View source for UK Biobank

{{Short description|Long-term biobank study of 500,000 people}}
{{cs1 config|display-authors=5}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox project
| name = UK Biobank
| logo = UK biobank logo.png
| image = File:Biobank Stockport 1 Oct 2022.jpg
| caption = UK Biobank Co-ordinating and Assessment Centre
| mission_statement = "Improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of serious and life-threatening illnesses – including cancer, heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, eye disorders, depression and forms of dementia."
| commercial = No
| type =
| location = [[Stockport]], [[Greater Manchester]], England
| country=
| owner =
| founder = [[Rory Collins]]
| established = {{Start date|2003|11|28}}<ref name="UKB Charity Commission">{{cite web | title=Charity 1101332 | website=charitycommission.gov.uk | url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/4004061/governing-document?_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_organisationNumber=4004061 | access-date=2025-09-23}}</ref><ref name="UKB Companies House">{{cite web | title=Find and update company information | website=company-information.service.gov.uk | date=2003-11-28 | url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04978912 | access-date=2025-09-23}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|www.ukbiobank.ac.uk}}
}}
'''UK Biobank''' is a long-term prospective [[biobank]] study in the United Kingdom (UK) that houses the de-identified biological samples and health-related data of half a million people.<ref name="Nature New Era">{{cite journal |last1=Bahcall |first1=Orli G. |date=22 October 2018 |title=UK Biobank — a new era in genomic medicine |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41576-018-0065-3 |journal=Nature Reviews Genetics |volume=19 |issue=12 |page=737 |language=en |doi=10.1038/s41576-018-0065-3 |pmid=30348997 }}</ref><ref name="BMJ 344">{{cite journal |last=Watts |first=Geoff |date=30 March 2012 |title=UK Biobank opens its data vaults to researchers|journal=BMJ |language=en |volume=344 |article-number=e2459 |doi=10.1136/bmj.e2459 |pmid=22470161 |issn=1756-1833}}</ref><ref name="Guardian Nov 30 2023">{{cite news|last=Sample |first=Ian |date=30 November 2023 |title=UK Biobank and the masses of medical data that became key to genetic research |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/nov/30/uk-biobank-and-the-masses-of-medical-data-that-became-key-to-genetic-research |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> The volunteer participants aged 40–69 were recruited between 2006 and 2010 from across Great Britain and consented both to share their health data and to be followed for at least 30 years thereafter, with the aim to enable scientific discoveries into the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.<ref name="Nature New Era" /><ref name="Guardian Nov 30 2023" />

==Background==
Based in [[Stockport]], [[Greater Manchester]], UK Biobank is incorporated as a [[limited company]] and [[Charity Commission for England and Wales|registered charity in England and Wales]],<ref name="CCEW">{{cite web |title=UK Biobank Limited - Charity 1101332 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1101332&subId=0 |website=register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk |publisher=Charity Commission for England and Wales}}</ref> and [[Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator|registered as a charity in Scotland]].<ref name="OSCR">{{cite web |title=OSCR Charity Details |url=https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC039230 |website=Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator}}</ref><ref name="sudlow">{{cite journal |last1=Sudlow |first1=Cathie |last2=Gallacher |first2=John |last3=Allen |first3=Naomi |last4=Beral |first4=Valerie |last5=Burton |first5=Paul |last6=Danesh |first6=John |last7=Downey |first7=Paul |last8=Elliott |first8=Paul |last9=Green |first9=Jane |last10=Landray |first10=Martin |last11=Liu |first11=Bette |last12=Matthews |first12=Paul |last13=Ong |first13=Giok |last14=Pell |first14=Jill |last15=Silman |first15=Alan|date=31 March 2015 |title=UK Biobank: An Open Access Resource for Identifying the Causes of a Wide Range of Complex Diseases of Middle and Old Age |publisher=PubMed Central |last16=Young |first16=Alan |last17=Sprosen |first17=Tim |last18=Peakman |first18=Tim |last19=Collins |first19=Rory|journal=PLOS Medicine |volume=12 |issue=3 |article-number=e1001779 |doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001779 |doi-access=free |pmid=25826379 |pmc=4380465}}</ref><ref name="allen">{{cite journal |last1=Allen |first1=Naomi E. |last2=Sudlow |first2=Cathie |last3=Peakman |first3=Tim |last4=Collins |first4=Rory |date=19 February 2014 |title=UK Biobank Data: Come and Get It |journal=Science Translational Medicine |volume=6 |issue=224 |pages=224ed4 |language=en |doi=10.1126/scitranslmed.3008601|doi-access=free|pmid=24553384}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Collins |first=Rory |date=29 March 2012 |title=What makes UK Biobank special?|journal=The Lancet |volume=379 |issue=9822 |pages=1173–1174 |doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(12)60404-8 |pmid=22463865 }}</ref>

UK Biobank holds more than 10,000 variables of data on many of their 500,000 participants to inform research including biological samples, physical measurements, body and brain imaging data, bone density data, activity tracking and lifestyle questionnaire data.<ref name="The Times 12 September 2023">{{cite news|last=Llewellyn Smith |first=Julia |date=12 September 2023 |title=How people like you are contributing to the cure for cancer |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/how-people-like-you-are-contributing-to-the-cure-for-cancer-r3vpczb5f|url-access=subscription|language=en}}</ref> Participants continue to provide more data over time. They have over 15 million biological samples stored, which can be requested for use by researchers, and their online database holds over 30 petabytes of data.<ref name="The Times 12 September 2023"/><ref name="The Times 16 February 20242">{{cite news|last=Whipple |first=Tom |date=16 February 2024 |title=UK Biobank: We're in the prime of our life — because everyone is dying |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/biobank-were-in-the-prime-of-our-life-because-everyone-is-dying-m72l9f276|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210142712/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/biobank-were-in-the-prime-of-our-life-because-everyone-is-dying-m72l9f276|archive-date=10 February 2025|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hirschler |first=Ben |date=30 March 2012 |title=Mid-life Britain opens doors for disease research |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE82T000/ |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> Their [[human genome]] sequencing database, [[Proteomics|proteomic]] database, and [[Medical imaging|human imaging]] project are the largest in the world.<ref name=walsh>{{cite news|last=Walsh |first=Fergus |date=18 May 2023 |title=Ageing body scans to aid understanding of why diseases occur |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65615782 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Callaway |first=Ewen |date=30 November 2023 |title=World's biggest set of human genome sequences opens to scientists |journal=Nature |volume=624 |issue=7990 |pages=16–17 |language=en |doi=10.1038/d41586-023-03763-3|pmid=38036674 |bibcode=2023Natur.624...16C }}</ref> The project is enabling scientists to study the onset of diseases such as cancers, heart disease, and age-related conditions in the early stages of their development.<ref name=walsh/><ref>{{cite journal |date=8 November 2022 |title=UK Biobank's reimaging colossus |journal=Nature Biotechnology |volume=40 |issue=11 |page=1536 |language=en |doi=10.1038/s41587-022-01575-w|doi-access=free|pmid=36347979}}</ref><ref name="The Times 16 February 20242"/> ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' has referred to UK Biobank as an "unprecedented open access database."<ref>{{cite web |date=11 October 2018 |title=UK Biobank |url=https://www.nature.com/collections/bpthhnywqk |website=Nature |language=en}}</ref>

