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UK Biobank

UK Biobank Limited
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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About

Launched: 2012
Record Updated: Sep 30, 2026
Open scholarly dataset
Repository service
UK Biobank is the world’s most comprehensive source of biomedical data available for health research in the public interest. Over the past 15 years we have collected biological, health and lifestyle information from 500,000 UK volunteers. The dataset is growing continuously, with additions including the world’s largest set of whole genome sequencing data, imaging data from over 100,000 participants and a first-of-its kind set of protein biomarkers from 54,000 participants, which will be expanded soon. Since 2012, scientists from universities, charities, companies and governments across the world have been able to apply to use the data to advance modern medicine and drive the discovery of new preventions, treatments and cures.
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Domain Relevance

  • Health biotechnology
  • Health sciences

Mission

UK Biobank's mission is to enable scientific discoveries that improve human health. The research resource is a major contributor to the advancement of modern medicine and treatment, enabling better understanding of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of serious and life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Key Achievements

In a landmark project spanning five years, UK Biobank released whole genome sequencing data for all 500,000 participants, the largest single dataset of its kind, enabling more precise, genetics-driven research into disease risk and treatment. More recently, UK Biobank completed the world's largest whole-body imaging project, scanning the brains, hearts, abdomens, bones and blood vessels of 100,000 volunteers, generating hundreds of millions of images now being used to develop AI tools that predict early onset of common diseases. These resources have driven continued growth in the global research community: UK Biobank data is now used by more than 22,000 researchers across over 60 countries and has underpinned more than 18,000 peer-reviewed publications to date.

Technical Attributes

Maintenance Status

Actively Maintained

Technical Documentation

Implemented
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Open Data Statement

Implemented
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Open Product Roadmap

Implemented
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Technical Attribute Statements

Programming Languages

  • c++
  • html
  • java
  • javascript
  • python
  • Other
Other:
Ingres SQL

Technology Readiness Level

  • Actual system proven in operational environment

Content Licensing

  • Creative commons licenses

Standards

Security

  • ISO/IEC 27001 information security standard
Other:
Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus

Community Engagement

Code of Conduct

Implemented
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Community Engagement

Implemented
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Community Statements

User Contribution Pathways

  • Contribute funds
  • Contribute to code
  • Contribute to documentation
  • Contribute to education or training
  • Contribute to governance
  • Contribute to user research or user testing
  • Contribute to working groups or interest groups

Community Engagement Activities

  • Annual meetings
  • Community calls
  • Conference participation
  • Interest, working, user, or advisory groups
  • Mailing lists and discussion forums (including Slack)
  • Social media
  • Staff roles with responsibility for community engagement
  • User research
  • Volunteer or ambassador network
  • Webinars and training

Policies & Governance

Policies

Privacy Policy

Implemented
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Web Accessibility Statement

Implemented
Applies to Website
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Governance Structure & Processes

Implemented
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Transparent Pricing and Cost Expectations

Implemented
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Policy Statements

Access Conditions

  • Fee required
  • Registration required

Board Structure

  • Advisory board or steering committee

Board Level

  • Both

Community Governance

  • Formal

Additional Information

Organizational History

Established in 2003, UK Biobank’s large-scale biomedical database and research resource contains anonymised genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK volunteers. Starting in 2006, UK Biobank recruited 500,000 people aged between 40-69 years from across the UK. With their consent, they provided detailed information about their lifestyle, underwent physical measures and had blood, urine and saliva samples collected and stored for future analysis. The final participant was recruited in 2010 and we have been continuing to follow
up our volunteers ever since.
The result is a unique resource that is accessible globally to approved researchers undertaking health-related research in the public interest. As a result, UK Biobank is now a major contributor to advances in modern medical science, enabling better understanding of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of serious and life-threatening illnesses – including cancer, heart diseases and stroke.

Organizational Structure

Business or Ownership Model

Non-profit organization

Full-time Staff

More than 20

Non-profit Status

Company limited by guarantee

Funding

Primary Funding Source

  • Contributions

Revenue Sources

  • Corporate sponsorship
  • Earned/commercial revenue
  • Grants (private)
  • Grants (public)
  • In-kind contributions
  • Investment and endowment income

Funding Needs

UK Biobank is a unique national research asset. Between 2006 and 2010, 500,000 people aged 40 to 69 were recruited and have since been tracked through health assessments, imaging, genome sequencing, and linked medical records. Participants are now, on average, 74 years old, the stage of life when conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia commonly emerge. This makes the dataset especially valuable, as information collected decades ago can now be linked to real-world health outcomes. Further assessments, including imaging, full reassessments and wearable monitoring, offer a time-sensitive opportunity to capture critical data on ageing, disease progression and resilience. Additional funding is needed to maximise this opportunity, expand computing capacity, support advanced AI-enabled analysis, modernise data systems, and maintain robust cybersecurity to protect participant trust and data security.
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