Risk of re-identification of epigenetic methylation data: a more nuanced response is needed

Yann Joly; Stephanie Om Dyke; Warren A Cheung; Mark A Rothstein; Tomi Pastinen

doi:10.1186/s13148-015-0079-z

Risk of re-identification of epigenetic methylation data: a more nuanced response is needed

Clin Epigenetics. 2015 Apr 18;7(1):45. doi: 10.1186/s13148-015-0079-z. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Yann Joly¹, Stephanie Om Dyke¹, Warren A Cheung², Mark A Rothstein³, Tomi Pastinen²

Affiliations

¹ McGill Epigenome Mapping Centre, Centre of Genomics and Policy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 740 Dr. Penfield Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0G1 Canada.
² McGill Epigenome Mapping Centre, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, 740 Dr. Penfield Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0G1 Canada.
³ Institute for Bioethics, Health Policy and Law, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 501 East Broadway, Suite #310, Louisville, KY 40292 USA.

Abstract

In this letter to the editor, we respond to the recent publication by Philibert et al. Methylation array data can simultaneously identify individuals and convey protected health information: an unrecognized ethical concern (Clinical Epigenetics 2014, 6:28). Further discussion of the issues raised by the risk of re-identification of epigenetic methylation data is needed, and a more nuanced approach should be taken with respect to its implications for data sharing policy than the one provided.

Keywords: Data sharing; Epigenome; Policy; Privacy.