Since 2012,<ref>{{cite journal |date=10 October 2018 |title=UK Biobank data on 500,000 people paves way to precision medicine |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-06950-9 |journal=Nature |volume=562 |issue=7726 |pages=163–164 |language=en |doi=10.1038/d41586-018-06950-9|pmid=30365879 |bibcode=2018Natur.562Q.163. }}</ref> 30,000 researchers from over 90 countries<ref name=walsh/> have registered to use UK Biobank. As of November 2023, there have been over 9,000<ref name=offord>{{cite journal|last=Offord |first=Catherine |date=29 November 2023 |title=UK Biobank releases half a million whole-genome sequences for biomedical research |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/uk-biobank-releases-half-million-whole-genome-sequences-biomedical-research |journal=Science}}</ref> [[Scholarly peer review|peer-reviewed]] publications using UK Biobank data, including over 3,000 in 2023.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Law |first1=Tara |date=2 May 2024 |title=Rory Collins |url=https://time.com/6962873/rory-collins/ |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref>

UK Biobank is funded by the [[Medical Research Council (United Kingdom)|Medical Research Council]] (MRC), the [[Wellcome Trust]], UK government and charitable sources, and philanthropic donations.<ref name=halfmill/>

==History==
UK Biobank was conceived in the early 2000s and founded in November 2003.<ref name="UKB History">{{cite web | title=Our history | website=UK Biobank | date=2025-10-02 | url=https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/about-us/our-history/ | access-date=2025-10-03}}</ref><ref name="UKB Charity Commission"/><ref name="UKB Companies House"/> Professor Sir [[Rory Collins]] was appointed as the Principal Investigator and Chief Executive of UK Biobank in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Coghlan |first1=Andy |date=30 March 2012 |title=Biobank promises to pinpoint the cause of disease |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21650-biobank-promises-to-pinpoint-the-cause-of-disease/ |website=New Scientist}}</ref>' An incremental approach was adopted to developing the study procedures and technology, using systems designed and developed by the [[Clinical Trial Service Unit]] (CTSU). This consisted of a series of pilot studies of increasing complexity and sophistication with interludes for assessment of results and additional scientific input. In-house trials were conducted during 2005, and a fully integrated clinic was run at [[Altrincham]], Greater Manchester throughout Spring 2006 where 3,800 individuals were assessed. On 22 August 2006, it was announced that the main programme would recruit men and women aged between 40 and 69 based from up to 35 regional centres.<ref name="Guardian"/>

Following the initial pilot stage in the 2005–06 period,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Coghlan |first1=Andy |date=21 August 2006 |title=Project to link genes, lifestyle and health gets go-ahead |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9810-project-to-link-genes-lifestyle-and-health-gets-go-ahead/ |website=New Scientist}}</ref> the main study began in April 2007 and by the end of that year 50,000 people had taken part. Recruitment reached 100,000 in April 2008, 200,000 in October 2008, 300,000 in May 2009, 400,000 in November 2009 and passed the 500,000 target in July 2010. The volunteers were largely healthy, wealthy and white European. Rather than recruiting more participants into the biobank, the organisation is helping other institutions establish and run similar initiatives.<ref name=halfmill/> Participant enrolment was declared complete in August 2010.<ref name="BBC"/> However recruitment proved more efficient than hoped and only 22 centres had been opened when the recruitment target of 500,000 was reached in 2010.

In May 2023, [[UKRI]] announced that UK Biobank was set to receive £127.6&nbsp;million to move to a purpose-built facility at [[Bruntwood SciTech]]'s [[Manchester Science Park]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hatmaker |first1=Julia |date=25 May 2023 |title=UK Biobank confirms move to Manchester Science Park |url=https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/uk-biobank-confirms-move-to-manchester-science-park/ |website=Place North West}}</ref>

In October 2023, a number of funders including [[Eric Schmidt]] and [[Kenneth C. Griffin|Ken Griffin]] announced further funding for the next five years.<ref>{{cite web |date=31 October 2023 |title=UK Biobank to scale though £32m philanthropic partnership |url=https://businesscloud.co.uk/news/uk-biobank-to-scale-though-32m-philanthropic-partnership/ |website=BusinessCloud |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Peel |first1=Michael |last2=Agnew |first2=Harriet |date=29 October 2023 |title=Ken Griffin and Eric Schmidt invest $10mn each in UK genetics database |url=https://www.ft.com/content/20badecd-0e25-4526-8b8e-6870a566163e |work=Financial Times}}</ref>

==Design==
The study is following about 500,000 volunteers in the UK, enrolled at ages from 40 to 69. Initial enrolment took place over four years from 2006, and the volunteers will be followed for at least 30 years thereafter.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fry |first1=Anna |last2=Littlejohns |first2=Thomas J |last3=Sudlow |first3=Cathie |last4=Doherty |first4=Nicola |last5=Adamska |first5=Ligia |last6=Sprosen |first6=Tim |last7=Collins |first7=Rory |last8=Allen |first8=Naomi E |date=2017-11-01 |title=Comparison of Sociodemographic and Health-Related Characteristics of UK Biobank Participants With Those of the General Population |url=https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/186/9/1026/3883629 |journal=American Journal of Epidemiology |language=en |volume=186 |issue=9 |pages=1026–1034 |doi=10.1093/aje/kwx246 |issn=0002-9262 |pmc=5860371 |pmid=28641372}}</ref>

