, China's National Biobank in Shenzhen, launched in 2016, is growing into one of the world's largest. However, approximately 80% of China's bioscience still relies on US databases. Experts estimate it could take five to ten years for China to achieve full self-reliance in its biobank systems. Concerns remain regarding global access to China's data and ethical considerations linked to its biobank partnerships.
