UK Biobank

UK Biobank is a large long-term biobank study in the United Kingdom (UK) which is investigating the respective contributions of genetic predisposition and environmental exposure (including nutrition, lifestyle, medications etc.) to the development of disease. It began in 2007.

Design

The study will follow about 500,000 volunteers in the UK aged 40-69.Initial enrollment is taking place over a number of years with the volunteers being followed for 25 years thereafter.

Prospective participants are invited to visit an assessment centre,at which they complete an automated questionnaire and are interviewed about lifestyle, medical history and nutritional habits; basic variables such weight, height, blood pressure etc. are measured; and blood and urine samples are taken. These samples will be preserved so that it is possible to later extract DNA and measure other biologically important substances. During the whole duration of the study, all disease events, drug prescriptions and deaths of the participants are recorded in a database, taking advantage of the centralized UK National Health Service. [http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/docs/draft_protocol.pdf Draft protocol for the UK Biobank] , 14 February 2002] [ [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] ]

If any medical problems are detected during the initial physical, neither the participant or their physician, will be notified. Problems detected later, such as genetic risk factors, are 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.").Andy Coghlan: [http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/mg18925353.800 One million people, one medical gamble] . "New Scientist", 20 January 2006]

Once the data collection has been underway for a number of years, researchers can apply to use the database (though they will not be given accessto the volunteers, who will remain strictly anonymous).A typical study would 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 thebenefits, risk contribution and interaction of specific genes, lifestyles, and medications.

Development

An incremental approach was adopted to developing the study procedures and technology, using systems designed and developed by the Clinical Trial Service Unit. 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, Manchester throughout Spring 2006 where 3,800 individuals were assessed. On August 22, 2006, it was announced that the programme will recruit men and women aged between 40 and 69 based from 35 regional centres. Sarah Hall: [http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1855468,00.html £61m medical experiment begins] . "The Guardian", 22 August 2006 ]

Progress

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 and is expected to continue until 2010 or 2011. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5270478.stm Biobank set for national roll out] . "BBC News", 21 August 2006 ] .

Opinion

The Biobank project has been generally praised for its ambitious scope and unique potential. A 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". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5270478.stm Biobank set for national roll out] . "BBC News", 21 August 2006 ] Colin Blakemore, chief executive of the MRC, predicted it "will provide scientists with extraordinary information" Sarah Hall: [http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1855468,00.html £61m medical experiment begins] . "The Guardian", 22 August 2006 ] and "grow into a unique resource for future generations." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5270478.stm Biobank set for national roll out] . "BBC News", 21 August 2006 ]

There has been some criticism, however. GeneWatch, a pressure group that promotes the responsible use of genetic information, believes the complexity of the programme could result in the finding of "false links between genes and disease," [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5270478.stm Biobank set for national roll out] . "BBC News", 21 August 2006 ] and expressed concern that the genetic information from patients could be patented for commercial purposes. Biobank's chief executive described such a risk as "extremely low, if it exists at all." Sarah Hall: [http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1855468,00.html £61m medical experiment begins] . "The Guardian", 22 August 2006 ]

Funding

The UK Biobank is funded by the UK Department of Health, the Medical Research Council, the Scottish Executive, and the Wellcome Trust medical research charity. The amount needed is 61 million GBP.Fact|date=November 2007

Related projects

EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) is a similar study that involves 370,000 participants from nine European countries; it is specifically designed to study the respective roles of diet and genes in the development of cancer.

As of 2006, a similar project by the U.S. National Human Genome Research Institute is in the planning stages.

ources

External links

* [http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/ UK Biobank home page]