Data sharing ensures research robustness, adequate datasets for statistically significant results, economies of scales and cost-effective approaches through data reuse and enhancement, and ultimately expedites the validation and implementation of research findings.2 COVID-19 has shown the power of international collaboration and how the effective access to health-related data, and the amalgamation and use of these data in research, provided swift and cost-effective solutions to reduce the impact of the disease.3 Unfortunately, COVID-19 has created a backlog and delay in cancer care. ...a similar approach is required to ensure that this delay is not exacerbated, but rather, collaborative research needs to be facilitated to translate results into clinical practice. A legal study requested by the European Data Protection Board in 2021, prepared by external providers,7 showed that some harmonisation exists among countries in the European Economic Area as necessitated by the GDPR with respect to appropriate safeguards for scientific research, considered in this context as relevant technical and organisational measures to protect rights of patients during the execution of scientific research. Under GDPR, genomic data are considered a special category of data and are considered to be scientifically identifiable.9 Both these issues complicate the ability to use and share these data, which are fundamental to further oncology research and care, as noted by the Future cancer research priorities in the USA: a Lancet Oncology Commission.10 The upcoming Lancet Oncology Commission on cancer genomics and precision oncology being coordinated by the International Cancer Genome Consortium to Accelerate Research in Genomics Oncology will investigate challenges and propose solutions to assist health systems deliver streamlined, equitable, and effective molecular-based cancer care.