Prospective participants were invited to visit an assessment centre, at which they completed an automated questionnaire and were interviewed about lifestyle, medical history and nutritional habits; basic variables such as weight, height, blood pressure etc. were measured; and blood and [[urine]] samples were taken. These samples were preserved so that it was possible to later extract [[DNA]] and measure other biologically important substances. During the whole duration of the study it was intended that all disease events, drug prescriptions and deaths of the participants are recorded in a database, taking advantage of the centralized UK [[National Health Service]].<ref name="draft">[http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/docs/draft_protocol.pdf Draft protocol for the UK Biobank] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060214144838/http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/docs/draft_protocol.pdf |date=14 February 2006}}, 14 February 2002</ref><ref>[http://www.mrc.ac.uk/index/strategy-strategy/strategy-science_strategy/strategy-strategy_implementation/strategy-government_spending_review_initiatives/strategy-biobank.htm Reviewers' comments on Draft protocol, and responses]</ref>

During the initial physical examination, basic feedback was provided to the participant regarding their weight, height, BMI, [[blood pressure]], lung [[vital capacity]], [[bone density]] and [[intra-ocular pressure]]; however if any other medical problems were detected, neither the participant nor their physician would be notified. Problems detected later, such as genetic risk factors, were not conveyed to either participant or physician ("to ensure that volunteers are not penalised by insurance companies, for example, which may require customers to disclose the results of any genetic tests.").<ref name="ns">Andy Coghlan: [https://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/mg18925353.800 One million people, one medical gamble]. ''[[New Scientist]]'', 20 January 2006</ref>

From 2012 researchers were able to apply to use the database (though they are not given access to the volunteers, who will remain strictly anonymous). A typical study using the database might compare a sample of participants who developed a particular [[disease]], such as [[cancer]], [[heart disease]], [[diabetes]] or [[Alzheimer's disease]], with a sample of those that did not, in an attempt to measure the benefits, risk contribution and interaction of specific [[genes]], lifestyles, and medications.

In 2017 researchers were able to access the database including genetic information.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/s/609184/uk-biobank-supercharges-medicine-with-gene-data-on-500000-brits/|title=UK Biobank supercharges medicine with gene data on 500,000 Brits|last=Regalado|first=Antonio|date=2017-11-15|work=MIT Technology Review|access-date=2018-06-25|language=en}}</ref><ref name="zhang">{{Cite news |last=Zhang |first=Sarah |date=2017-11-06 |title=What Happens When You Put 500,000 People's DNA Online |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/11/what-happens-when-you-put-500000-peoples-dna-online/543747/ |access-date=2017-11-07 |work=The Atlantic |language=en-US}}</ref> By 2017 Biobank participants had approximately 1.3 million hospitalisations, 40,000 cancer incidents with 14,000 of them having died.<ref name="littlejohns">{{Cite journal|last1=Littlejohns|first1=Thomas J.|last2=Sudlow|first2=Cathie|last3=Allen|first3=Naomi E.|last4=Collins|first4=Rory|title=UK Biobank: opportunities for cardiovascular research|journal=European Heart Journal|volume=40|issue=14|pages=1158–1166|doi=10.1093/eurheartj/ehx254|pmid=28531320|year=2017|pmc=6451771}}</ref>

===Initial information collected===
The study was initially launched with a visit consisting of the following:<ref name="littlejohns" />
* A [[paperless]] [[consent]] process
* A [[touchscreen]] questionnaire on [[lifestyle (sociology)|lifestyle]] and general health
* Touchscreen tests of [[memory]]
* An interview with a [[nurse]] on detailed medical history
* Measurement of [[blood pressure]]
* Measurement of sitting and standing heights
* Measurement of weight
* Body composition measurement using impedance
* Measurement of grip-strength
* Breath [[spirometry]]
* [[Ultrasound]] bone densitometry of the heel
* Collection of [[blood]] and [[urine]] samples

Once the visit-based assessment method was proven, the range of investigations was extended to include:<ref name="littlejohns" />
* Test of hearing discrimination
* Measurement of arterial pulse-wave velocity
* Measurement of [[visual acuity]]
* Measurement of [[intra-ocular pressure]]
* Lens refractometry
* Fundus image of [[retina]]
* [[Optical coherence tomography]] scan of retina
* [[Electrocardiogram]] during exercise
* Collection of [[saliva]] sample
* Dietary assessment

