UK Biobank: Enabling scientific discoveries that improve human health

Overview

Acronym
UK Biobank
Website
UK Biobank
Investigators
Prof. Rory Collins
University of Oxford
Prof. Naomi Allen
University of Oxford
Contacts
Dr. Mark Effingham
UK Biobank
Dr. Megan Conroy
University of Oxford

General Design

Study design
Cohort
Start - End Year
2006 -
General Information on Follow Up (profile, frequency)
Recruitment Target
  • Individuals
Number of Participants
503,316
Number of Participants with Biological Samples
486,019

Access

Availability of data and biosamples

Possible Access to Data
Possible Access to Biosamples
Other

Marker Papers

Sudlow C, Gallacher J, Allen N, et al. UK biobank: an open access resource for identifying the causes of a wide range of complex diseases of middle and old age. PLoS Medicine, 2015;12(3).

PUBMED 25826379

Supplementary Information

Timeline

Population

UK Biobank population

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
40
Maximum age
69
Countries
  • United Kingdom
Territory
Birmingham, Bristol, Bury, Cardiff, Cheadle, Croydon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hounslow, Leeds, Liverpool, London Barts, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Reading, Sheffield, Stockport, Stoke, Swansea and Wrexham

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information

Sample Size

Number of Participants
503,316
Number of Participants with Biological Samples
486,019
Supplementary information about number of participants

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 UK Biobank - Pilot phase
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
2006 (March) 2006 (June)
1 UK Biobank - Baseline assessment
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Saliva
2007 (April) 2010 (October)
2 UK Biobank - Diet enhancement data
  • Questionnaires
2011 (February) 2012 (April)
3 UK Biobank - Baseline assessment repetition
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Saliva
2012 (August) 2013 (June)
4 UK Biobank - Physical activity enhancement data
  • Physical measures
2013 (June) 2016 (January)
5 UK Biobank - Linked health-related data
  • Administrative databases
2013 (March) Ongoing
6 UK Biobank - Cognitive function enhancement data
  • Cognitive measures
2014 (November) 2014 (December)
7 UK Biobank - Occupational health enhancement data
  • Questionnaires
2015 (July) 2015 (September)
8 UK Biobank - Imaging
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
2014 (August) Ongoing
9 UK Biobank - Mental health enhancement data
  • Questionnaires
2016 (August) 2016 (December)
10 UK Biobank - Digestive health
  • Questionnaires
2017 2017
11 UK Biobank - Physical activity monitor repetition
  • Physical measures
2018 Ongoing
12 UK Biobank - Pain
  • Questionnaires
2019 2019
13 UK Biobank - Food preferences
  • Questionnaires
2019 (January) 2019 (August)
14 UK Biobank - Covid-19
  • Questionnaires
  • Biosamples
  • Other : Medical records
  • Blood
2020 (June) 2020 (December)
15 UK Biobank - First repeat imaging visit
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
2019 (July) Ongoing

Participating Studies

Acronym Name Study design Countries

Harmonization Initiatives Included

Acronym Name

Datasets

Name Data Collection Events Variables

Areas of Information Collected

Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
Death
Lifestyle and behaviours
Physical measures and assessments
Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
Laboratory measures
Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
Diseases
Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
Symptoms and signs
Preschool, school and work life
Medication and supplements
Social environment and relationships
Non-pharmacological interventions
Physical environment
Health and community care services utilization
Administrative information

Variables Content Summary

Areas of Information Collected
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected
Areas of Information Collected per per Population and Data Collection Event
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected

Networks

Acronym Name Harmonization Initiatives Individual Studies
Last Update: 2022-08-11T10:41:41.167