UK Biobank

UK Biobank is a major national health resource, and a registered charity in its own right, with the aim of 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.

500,000 people aged between 40-69 years were recruited in 2006-2010 from across the country to take part in this project. They have undergone measures, provided blood, urine and saliva samples for future analysis, detailed information about themselves and agreed to have their health followed. The cohort is primarily followed through data linkage but the cohort was re-contacted in 2012-13 with a further 100,000 to be approached over the next few years.

Types General population-based cohort
Participant Types No diagnosis
Countries United Kingdom
Genders Male and Female
Sample sizes 500,000+
Ages 40 to 59|60 to 100
Brain related measures
Funtional rating
Anthropometric Blood pressure|Height|Hip circumference|Waist circumference|Weight
Physical Cardiovascular|Hearing and Vision|Musculoskeletal|Respiratory
Biological samples Blood|Microbiome|Urine
Genotyping Gene screening
Brain imaging Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Brain banking
Lifestyle Alcohol|Dietary habits|Physical activity|Smoking
Socio-economic Education|Ethnic group|Family circumstances|Housing and accommodation|Income and finances|Informal support|Marital status|Occupation and employment
Health service utilisation Formal health and social care service utilisation including private care
Institute names UK Biobank
Current Sample Sizes 500,000+

age at recruitment 49-69
last updated
recruitment period 2006-2010
estimated current sample size number value 500,000
cohort acronym
start date 2006-2010
pi Professor Sir Rory Collins, Chief Scientist, Professor Cathie Sudlow
website http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk; http://imaging.ukbiobank.ac.uk
contact details UK Biobank
1-2 Spectrum Way
Adswood
Stockport
SK3 0SA
abstract  UK Biobank is a major national health resource with the aim of improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of serious and life-threatening illnesses. UK Biobank has recruited 500,000 participants.
funders  Medical Research Council
Wellcome Trust
Department of Health
National Institute for Health Research
British Heart Foundation
Diabetes UK
Northwest Regional Development Agency
Welsh Government
Scottish Government
contact email [email protected] Chief Scientist email: [email protected]
contact phone number Telephone: 0800 0 276 276
estimated current sample size 500,000+
sample sizes 500,000