===Data additions===
Since the completion of recruitment several new types of data have been added:
* During 2011–12 participants who supplied an email address were asked to assist by completing web-based dietary questionnaires, with the aim of combining a series of daily 'snapshots' to form a picture of overall nutrition. 176,012 of the participants responded at least once and 27,535 completed four questionnaires over a 16-month period.<ref name="littlejohns" />
* During 2012–13 25,000 participants at the Stockport centre were asked to attend the assessment centre to repeat the initial measurements. It was intended to repeat these assessments every few years.<ref name="littlejohns" />
* In 2013 to 2015, Axivity AX3 tri-axial wrist physical activity monitors were distributed to 100,000 participants, which recorded week-long triaxial acceleration at 100&nbsp;Hz.<ref>(2015) [http://axivity.com/case-studies/biobank UK Biobank; Large Scale Data Collection] Axivity company web page, Retrieved 30 March 2015</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 December 2020 |title=AX3 3-axis logging accelerometer |url=https://github.com/digitalinteraction/openmovement/wiki/AX3 |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=Open Movement}}</ref> This data was centrally processed, and listed on the Data Showcase.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Doherty |first1=Aiden |last2=Jackson |first2=Dan |last3=Hammerla |first3=Nils |last4=Plötz |first4=Thomas |last5=Olivier |first5=Patrick |last6=Granat |first6=Malcolm H. |last7=White |first7=Tom |last8=van Hees |first8=Vincent T. |last9=Trenell |first9=Michael I. |last10=Owen |first10=Christoper G. |last11=Preece |first11=Stephen J. |last12=Gillions |first12=Rob |last13=Sheard |first13=Simon |last14=Peakman |first14=Tim |last15=Brage |first15=Soren|date=1 February 2017 |title=Large Scale Population Assessment of Physical Activity Using Wrist Worn Accelerometers: The UK Biobank Study |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=12 |issue=2 |article-number=e0169649 |bibcode=2017PLoSO..1269649D |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0169649 |pmc=5287488 |pmid=28146576 |doi-access=free |last16=Wareham |first16=Nicholas J.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Showcase: Physical activity measurement |url=http://biobank.ctsu.ox.ac.uk/crystal/label.cgi?id=1008 |access-date=16 March 2022 |publisher=UK Biobank Data}}</ref>
* In 2014 and 2015, 120,000 participants completed a questionnaire on cognitive functions. Four of the tests were repeats of the initial assessment and two tests (symbol digit substitution and trail making) were new.<ref name="littlejohns" />
* A new type of assessment centre opened in 2014 to collect imaging data. The visits extended the initial dataset to include magnetic resonance imaging ([[MRI]]) scans of brain<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Miller |first1=K.L. |year=2016 |title=Multimodal population brain imaging in the UK Biobank prospective epidemiological study |journal=Nature Neuroscience |volume=19 |issue=11 |pages=1523–1536 |doi=10.1038/nn.4393 |pmc=5086094 |pmid=27643430}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Alfaro-Almagro |first1=F. |year=2016 |title=Image processing and Quality Control for the first 10,000 brain imaging datasets from UK Biobank |journal=NeuroImage |volume=19 |pages=1523–1536 |doi=10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.10.034 |pmc=5770339 |pmid=29079522}}</ref><ref>{{Cite bioRxiv |biorxiv=10.1101/130385 |first1=F. |last1=Alfaro Almagro |title=Image Processing and Quality Control for the first 10,000 Brain Imaging Datasets from UK Biobank |date=25 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="pmid33875891">{{cite journal |vauthors=Smith SM, Douaud G, Chen W, Hanayik T, Alfaro-Almagro F, Sharp K|year=2021 |title=An expanded set of genome-wide association studies of brain imaging phenotypes in UK Biobank. |journal=Nat Neurosci |volume=24 |issue=5 |pages=737–745 |doi=10.1038/s41593-021-00826-4 |pmc=7610742 |pmid=33875891}}</ref> heart and abdomen, as well as neck-to-knee volumetric MRI scans, whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry ([[DXA]]) scan of bones and joints, ultrasound measurements of the [[carotid]] arteries and resting 12-lead electrocardiogram ([[ECG]]). Initial data on 4,000 participants was released at the end of 2015 and by mid-2018 over 25,000 participants had been scanned. It is planned to scan 100,000 participants by 2022, and to do additional repeat scans on 10,000 of these 2–3 years later.<ref name="littlejohns" />
* In 2015 and 2016, 117,500 participants completed questionnaires on occupational history and related medical information.<ref name="littlejohns" />
* In 2016 and 2017, 137,400 participants completed questionnaires on mental health events including subjective well-being estimates, psychotic experiences, self-harm behaviours, traumatic events and cannabis and alcohol use.<ref name="littlejohns" />
* A set of additional assays on the blood and urinary samples were being conducted in 2016 and 2017<ref name="littlejohns" /> with blood results expected to be released in Q4/2018.
* A genomic assay of 820,967 [[Single-nucleotide polymorphism|SNPs]] was conducted on the participants blood samples. Data from an initial 150,000 participants were released in 2015, the remainder in July 2017,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Welsh |first1=Samantha |last2=Peakman |first2=Tim |last3=Sheard |first3=Simon |last4=Almond |first4=Rachael |date=2017-01-01 |title=Comparison of DNA quantification methodology used in the DNA extraction protocol for the UK Biobank cohort |journal=BMC Genomics |volume=18 |issue=1 |page=26 |doi=10.1186/s12864-016-3391-x |issn=1471-2164 |pmc=5217214 |pmid=28056765 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="zhang" /> and the first results in October 2018.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bycroft |first1=Clare |last2=Freeman |first2=Colin |last3=Petkova |first3=Desislava |last4=Band |first4=Gavin |last5=Elliott |first5=Lloyd T. |last6=Sharp |first6=Kevin |last7=Motyer |first7=Allan |last8=Vukcevic |first8=Damjan |last9=Delaneau |first9=Olivier |last10=O'Connell |first10=Jared |last11=Cortes |first11=Adrian |last12=Welsh |first12=Samantha |last13=Young |first13=Alan |last14=Effingham |first14=Mark |last15=McVean |first15=Gil |last16=Leslie |first16=Stephen |last17=Allen |first17=Naomi |last18=Donnelly |first18=Peter |last19=Marchini |first19=Jonathan |title=The UK Biobank resource with deep phenotyping and genomic data |journal=Nature |volume=562 |issue=7726 |date=11 October 2018 |issn=0028-0836 |pmid=30305743 |pmc=6786975 |doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0579-z |doi-access=free |pages=203–209 |bibcode=2018Natur.562..203B |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0579-z.pdf}}</ref>
* Information from UK registries of [[death]] (from 2006) and [[cancer]] (Scotland from 1957, England and Wales from 1995) were linked to the main Biobank dataset on an ongoing basis.<ref name="littlejohns" />
* Data from [[National Health Service|NHS]] hospital inpatient records (England from 1996, Scotland from 1997 and Wales from 1998) were linked to the main dataset on an ongoing basis.<ref name="littlejohns" />
* In 2019 exome sequence data from 50,000 persons was released, with 470,000 being available in 2023.'''<ref name="CCEW" />'''
* In 2020 20,000 volunteers agreed to collect and send a monthly blood sample for analysis of [[SARS-CoV-2]] antibodies. They included existing Biobank participants and their children and adult grandchildren living in separate households.<ref name="biobank-2020jul30">{{cite press release |title=UK Biobank reveals substantial variation in rates of previous COVID-19 infection across the UK |publisher=UK Biobank |date=30 June 2020 |url=https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/2020/07/uk-biobank-reveals-substantial-variation-in-rates-of-previous-covid-19-infection-across-the-uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125013531/https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/2020/07/uk-biobank-reveals-substantial-variation-in-rates-of-previous-covid-19-infection-across-the-uk/ |archive-date=25 November 2020 }}</ref>
* In 2021 NMR metabolomic data on approximately 121,000 persons was released.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ritchie |first1=Scott C. |last2=Surendran |first2=Praveen |last3=Karthikeyan |first3=Savita |last4=Lambert |first4=Samuel A. |last5=Bolton |first5=Thomas |last6=Pennells |first6=Lisa |last7=Danesh |first7=John |last8=Di Angelantonio |first8=Emanuele |last9=Butterworth |first9=Adam S. |last10=Inouye |first10=Michael |date=2023 |title=Quality control and removal of technical variation of NMR metabolic biomarker data in ~120,000 UK Biobank participants |journal=Scientific Data |volume=10 |issue=1 |page=64 |bibcode=2023NatSD..10...64R |doi=10.1038/s41597-023-01949-y |pmid=36720882 |pmc=9887579}}</ref>
* In June 2021, a subset of volunteers who had acknowledged that they had already received at least their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, were asked to participate in a study to determine if their COVID-19 antibodies were as a result of their vaccination or from a prior infection.
* In October 2023, measurements of circulating proteins assayed by Olink's [[Proximity extension assay]] DNA-linked antibody technology were published<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sun |first1=B.B. |date=2023-10-04 |title=Plasma proteomic associations with genetics and health in the UK Biobank |journal=Nature |volume=622 |issue=7982 |pages=329–338 |doi=10.1038/s41586-023-06592-6|pmid=37794186 |pmc=10567551}}</ref> for a subset of ~53,000 UK Biobank participants. The UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project was funded by a consortium of pharmaceutical companies.<ref >{{cite web |date=7 December 2020 |title=UK Biobank launches one of the largest scientific studies measuring circulating proteins, to better understand the link between genetics and human disease |url=https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/learn-more-about-uk-biobank/news/uk-biobank-launches-one-of-the-largest-scientific-studies |access-date=13 October 2024 |website=UK Biobank}}</ref>
* In 2023 UK Biobank released the whole genome sequencing data of all 500,000 participants, the largest number of whole genome sequences ever released for medical research.<ref name="OSCR" /><ref name="sudlow" /> The release was supported by UKRI, Wellcome, industry partners including Amgen, AstraZeneca, GSK, and Johnson & Johnson, with sequencing conducted by deCODE Genetics and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.'''<ref name="allen" />'''

==Recruitment==
Following the initial pilot stage in the 2005–06 period, the main study began in April 2007 and by the end of that year 50,000 people had taken part.
Recruitment reached 100,000 in April 2008, 200,000 in October 2008, 300,000 in May 2009, 400,000 in November 2009 and passed the 500,000 target in July 2010. Participant enrolment was declared complete in August 2010.<ref name="BBC">[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5270478.stm Biobank set for national roll out]. ''[[BBC News]]'', 21 August 2006</ref> The volunteers were largely healthy, wealthy and white European. Rather than recruiting more participants into the biobank, the organisation is helping other institutions establish and run similar initiatives.<ref name=halfmill>{{cite news |date=22 August 2018 |title=How 500,000 Britons are critical to assessing global disease risk |url=https://www.ft.com/content/80c82a0a-a48f-11e8-8ecf-a7ae1beff35b?emailId=5b7bce24992e45000493055c |url-access=subscription|publisher=Financial Times}}</ref>

==Access to UK Biobank==
The UK Biobank dataset was opened to applications from researchers in March 2012.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 March 2012 |title=UK biobank opens to researchers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17553931 |website=BBC News}}</ref> The resource is available to scientists from the UK and outside, whether they work in the public or private sector, for industry, academia or a charity, subject to verification that the research is health-related and in the public interest. Researchers must register to be approved to use UK Biobank data.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Conroy |first1=M. |last2=Sellors |first2=J. |last3=Effingham |first3=M. |last4=Littlejohns |first4=T. J. |last5=Boultwood |first5=C. |last6=Gillions |first6=L. |last7=Sudlow |first7=C. L. M. |last8=Collins |first8=R. |last9=Allen |first9=N. E. |date=8 July 2019 |title=The advantages of UK Biobank's open-access strategy for health research |journal=Journal of Internal Medicine |volume=286 |issue=4 |pages=389–397 |language=en |doi=10.1111/joim.12955|pmid=31283063 |pmc=6790705}}</ref> Researchers are required to publish their results in an open source publication site or in an academic journal and return their findings to the UK Biobank.<ref name="littlejohns"/>

In 2021 UK Biobank launched its cloud-based Research Analysis Platform (UKB-RAP), providing information technology infrastructure to store and analyse UK Biobank's large dataset regardless of the researcher's own technological capabilities.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chipman |first1=Andrea |date=30 November 2023 |title=UK Biobank unveils new data, launching new era for treatments and cures |url=https://www.digitalhealth.net/2023/11/uk-biobank-unveils-new-data-launching-new-era-for-treatments-and-cures/ |website=Digital Health}}</ref> By 2023 the platform had over 5,000 users.<ref>{{cite web |date=2 October 2023 |title=DNAnexus-enabled UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform Surpasses 5,000 Users in Two Years |url=https://www.technologynetworks.com/informatics/product-news/dnanexus-enabled-uk-biobank-research-analysis-platform-surpasses-5000-users-in-two-years-379413 |website=Informatics from Technology Networks |language=en}}</ref> The platform is hosted by Amazon Web Services, which also pledged $1.5 million in research credits for early career researchers and researchers from low and low-middle income countries to reduce limitations when collating, storing and securely accessing data.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Albert |first1=Helen |date=17 November 2021 |title=Genomic Data From 200,000 UK Biobank Participants Available to Researchers |url=https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/news-and-features/genomic-data-from-200000-uk-biobank-participants-available-to-researchers/ |website=Inside Precision Medicine}}</ref>

By 2023 30,000 researchers had registered to use the resource and over 9,000 peer-reviewed articles based on UK Biobank data had been published.<ref name=offord/>

==Findings==
===Road noise===
A 2022 review of UK Biobank data found that road traffic noise exposure increases risk of [[cardiovascular disease]] mortality, stroke and all-cause mortality.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hao |first1=Guang |last2=Zuo |first2=Lei |last3=Weng |first3=Xueqiong |last4=Fei |first4=Qiaoyuan |last5=Zhang |first5=Zugui |last6=Chen |first6=Li |last7=Wang |first7=Zengwu |last8=Jing |first8=Chunxia |title=Associations of road traffic noise with cardiovascular diseases and mortality: Longitudinal results from UK Biobank and meta-analysis |journal=Environmental Research |date=September 2022|volume=212 |issue=Pt A |article-number=113129 |doi=10.1016/j.envres.2022.113129 |pmid=35358546 |bibcode=2022ER....21213129H}}</ref>

===Dementia===
A 2023 review found that participants with sense of [[meaning and purpose in life]] have a decreased risk of dementia.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sutin |first1=Angelina |last2=Luchetti |first2=Martina |last3=Aschwanden |first3=Damaris |last4=Stephan |first4=Yannick |last5=Sesker |first5=Amanda |last6=Terracciano |first6=Antonio |title=Sense of meaning and purpose in life and risk of incident dementia: New data and meta-analysis |journal=Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics |publisher=PubMed Central |date=2023|volume=105 |article-number=104847 |doi=10.1016/j.archger.2022.104847 |pmid=36347158 |pmc=10015423}}</ref> Two other studies of participants in the UK Biobank study found that dementia risk was higher for those who were more socially isolated.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sommerlad |first1=Andrew |last2=Kivimäki |first2=Mika |last3=Larson |first3=Eric B. |last4=Röhr |first4=Susanne |last5=Shirai |first5=Kokoro |last6=Singh-Manoux |first6=Archana |last7=Livingston |first7=Gill |title=Social participation and risk of developing dementia |journal=Nature Aging |pages=532–545 |language=en |doi=10.1038/s43587-023-00387-0 |date=18 May 2023|volume=3 |issue=5 |pmid=37202513 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

===COVID-19===
A study from the UK Biobank showed a reduction in grey matter thickness, overall reduction in brain size and greater cognitive decline in patients after [[COVID-19]] compared with control groups.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Davis |first1=Hannah E. |last2=McCorkell |first2=Lisa |last3=Vogel |first3=Julia Moore |last4=Topol |first4=Eric J. |title=Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations |journal=Nature Reviews Microbiology |pages=133–146 |language=en |doi=10.1038/s41579-022-00846-2 |date=13 January 2023|volume=21 |issue=3 |pmid=36639608 |pmc=9839201}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zeng |first1=Na |last2=Zhao |first2=Yi-Miao |last3=Yan |first3=Wei |last4=Li |first4=Chao |last5=Lu |first5=Qing-Dong |last6=Liu |first6=Lin |last7=Ni |first7=Shu-Yu |last8=Mei |first8=Huan |last9=Yuan |first9=Kai |last10=Shi |first10=Le |last11=Li |first11=Peng |last12=Fan |first12=Teng-Teng |last13=Yuan |first13=Jun-Liang |last14=Vitiello |first14=Michael V |last15=Kosten |first15=Thomas |last16=Kondratiuk |first16=Alexandra L |last17=Sun |first17=Hong-Qiang |last18=Tang |first18=Xiang-Dong |last19=Liu |first19=Mei-Yan |last20=Lalvani |first20=Ajit |last21=Shi |first21=Jie |last22=Bao |first22=Yan-Ping |last23=Lu |first23=Lin |title=A systematic review and meta-analysis of long term physical and mental sequelae of COVID-19 pandemic: call for research priority and action |journal=Molecular Psychiatry |pages=423–433 |doi=10.1038/s41380-022-01614-7 |date=6 June 2022|volume=28 |issue=1 |pmid=35668159 |pmc=9168643}}</ref> The UK Biobank also reported on an increased risk of hospitalization for those who contracted COVID-19 with obesity.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Stefan |first1=Norbert |last2=Birkenfeld |first2=Andreas L. |last3=Schulze |first3=Matthias B. |title=Global pandemics interconnected — obesity, impaired metabolic health and COVID-19 |journal=Nature Reviews Endocrinology |pages=135–149 |language=en |doi=10.1038/s41574-020-00462-1 |date=21 January 2021|volume=17 |issue=3 |pmid=33479538 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

===Diet===
Reviews of UK Biobank data have found that [[Pescetarianism|pescatarians]] and [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian]]s have a lower risk of colorectal and prostate cancer compared to [[red meat]] eaters.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Parra-Soto |first1=Solange |last2=Ahumada |first2=Danay |last3=Petermann-Rocha |first3=Fanny |last4=Boonpoor |first4=Jirapitcha |last5=Gallegos |first5=Jose Lara |last6=Anderson |first6=Jana |last7=Sharp |first7=Linda |last8=Malcomson |first8=Fiona C. |last9=Livingstone |first9=Katherine M. |last10=Mathers |first10=John C. |last11=Pell |first11=Jill P. |last12=Ho |first12=Frederick K. |last13=Celis-Morales |first13=Carlos |title=Association of meat, vegetarian, pescatarian and fish-poultry diets with risk of 19 cancer sites and all cancer: findings from the UK Biobank prospective cohort study and meta-analysis |journal=BMC Medicine |page=79 |doi=10.1186/s12916-022-02257-9 |date=24 February 2022|volume=20 |issue=1 |doi-access=free |pmid=35655214 |pmc=9281076}}</ref> Consumption of [[processed meat]] is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=Jana J. |last2=Darwis |first2=Narisa D. M. |last3=Mackay |first3=Daniel F. |last4=Celis-Morales |first4=Carlos A. |last5=Lyall |first5=Donald M. |last6=Sattar |first6=Naveed |last7=Gill |first7=Jason M. R. |last8=Pell |first8=Jill P. |title=Red and processed meat consumption and breast cancer: UK Biobank cohort study and meta-analysis|journal=European Journal of Cancer |pages=73–82 |doi=10.1016/j.ejca.2017.11.022 |date=February 2018|volume=90 |pmid=29274927}}</ref> A [[Mediterranean diet]] is associated with a lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Hu P, Lee EK, Li Q, Tam LS, Wong SY, Poon PK, Yip BH|date=2025 |title=Mediterranean diet and rheumatoid arthritis: A nine-year cohort study and systematic review with meta-analysis |journal=European Journal of Clinical Nutrition |volume= 79|issue= 9|pages= 888–896|doi=10.1038/s41430-025-01628-8 |pmid=40335749|pmc=12422945 |doi-access=free}}</ref> They have also found that men with higher total and central adiposity have an increased risk of prostate cancer death.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Perez-Cornago |first1=Aurora |last2=Dunneram |first2=Yashvee |last3=Watts |first3=Eleanor L. |last4=Key |first4=Timothy J. |last5=Travis |first5=Ruth C. |title=Adiposity and risk of prostate cancer death: a prospective analysis in UK Biobank and meta-analysis of published studies |journal=BMC Medicine |doi=10.1186/s12916-022-02336-x |date=5 May 2022 |volume=20 |issue=1 |page=143 |doi-access=free |pmid=35509091 |pmc=9069769}}</ref>

