UK Biobank: Transforming drug discovery and precision medicine

UK Biobank is a large-scale, prospective study with extensive genetic and phenotypic data on half a million individuals. Volunteers, aged between 40 and 69 years, were recruited between 2006 and 2010 from the general population of the United Kingdom. At recruitment, participants completed a series of questionnaires on a range of factors (including lifestyle and medical history), physical measurements were taken and biological samples were collected for long-term storage. Large-scale assays have been undertaken (including biochemical assays, genotyping, whole exome and whole genome sequencing, as well as proteomics and metabolomics) with potential for further assays to be performed on stored samples in the future. The participants provided consent for linkage to their health-related records to identify health outcomes over time. The UK Biobank study, with its vast collection of genetic data, has enabled researchers worldwide to identify new drug targets for common diseases of middle and older age, and progress towards precision medicine. As the UK Biobank resource matures, its value to health-related research will continue to grow. Thousands of researchers worldwide are actively using UK Biobank data to improve our understanding of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases.