Composable ZK Proofs on Cardano for Bio-Research and Healthcare

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Rahul Konudula

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

3

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

A secure data-sharing protocol on Cardano using MidnightZK enables researchers to democratize drug discovery, accelerating development while safeguarding confidentiality and integrity of data.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

The project will be open source under MIT License. This will allow anyone to do whatever they wish with the original code, as long as the original copyright and license notice is included either in the distributed source code or software.

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG rating:

SDG Goals

9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

SDG Subgoals

17.19 - By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product, and support statistical capacity-building in developing countries

17.3 - Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources

9.1 - Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all

9.3 - Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets

9.b - Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities

Key Performance Indicator (KPI)

9.1.1 - Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road

9.1.2 - Passenger and freight volumes, by mode of transport

9.3.1 - Proportion of small-scale industries in total industry value added

9.3.2 - Proportion of small-scale industries with a loan or line of credit

9.b.1 - Proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in total value added

17.3.1 - Foreign direct investment, official development assistance and South-South cooperation as a proportion of gross national income

17.3.2 - Volume of remittances (in United States dollars) as a proportion of total GDP

17.19.1 - Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen statistical capacity in developing countries

17.19.2 - Proportion of countries that (a) have conducted at least one population and housing census in the last 10 years; and (b) have achieved 100 per cent birth registration and 80 per cent death registration

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

A secure data-sharing protocol on the Cardano blockchain, fortified with MidnightZK's zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). The protocol facilitates accelerated drug and biotech development by enabling researchers to collaboratively explore datasets while ensuring utmost confidentiality and incentivizations through Cardano NFTs.

We've established a pivotal partnership with Neeta Life Sciences (NLS), spearheaded by Dr. K. Anil Kumar and Dr. G. Gopikrishna, esteemed experts in healthcare solutions and organic chemistry.

Neeta Life Sciences (NLS):

NLS, under the adept leadership of Dr. K. Anil Kumar, a distinguished researcher with over three decades of experience in industrial research. His expertise spans preventive healthcare solutions, nutraceuticals, solid-state formulations (cocrystals), and agri-formulations. Dr. Kumar's robust background in natural product chemistry, biocatalysis, and green chemistry has contributed to over 60 publications and 25 patents, showcasing his significant contributions to science and technology advancement.

Dr. G. Gopikrishna:

Dr. G. Gopikrishna, a seasoned academic and industrial researcher with a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, brings over 23 years of expertise to NLS. His research endeavors in organocatalysis, computational chemistry, and chemical biology have enriched organizations like Dr. Reddy’s Research Foundation, GVK Biosciences, and Chemveda Life Sciences. With numerous publications and patents to his credit, Dr. Gopikrishna's contributions to the field are highly regarded.

This partnership underscores our commitment to harnessing their wealth of knowledge and experience in implementing a low-fidelity Proof of Concept (PoC) for our secure data-sharing protocol on Cardano, reinforcing our shared mission of driving innovation in healthcare and biotech.

Functionality Breakdown:

• Data Upload and Validation:
• Researchers upload validated datasets, adhering to established life sciences standards for data quality assurance.

• ZK-powered Access Control:
• Fine-grained access permissions allow researchers to define data access parameters.
• MidnightZK's ZKPs enable proof of specific data attributes without exposing sensitive information, ensuring confidentiality.

• Secure Data Exchange:
• Authorized researchers securely access and analyze shared datasets, preserving data privacy.
• ZKPs guarantee that users only view permitted information, thwarting unauthorized data exposure.

• Audit Trail and Provenance:
• An immutable audit trail is maintained on Cardano's blockchain ledger, documenting all data access and modifications.
• This fosters data integrity and accountability among researchers throughout the collaboration process.

• Incentivization Mechanisms:
• The platform integrates incentive mechanisms to reward researchers for sharing valuable data and contributing to collaborative research efforts.
• Tokenized rewards or reputation scoring systems incentivize active participation and data sharing.

Technical Overview:

• MidnightZK Integration:
• Empowers secure data exchange with unparalleled privacy guarantees.
• Researchers can demonstrate specific data attributes using ZKPs without compromising data confidentiality, fostering trust and collaboration.