A 2025 [[Mendelian randomization]] analysis of pooled UK Biobank data found that the most significant risk factor for [[myocardial infarction]] was "tablespoons of cooked vegetables per day", whilst compelling evidence suggested a protective effect of cereals on myocardial infarction risk. It is theorized that different cooking methods such as [[frying]] release compounds such as [[acrylamide]], [[Heterocyclic amine]]s, and [[nitrosamine]]s that may explain the increased risk.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Yang Q, Li M, Chen P, Dou N, Liu M, Lu P, Yu C |date=2025 |title=Systematic Evaluation of the Impact of a Wide Range of Dietary Habits on Myocardial Infarction: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Analysis|journal=Journal of the American Heart Association |volume=14 |issue=5 |article-number=e035936 |doi=10.1161/JAHA.124.035936 |pmid=40008582|pmc=12132729 }}</ref> Another Mendelian randomization analysis found that processed meat consumption increased [[sarcopenia]] risk.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Tan J, Chen X, Peng Z, Bai H, Shi L, Sun Y, Chen J. |date=2025 |title=Associations between dietary patterns and sarcopenia: insights from cross-sectional and Mendelian randomization analyses |journal=Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |volume=22 |issue=1 |article-number=2564239 |doi=10.1080/15502783.2025.2564239 |pmc=12456044 |pmid=40977601}}</ref> A 2025 meta-analysis found that higher adherence to the [[planetary health diet]] was associated with lower all-cause mortality and a reduced cancer risk in UK Biobank participants.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Wang Y, Pan D, Zhang C, Xu D, Lu Y, Yin S, Wang P, Xia J, Yu J, Dong L, Sun G |date=2025 |title=Planetary Health Diet and risk of mortality and chronic diseases: Results from US NHANES, UK Biobank, and a meta-analysis |journal=Science Advances |volume=11 |issue=36 |article-number=eadq5147 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.adq5147 | pmid=40911663|bibcode=2025SciA...11.5147W |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Ethics and governance==
The UK Biobank project operates within the terms of an Ethics and Governance Framework.<ref name="EGF">{{Cite report|url=https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/media/0xsbmfmw/egf.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227054532/http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/docs/EGF20082.pdf|archive-date=2008-12-27|title=UK Biobank Ethics and Governance Framework|version=3.0|date=October 2007}}</ref><ref name="WTEGF">[http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/Media-office/Press-releases/2003/wtd002848.htm Ethics and Governance Framework for UK Biobank published for comment]. ''[[Wellcome Trust]]'', 22 September 2003</ref><ref name="BBC2">[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3134482.stm Rules for UK Biobank revealed]. ''[[BBC News]]'', 24 September 2003</ref> The Framework describes a series of standards to which UK Biobank will operate during the creation, maintenance and use of the resource and it elaborates on the commitments that are involved to those participating in the project, researchers and the public more broadly. The independent UK Biobank Ethics and Governance Council provides advice to the project and monitors its conformity with the Framework.<ref name="WTEGC">[http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/Media-office/Press-releases/2004/WTX022802.htm Ethics and Governance Council formed to oversee UK Biobank] ''[[Wellcome Trust]]'', 1 November 2004</ref> The Council also advises more generally on the interests of research participants and the general public in relation to the project.{{cn|date=December 2023}}
The UK Biobank Board is accountable to the members of the company (the [[Medical Research Council (United Kingdom)|Medical Research Council]] and The [[Wellcome Trust]]) and acts as company directors and as charity trustees. It is chaired by [[Lord Kakkar]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Board |url=https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/learn-more-about-uk-biobank/governance/our-board |access-date=2020-12-02 |website=UK Biobank}}</ref> who succeeded Sir [[Michael Rawlins]] in January 2020.

==Reception==
The project has been generally praised for its ambitious scope and unique potential. A [[peer review|scientific review]] panel concluded, the "UK Biobank has the potential, in ways that are not currently available elsewhere, to support a wide range of research".<ref name="BBC" /> [[Colin Blakemore]], chief executive of the [[Medical Research Council (United Kingdom)|MRC]], predicted it "will provide scientists with extraordinary information"<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web |last=Hall |first=Sarah |date=21 August 2006 |title=£61m medical experiment begins |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/story/0,,1855468,00.html |work=The Guardian}}</ref> and "grow into a unique resource for future generations."<ref name="BBC" /> There was some early criticism, however. GeneWatch UK, a [[Advocacy group|pressure group]] that claims to promote the responsible use of genetic information, asserted that the complexity of the programme could result in the finding of "false links between genes and disease",<ref name="BBC" /> and expressed concern that the genetic information from patients could be [[patent]]ed for commercial purposes. Biobank's chief executive described such a risk as "extremely low, if it exists at all."<ref name="Guardian" />

Some literature has raised concerns that the UK Biobank is not representative of the diversity of the UK population or is not applicable to diverse populations.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Harris |first1=Richard |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/08/22/752890414/lack-of-diversity-in-genetic-databases-hampers-research|title=Lack Of Diversity In Genetic Databases Hampers Research|website=NPR.org|date=22 August 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Agrawal|first1=Raag|last2=Prabakaran|first2=Sudhakaran|date=2020-03-05|title=Big data in digital healthcare: lessons learnt and recommendations for general practice|journal=Heredity|volume=124|issue=4|pages=525–534|doi=10.1038/s41437-020-0303-2|pmid=32139886|pmc=7080757|bibcode=2020Hered.124..525A |issn=0018-067X|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Questions and concerns have been raised about the nature of some of the approved studies that have made use of UK Biobank data. Some of these studies are less obviously related to UK Biobank's self-stated mission of ''"Improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of serious and life-threatening illnesses"''. In 2016 a study on "genetic contributions to [[Townsend deprivation index|social deprivation]] and household income" was published using UK Biobank data.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hill |first1=W. David |last2=Hagenaars |first2=Saskia P. |last3=Marioni |first3=Riccardo E. |last4=Harris |first4=Sarah E. |last5=Liewald |first5=David C.M. |last6=Davies |first6=Gail |last7=Okbay |first7=Aysu |last8=McIntosh |first8=Andrew M. |last9=Gale |first9=Catharine R. |last10=Deary |first10=Ian J. |date=2016 |title=Molecular Genetic Contributions to Social Deprivation and Household Income in UK Biobank |journal=Current Biology |language=en |volume=26 |issue=22 |pages=3083–3089 |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2016.09.035 |pmc=5130721 |pmid=27818178|bibcode=2016CBio...26.3083H}}</ref> In 2019 researchers published a study on the genetics of same-sex behaviour, which made use of data from [[23andMe]] and UK Biobank.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ganna |first1=Andrea |last2=Verweij |first2=Karin J. H. |last3=Nivard |first3=Michel G. |last4=Maier |first4=Robert |last5=Wedow |first5=Robbee |last6=Busch |first6=Alexander S. |last7=Abdellaoui |first7=Abdel |last8=Guo |first8=Shengru |last9=Sathirapongsasuti |first9=J. Fah |last10=Lichtenstein |first10=Paul |last11=Lundström |first11=Sebastian |last12=Långström |first12=Niklas |last13=Auton |first13=Adam |last14=Harris |first14=Kathleen Mullan |date=2019-08-30 |title=Large-scale GWAS reveals insights into the genetic architecture of same-sex sexual behavior |journal=Science |language=en |volume=365 |issue=6456 |article-number=eaat7693 |doi=10.1126/science.aat7693 |issn=0036-8075 |pmc=7082777 |pmid=31467194}}</ref> Following the publication, researchers and bioethicists voiced concerns about the approval and nature of the study, including how the findings were being exploited commercially, similar to a former UK Biobank-based study on educational attainment.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Molteni |first=Megan |title=How Earnest Research Into Gay Genetics Went Wrong |url=https://www.wired.com/story/how-earnest-research-into-gay-genetics-went-wrong/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref>

In November 2023, ''[[The Observer]]'' reported that UK Biobank had approved access for companies in the insurance sector between 2020 and 2023 and that this runs counter some of the publicly made claims about how insurance companies and law enforcement would not access the data and records donated by volunteers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Das |first=Shanti |date=2023-11-12 |title=Private UK health data donated for medical research shared with insurance companies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/nov/12/private-uk-health-data-donated-medical-research-shared-insurance-companies |access-date=2024-10-26 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> In response, UK Biobank released a response, stating that the quoted passages were only made in relation to identifiable data, not the de-identified data that was ultimately shared with insurance companies.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-12 |title=Response to highly misleading article in The Observer |url=https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/learn-more-about-uk-biobank/news/response-to-highly-misleading-article-in-the-observer |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=UK Biobank |language=en-gb}}</ref>

In 2023 the [[Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology]] [[Michelle Donelan]] described UK Biobank as "mak[ing] an unparalleled contribution to science across the whole world, by putting invaluable information at researchers' fingertips. It is without question a jewel in the crown of UK science, and an envy of the world".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chapman |first1=Stephen |date=9 February 2024 |title=£21million Government bonus for UK Biobank - Prolific North |url=https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/21million-government-bonus-for-uk-biobank/}}</ref>

In October 2024, ''[[The Guardian]]'' published a story detailing that the far-right "[[Human Diversity Foundation]]" had gotten access to UK Biobank data to use it in pseudo-scientific [[race studies]], raising questions about the governance and processes for approving and controlling access to the data.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Burgis |first1=Tom |last2=Devlin |first2=Hannah |last3=Pegg |first3=David |last4=Wilson |first4=Jason |date=2024-10-17 |title='Race science' group say they accessed sensitive UK health data |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/17/race-science-group-say-they-accessed-sensitive-uk-health-data |access-date=2024-10-26 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Following the initial publication in ''The Guardian'', UK Biobank released a statement that criticised the report and dismissed the main findings, claiming to have conducted a full investigation that had "found no evidence of misuse of UK Biobank data" as only publicly accessible summary statistics where used.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-17 |title=A message to our participants: unfounded claims in The Guardian |url=https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/learn-more-about-uk-biobank/news/a-message-to-our-participants-unfounded-claims-in-the-guardian |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=UK Biobank |language=en-gb}}</ref> However, in a follow-up report by ''The Guardian'' after UK Biobank's statement, the newspaper reported on correspondence between a senior medic and UK Biobank chief executive, Prof Sir [[Rory Collins]], in which Collins said that the inquiries were continuing.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Pegg |first1=David |last2=Devlin |first2=Hannah |last3=Burgis |first3=Tom |date=2024-10-25 |title=Concerns raised over access to UK Biobank data after 'race scientists' claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/oct/25/concerns-raised-access-uk-biobank-data-race-scientists-claims |access-date=2024-10-26 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In the same article, ''The Guardian'' also reported on the US-based startup, Heliospect Genomics that claims to use UK Biobank data to predict traits such as IQ, sex and height, as well as risk of obesity or mental illness, in human embryos for IVF treatment.

==Funding==
The UK Biobank is funded by the [[Department of Health (UK)|UK Department of Health]], the Medical Research Council, the [[Scottish Executive]], and the [[Wellcome Trust]] medical research charity. The cost of the initial participant recruitment and assessment phase was £62&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Highfield |first=Roger |title=£62m Biobank may not be worth it, says professor |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=15 September 2004 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/3326762/62m-Biobank-may-not-be-worth-it-says-professor.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307081216/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3326762/62m-Biobank-may-not-be-worth-it-says-professor.html |archive-date=7 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[All of Us (initiative)]]
* [[Framingham Heart Study]]
* [[Baseline Study]]
* [[Our Future Health]]

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite interview|author=Naomi Allen, Biobank Chief Scientist |interviewer=Asher Mullard |date=11 August 2022 |title=The UK Biobank at 20 |journal=Nature Reviews Drug Discovery |volume=21 |issue=9 |pages=628–629 |language=en |doi=10.1038/d41573-022-00137-8|doi-access=free|pmid=35953651}}

==External links==
* {{Official|https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/}}

{{Wellcome Trust}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2007 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Biobank organizations]]
[[Category:Cancer research]]
[[Category:Charities based in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Cohort studies]]
[[Category:Epidemiological study projects]]
[[Category:Genetics databases]]
[[Category:Genetics in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Medical and health organisations based in England]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Stockport]]
[[Category:Science and technology in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Wellcome Trust]]