UK Biobank
Lead Research Organisation:
UK Biobank
Abstract
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Technical Summary
The UK Biobank resource has been established primarily for the conduct of prospective studies investigating the relevance of a wide range of exposures to health outcomes that occur during long-term follow-up. By 2015, there will start to be sufficient numbers of incident cases of the commoner conditions to support extensive and powerful research into their determinants (although research related to conditions present at baseline has already started).
Hence, the chief emphasis for the past 5 years has been on preparing UK Biobank for effective use as a prospective resource by the widest possible range of researchers. This activity has included: developing resource access management systems; conducting repeat assessments in 20,000 participants; establishing record linkage for death, cancer and hospitalisation; piloting large-scale characterisation of commoner conditions; enhancing participant phenotyping; preparing for imaging assessments; and turning biological samples into genotypic and biomarker data to make the resource more accessible to researchers studying a wide range of different conditions.
During the next few years, it is intended to: review and streamline further the access systems; extend record linkage to primary care records and conduct direct participant follow-up (e.g. for cognitive function); implement large-scale characterisation of commoner conditions; pilot the imaging assessments and move forward to the main phase of imaging in 100,000 participants; make available genotypic and biomarker data for all 500,000 participants. Efforts will also be made to ensure that researchers from around the world are suitably well informed about these developments so that use of the resource increases substantially over the next few years.
Hence, the chief emphasis for the past 5 years has been on preparing UK Biobank for effective use as a prospective resource by the widest possible range of researchers. This activity has included: developing resource access management systems; conducting repeat assessments in 20,000 participants; establishing record linkage for death, cancer and hospitalisation; piloting large-scale characterisation of commoner conditions; enhancing participant phenotyping; preparing for imaging assessments; and turning biological samples into genotypic and biomarker data to make the resource more accessible to researchers studying a wide range of different conditions.
During the next few years, it is intended to: review and streamline further the access systems; extend record linkage to primary care records and conduct direct participant follow-up (e.g. for cognitive function); implement large-scale characterisation of commoner conditions; pilot the imaging assessments and move forward to the main phase of imaging in 100,000 participants; make available genotypic and biomarker data for all 500,000 participants. Efforts will also be made to ensure that researchers from around the world are suitably well informed about these developments so that use of the resource increases substantially over the next few years.
Organisations
- UK Biobank, United Kingdom (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Oxford, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company (Collaboration)
- AbbVie Inc (Collaboration)
- Imperial College London, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) (Collaboration)
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (Collaboration)
- MRC Dementias Platform UK (Collaboration)
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Collaboration)
- Biogen Idec (Collaboration)
- National Institutes of Health, United States (Collaboration)
- Bristol-Myers Squibb (Collaboration)
- Cardiff University, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- AstraZeneca plc (Collaboration)
- Pfizer, United States (Collaboration)
- German Cancer Research Center (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Rory Collins (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Abbood HM
(2018)
The link between ankylosing spondylitis and oral health conditions: two nested case-control studies using data of the UK Biobank.
in Journal of applied oral science : revista FOB
Abraham G
(2019)
Genomic risk score offers predictive performance comparable to clinical risk factors for ischaemic stroke.
in Nature communications
Acosta JN
(2021)
Genetically Determined Smoking Behavior and Risk of Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.
in Stroke
Adewoye A
(2018)
Human CCL3L1 copy number variation, gene expression, and the role of the CCL3L1-CCR5 axis in lung function
in Wellcome Open Research
Adjangba C
(2020)
Little Evidence of Modified Genetic Effect of rs16969968 on Heavy Smoking Based on Age of Onset of Smoking.
in Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
Agrawal A
(2020)
Scalable probabilistic PCA for large-scale genetic variation data.
in PLoS genetics
Aguirre M
(2019)
Phenome-wide Burden of Copy-Number Variation in the UK Biobank.
in American journal of human genetics
Al Ajmi K
(2020)
Association of Nongenetic Factors With Breast Cancer Risk in Genetically Predisposed Groups of Women in the UK Biobank Cohort.