• Interoperable Data Standards:
• Adherence to established data standards like FHIR ensures seamless data exchange and integration with existing healthcare IT systems.
• Guarantees compatibility and interoperability, streamlining collaboration among researchers and institutions.

Usecases:

• Collaborative research on new medications.
• Efficient management and analysis of clinical trial data.
• Tailored treatments based on individual patient data.
• Insights into disease patterns and treatment outcomes.
• Monitoring disease outbreaks and vaccination rates.
• Advancing understanding of genetic diseases and therapies.
• Data-driven allocation of research funding.
• Accelerating diagnostics and treatments for rare diseases.
• Timely identification and mitigation of adverse drug reactions.
• Promoting equity in healthcare delivery and research.

and many more.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Our project contributes to the broader Cardano community in several ways:

1. Increased Adoption: By addressing a critical need in the healthcare sector, our project positions Cardano as a leading blockchain platform for secure data sharing in a multi-billion dollar industry. This attracts new users and developers to the Cardano ecosystem, fostering growth and innovation.
2. Real-world Use Case: This project demonstrates the practical application of Cardano's technology in solving real-world problems. This success story strengthens Cardano's reputation as a powerful and versatile blockchain platform.

Measurement of Impact:

We will measure the impact of our project through quantitative metrics such as adoption interest, the number of healthcare institutions showing interest, and the volume of data shared securely on the platform as POC. Qualitative metrics will include feedback from users and stakeholders on the effectiveness and efficiency of the platform in facilitating collaboration and innovation in healthcare research.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities:

We are committed to providing ongoing and frequent project updates to the Cardano community through our social media channels, including Discord. Additionally, we will share insights and opportunities resulting from our project through community forums, webinars, and conference presentations. By engaging with the Cardano community and sharing our learnings and successes, we aim to inspire others to leverage Cardano's technology to address challenges in their respective industries.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

The team is composed of experts in blockchain technology and financial services with a proven track record for delivering high-quality Cardano-built solutions with transparency and accountability. Our existing products have served to enhance the Cardano ecosystem in a tangible way, we have strong strategic partnerships and we intend to deliver the project with the same level of quality that the Cardano Community has come to expect from us.

With a collective experience of over 30 years in the blockchain domain, our team is well-equipped with the necessary expertise to develop and deliver this project.

Development Team:

Our development team boasts significant expertise in blockchain technology, with a strong focus on the Cardano ecosystem. They have played a pivotal role in several successful projects on Cardano and are skilled in developing dApps on Cardano.

Zero-Knowledge Proofs:

Our team includes pioneers in the Midnight ZK framework, possessing both knowledge and practical experience in applying Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) methodologies.

We've established a pivotal partnership with Neeta Life Sciences (NLS), spearheaded by Dr. K. Anil Kumar and Dr. G. Gopikrishna, esteemed experts in healthcare solutions and organic chemistry.

Neeta Life Sciences (NLS):

NLS, under the adept leadership of Dr. K. Anil Kumar, a distinguished researcher with over three decades of experience in industrial research. His expertise spans preventive healthcare solutions, nutraceuticals, solid-state formulations (cocrystals), and agri-formulations. Dr. Kumar's robust background in natural product chemistry, biocatalysis, and green chemistry has contributed to over 60 publications and 25 patents, showcasing his significant contributions to science and technology advancement.

Dr. G. Gopikrishna:

Dr. G. Gopikrishna, a seasoned academic and industrial researcher with a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, brings over 23 years of expertise to NLS. His research endeavors in organocatalysis, computational chemistry, and chemical biology have enriched organizations like Dr. Reddy’s Research Foundation, GVK Biosciences, and Chemveda Life Sciences. With numerous publications and patents to his credit, Dr. Gopikrishna's contributions to the field are highly regarded.

