In the news

The Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council and the Department of Health have announced that initial funding of £45 million has been approved for BioBank UK. The Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Councill will each contribute £20 million, and £5 million will come from the Department of Health. The BioBank project will analyse genetic and lifestyle information for 500,000 volunteers aged 45-69 and follow their health over the next 10-15 years, with the aim of understanding how genetic and environmental factors combine to influence susceptibility to disease. A small group of regional centres will recruit volunteers, with one central coordinating centre designated to manage the project. Expressions of interest from potential participating centres will be sought over the next few months, with a view to development of detailed bids by the autumn. Ethical oversight for the project will be provided by an independent committee charged with representing the interests of the volunteers, the general public and the funders; details of the ethical framework have yet to be decided, and consultation on this aspect of the project will continue.