Examining gaps in institutional policies for clinical genomic data sharing: A cross-jurisdictional study.

Seventy percent of clinical genomic institutions permit data sharing without explicit consent, but most lack clear policies on scope, governance, and safeguards.

• Why it matters: Inconsistent and unclear policies hinder responsible data sharing, risking patient privacy and compromising timely diagnosis and treatment across jurisdictions.
• What they did: A mixed-methods content analysis examined 33 policies from 17 countries, assessing documentation of governance elements, data types, justifications, and protections.
• The result: Findings reveal gaps in policy clarity, especially regarding data scope and recipient roles, highlighting the need for a standardized guidance framework to improve transparency and accountability.