GHGA expands federated network by legal integration of data hubs

We are pleased to announce the legal onboarding of our GHGA Data Hubs in Berlin, Cologne and Munich, marking a significant step forward in the development of GHGA’s federated data infrastructure. These data hubs are now formally integrated into GHGA’s network, joining Tübingen and Dresden, and will soon contribute to secure and efficient genomic data management.  

Benefits of a federated model

The federated model adopted by GHGA allows genomics data to be stored and managed locally at leading research institutions and universities while remaining accessible through a single, central point of contact - the GHGA Data Portal. This approach ensures scalability, efficiency, and the highest level of data security, while leveraging the expertise and infrastructure of Germany’s top genomic research institutions.  

Legal Framework simplifies data submission to GHGA

The GHGA Legal Framework is built on a comprehensive set of contracts that clearly define the roles and responsibilities of GHGA Central (DKFZ) as the processor and the individual GHGA Data Hubs as subprocessors. A key milestone in this model are the Central-to-Data Hub Bilateral Contracts, which establish the security standards required for a data hub to become operational and define the rights and obligations of both parties. Importantly, this set up allows researchers to sign a single Data Processing Contract with GHGA Central, enabling seamless and secure data submission to any participating data hub.

With all legal agreements in place, GHGA’s federated network - now spanning Berlin, Cologne, Heidelberg, Munich and Tübingen -  is rapidly taking shape, paving the way for a collaborative, secure, and future-proof genomic data ecosystem.

Implications for the MV Genomseq

In July, BfArM approved four GHGA Data Hubs (Heidelberg, Tübingen, Dresden, and Cologne) as Genome Data Centres, while granting conditional approval to the GHGA Data Hubs in Munich and Berlin. With the signing of the contracts, the Berlin and Munich Data Hubs have now met BfArM's conditions, achieved full approval as Genome Data Centres (GRZ), officially joining the MV GenomSeq.