in JAMA network open
| Description | Extension to UK Biobank |
| Amount | £7,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2010 |
| End | 11/2015 |
| Title | UK Biobank resource |
| Description | A collection of baseline data, physical measures and biological samples from 500,000 members of the UK public aged between 40 and 69 years was made available for researchers to access in 2012. The biological samples are being processed to generate genetic data and biomarker data for all 500,000 study participants. Data on approx. 820,000 SNPs from across the genome will incorporated into the Resource and made publically available during 2015, together with a wide range of biomarkers, chosen to provide an accurate indication of participants' risks of developing a variety of health conditions. |
| Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The resource is open-access, meaning it is available to bona fide researchers from across the world to conduct research that is deemed to be in the public interest. This has led to significant contributions to knowledge of how to build very large research resources. It has also pushed policy on ethics and governance, research access and feedback of findings from measurements of volunteers. |
| URL | http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk |
| Title | UK Biobank sample archive |
| Description | The UK Biobank baseline recruitment has generated 15 million biological sample. These are stored in a state of the art sample processing and archiving facility in South Manchester. Samples are retrieved at a maximum rate of 1500 samples per day to extract DNA (for genotyping) and to assay biomarkers for all 500,000 study participants. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The knowledge and infrastructure involved in developing the sample resource is available to other research groups |
| Description | Biobank Enhancement |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | exome sequencing of 50,000 participants |
| Collaborator Contribution | creating vast amounts of genetic data to be used by researchers accessing UKBiobank |
| Impact | exome data |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Biobank Enhancement |
| Organisation | Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | exome sequencing of 50,000 participants |
| Collaborator Contribution | creating vast amounts of genetic data to be used by researchers accessing UKBiobank |
| Impact | exome data |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Dementia Platform UK |
| Organisation | MRC Dementias Platform UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | development of cognitive function tests |
| Collaborator Contribution | development of cognitive function tests |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Farr Institute of Health Informatics Research |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | partner for data analysis |
| Collaborator Contribution | partner for data analysis |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | Genetic enhancement |
| Organisation | AbbVie Inc |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Partnership with Regeneron and GSK to complete exome sequencing of 450,000 UKBiobank participants |
| Collaborator Contribution | The exome sequence of 50,000 UKBiobank particpants were generated through a partnership between UKB, Regeneron and GSK. Regeneron is leading a consortium of biopharma (listed) to complete exome sequencing of the remaining 450,000 participants by 2020. GSK has committed an additional £40 million investment to initiatives, such as UKB, that harness advances in genetic research in the development of new medicines. |
| Impact | The first tranche of data have been incorporated back into the UKBiobank resource for the global health community to use. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Genetic enhancement |
| Organisation | Alnylam Pharmaceuticals |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Partnership with Regeneron and GSK to complete exome sequencing of 450,000 UKBiobank participants |
| Collaborator Contribution | The exome sequence of 50,000 UKBiobank particpants were generated through a partnership between UKB, Regeneron and GSK. Regeneron is leading a consortium of biopharma (listed) to complete exome sequencing of the remaining 450,000 participants by 2020. GSK has committed an additional £40 million investment to initiatives, such as UKB, that harness advances in genetic research in the development of new medicines. |
| Impact | The first tranche of data have been incorporated back into the UKBiobank resource for the global health community to use. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Genetic enhancement |
| Organisation | AstraZeneca |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Partnership with Regeneron and GSK to complete exome sequencing of 450,000 UKBiobank participants |
| Collaborator Contribution | The exome sequence of 50,000 UKBiobank particpants were generated through a partnership between UKB, Regeneron and GSK. Regeneron is leading a consortium of biopharma (listed) to complete exome sequencing of the remaining 450,000 participants by 2020. GSK has committed an additional £40 million investment to initiatives, such as UKB, that harness advances in genetic research in the development of new medicines. |
| Impact | The first tranche of data have been incorporated back into the UKBiobank resource for the global health community to use. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Genetic enhancement |
| Organisation | Biogen Idec |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Partnership with Regeneron and GSK to complete exome sequencing of 450,000 UKBiobank participants |
| Collaborator Contribution | The exome sequence of 50,000 UKBiobank particpants were generated through a partnership between UKB, Regeneron and GSK. Regeneron is leading a consortium of biopharma (listed) to complete exome sequencing of the remaining 450,000 participants by 2020. GSK has committed an additional £40 million investment to initiatives, such as UKB, that harness advances in genetic research in the development of new medicines. |
| Impact | The first tranche of data have been incorporated back into the UKBiobank resource for the global health community to use. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Genetic enhancement |
| Organisation | Bristol-Myers Squibb |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Partnership with Regeneron and GSK to complete exome sequencing of 450,000 UKBiobank participants |
| Collaborator Contribution | The exome sequence of 50,000 UKBiobank particpants were generated through a partnership between UKB, Regeneron and GSK. Regeneron is leading a consortium of biopharma (listed) to complete exome sequencing of the remaining 450,000 participants by 2020. GSK has committed an additional £40 million investment to initiatives, such as UKB, that harness advances in genetic research in the development of new medicines. |
| Impact | The first tranche of data have been incorporated back into the UKBiobank resource for the global health community to use. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Genetic enhancement |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Partnership with Regeneron and GSK to complete exome sequencing of 450,000 UKBiobank participants |
| Collaborator Contribution | The exome sequence of 50,000 UKBiobank particpants were generated through a partnership between UKB, Regeneron and GSK. Regeneron is leading a consortium of biopharma (listed) to complete exome sequencing of the remaining 450,000 participants by 2020. GSK has committed an additional £40 million investment to initiatives, such as UKB, that harness advances in genetic research in the development of new medicines. |