This partnership underscores our commitment to harnessing their wealth of knowledge and experience in implementing a low-fidelity Proof of Concept (PoC) for our secure data-sharing protocol on Cardano, reinforcing our shared mission of driving innovation in healthcare and biotech.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Outputs:

• A requirements and specifications document detailing the functional and non-functional requirements, especially focusing on data upload, validation, and ZK-powered access control.
• Architectural design documents, including initial designs for integrating MidnightZK with the Cardano blockchain for secure and private data exchange.

Acceptance Criteria:

• The architectural design is ratified by the technical advisory board and aligns with the needs of secure data sharing using ZKPs.

Evidence:

• Architectural design documents and diagrams.

Outputs:

• Development of data upload and validation features, using established life sciences data standards (like FHIR) to ensure data quality and integrity.
• Implementation of ZK-powered access control, enabling researchers to define and enforce access permissions using MidnightZK's zero-knowledge proofs.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Successful implementation of data upload and validation functionalities, compliant with domain-specific standards.
• ZK-powered access control is operational, allowing for proof of specific data attributes without revealing the data itself.
• Unit and integration tests cover at least 80% of the new code, ensuring that core functionalities are tested and validated.

Evidence:

• Code commits and pull requests showing the implementation of data upload, validation, and access control.
• Test reports demonstrating coverage and outcomes.
• Demonstration videos or screenshots showing the initial functionalities in action.

A: Milestone Outputs

• Updated Prototype: The prototype updated with any necessary changes following the initial testing.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Prototype Robustness: The updated prototype should incorporate all necessary changes and demonstrate improved stability.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Updated Prototype Demonstration: A demonstration showing the enhancements made to the prototype post-testing.

Final Milestone:

A: Milestone outputs

• Create a video presentation summarizing the project and its functionalities.
• Submit a final project close-out report detailing all development aspects.

B: Acceptance criteria

• The video presentation clearly explains the project's goals, functionalities, and impact.
• The close-out report provides a comprehensive overview of the project's development.

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• Provide a link to the delivered bridge white repo publicly accessible domain.
• Submit the video presentation summarizing the Prototype Development

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Rahul Konudula, CEO - Trivolve

He has founded companies across real estate, international commodities, and mineral mining that have been running successfully for more than a decade with 8 figure annual revenue in USD. He has over eight years of experience in the RWA sector, focusing on bringing innovative solutions by integrating AI and Blockchain and consistently being one of the leading contributors to industry advancements in South India.

Trivolve Tech

We are a prominent AI and Blockchain development studio based in Dubai and India, specializing in creating innovative solutions for the Asia-Pacific region. With a dedicated team of 31 professionals, we have been serving over 20 enterprise clients, including governments, venture capital firms, and Fortune 500 companies, for more than three years. Our expertise extends to consulting for leading Cardano projects, leveraging our extensive experience in product development.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Milestone 1

Total Duration: 30 Days

• Senior Cardano Developer: 20000 ADA
• Cardano Solution Architect: 5000 ADA

Total: 25000 ADA

Milestone 2

Total Duration: 30 Days

• Senior Cardano Developer: 20000 ADA
• Cardano Solution Architect: 5000 ADA

Total: 25000 ADA

Milestone 3

Total Duration: 30 Days

• Senior Cardano Developer : 10000 ADA
• Cardano Solution Architect: 5000 ADA

Total: 15000 ADA

Final Milestone: Launch and Reporting

Total Duration: 20 Days

• Senior Cardano Developer : 10000 ADA

Total: 10000 ADA

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

Addressing a Critical Need:

Drug discovery suffers from fragmented data and slow collaboration. Our platform tackles this head-on, potentially leading to faster development of life-saving treatments. 

Cardano Ecosystem Growth:

Cardano establishes itself as a leader in secure healthcare solutions, attracting new users and developers. Growth and innovation within the Cardano ecosystem, generating returns on investment far exceeding project costs.

We utilize a lean development methodology, emphasizing the prioritization of development and enhancements based on feedback from partners, the community, and users, which ensures efficient and cost-effective use of resources. Our strategic employment of a geographically diverse team spanning the US, Singapore, and India allows us to optimize development costs while upholding high quality and efficiency standards.

This method, along with our dedication to transparency and strategic financial planning, guarantees that the proposal delivers great value for money.