The fantastic response so far to this ambitious and pioneering research project is enormously encouraging.

I hope others who receive invitations to join the project in the weeks and months to come will be equally supportive.

Nationally, UK Biobank has so far recruited 190,000 people, towards its goal of 500,000, which will make it the most detailed study of its kind ever undertaken.

I believe this exciting project will make a major contribution to our understanding of illnesses such as cancer, heart and lung diseases, diabetes, arthritis and dementia (and many others), in years to come – paving the way for better prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

People who take part are asked to attend the UK Biobank assessment centre, just a few minutes' walk from the city station.

Here, they tell us about their health and lifestyle, have body measurements taken and donate samples of blood and urine for long term storage.

They give their consent to allow their health to be followed for the next 30 years and more.

This vital information will be stored securely and anonymously for years to come, building a detailed 'bank' of information that will be of tremendous value to health researchers in the future, tackling some of the most distressing illnesses of our time.

Thank you to all those people who have so far helped, and, to those receiving invites, please do come along.

Future generations will be enormously grateful to you.

RORY COLLINS
UK Biobank Principal Investigator


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