| Impact | The first tranche of data have been incorporated back into the UKBiobank resource for the global health community to use. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Genetic enhancement |
| Organisation | Pfizer Inc |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Partnership with Regeneron and GSK to complete exome sequencing of 450,000 UKBiobank participants |
| Collaborator Contribution | The exome sequence of 50,000 UKBiobank particpants were generated through a partnership between UKB, Regeneron and GSK. Regeneron is leading a consortium of biopharma (listed) to complete exome sequencing of the remaining 450,000 participants by 2020. GSK has committed an additional £40 million investment to initiatives, such as UKB, that harness advances in genetic research in the development of new medicines. |
| Impact | The first tranche of data have been incorporated back into the UKBiobank resource for the global health community to use. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Genetic enhancement |
| Organisation | Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Partnership with Regeneron and GSK to complete exome sequencing of 450,000 UKBiobank participants |
| Collaborator Contribution | The exome sequence of 50,000 UKBiobank particpants were generated through a partnership between UKB, Regeneron and GSK. Regeneron is leading a consortium of biopharma (listed) to complete exome sequencing of the remaining 450,000 participants by 2020. GSK has committed an additional £40 million investment to initiatives, such as UKB, that harness advances in genetic research in the development of new medicines. |
| Impact | The first tranche of data have been incorporated back into the UKBiobank resource for the global health community to use. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Genetic enhancement |
| Organisation | Takeda Pharmaceutical Company |
| Department | Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. (TPUSA) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Partnership with Regeneron and GSK to complete exome sequencing of 450,000 UKBiobank participants |
| Collaborator Contribution | The exome sequence of 50,000 UKBiobank particpants were generated through a partnership between UKB, Regeneron and GSK. Regeneron is leading a consortium of biopharma (listed) to complete exome sequencing of the remaining 450,000 participants by 2020. GSK has committed an additional £40 million investment to initiatives, such as UKB, that harness advances in genetic research in the development of new medicines. |
| Impact | The first tranche of data have been incorporated back into the UKBiobank resource for the global health community to use. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | German Cancer Research Centre |
| Organisation | German Cancer Research Center |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | development of infectious disease assay panel |
| Collaborator Contribution | development of infectious disease assay panel |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Imperial College London |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | development of occupational health webQ |
| Collaborator Contribution | development of occupational health webQ |
| Impact | development of occupational health webQ |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | NIH Precision Medicine Initiative |
| Organisation | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Member of steering committee |
| Collaborator Contribution | Taking forward US precision medicine programme |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | WTCHG |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Oxford Genomics Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | development of processing of genotyping data |
| Collaborator Contribution | development of processing of genotyping data |
| Impact | development of processing of genotyping data |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Title | Automated -80C archive |
| Description | Automated system for the storage and accurate retrieval of 10 million biological samples at -80C Also published as EP1639892 |
| IP Reference | US2006053825 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2006 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | None |
| Title | Automated blood processing platforms |
| Description | High throughput automation for procesing blood - developed with a local company. Given our intellecdtual input, we have agreed a revenue sharing deal with them. |
| IP Reference | WO2006037941 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2006 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | None |
| Company Name | UK Biocentre |
| Description | Provision of services to academic and commercial collaborators conducting studies involving human volunteers. Services are principally sample collection, processing, archiving and assay |
| Year Established | 2011 |
| Impact | First agreements in place - providing sample curation and archiving and processing of research samples collected from a clinical trial to Leukameia and Lymphoma Research |
| Website | http://www.ukbiocentre.com/ |
| Description | UK Biobank Annual Scientific Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Each year UK Biobank organises their annul scientific symposium for partcipants, scientists and funders. These events are used to inform participants about the work of the Biobank, and as a tool to encourage scientists to take part. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017 |
| URL | http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk |
| Description | UK Biobank Scientific Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The UK Biobank Scientific Symposium included presentations about the successes and future plans of the UK Biobank. It took place on 21 June 2018 in London |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | UK Biobank public meetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Inform participants of UKB and the way information is being used and to learn how they want the resource to develop. It resulted in requests for further information and taking part in enhancement studies. Presentations have taken place across the UK (and continue to do so): Edinburgh Nov 14 - 150 people Edinburgh Jan 15 - 300 people Manchester 4 events x 200 people at each 18 march, 22 april, 28 may, 22 september Nottingham 1 event - 200 people 12 nov 16 Leeds 1 event - 200 people 1 march 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016 |
| Description | UKBiobank participant events - 2014 - 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | UKB Biobank participants regularly attend events aimed at informing them about the work being undertaken with their data. Usually, the events last a few hours and include an overview from the chief scientist and two talks from scientists that have used UKB data. From 2014 - 2020 over 4,000 participants have taken part in events in Edinburgh (4), Manchester (4), Nottingham, Leeds, Cardiff (2), Newcastle (5), Glasgow (2), Bristol (2) and Reading(4). They are often over-subscribed and participants leave these events wishing to seek more information and support he programme in new ways (EG in imaging, genome sequencing) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019 |
| URL | http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk |