UK Biobank Data Briefly Listed on Alibaba Before Removal, No Sales Occurred

Data from the UK Biobank was put up for sale on China's Alibaba site this week. Science Minister Patrick Vallance stated that more attempts to sell the data in China were expected. The breach was the work of rogue researchers from three Chinese institutions, Vallance revealed in his report to the Lords this week.

No names, addresses, NHS numbers or other identifiers were included in the data listings. The Chinese government took down the listings and nothing was sold. UK Biobank has 500,000 members. About 100 people inquired about withdrawing from UK Biobank.

Only 50 people actually withdrew from UK Biobank after inquiries. Prof Sir Rory Collins, UK Biobank’s chief executive, stated he will personally speak to any anxious participant. UK Biobank data contributed to a blood test revealing motor neurone disease years before symptoms arise.

UK Biobank data identified a single gene behind almost all Alzheimer’s cases. UK Biobank data developed a score to decide which overweight people have most risk factors and should be first for weight-reduction drugs. UK Biobank collected data from 500,000 recruits aged 40-69 in 2006.

UK Biobank data collected includes blood, urine, saliva, height, weight, hip and waist measurements, blood pressure, heart rate, grip strength, bone density, eye examinations, lung function and fitness tests. UK Biobank lifestyle questions include location, education, shift work, mobile phone use, smoking, drinking, exercise, sleep, diet, mental health and cognitive function tracked over time.

UK Biobank took five years to sequence everyone’s genomes.

UK Biobank stores samples at -80C for future researchers. 22,000 researchers are using UK Biobank data in 60 countries. Longitudinal studies in the UK have followed groups of people from 1946, 1958, 1970, 1989-90 and 2000-2002.

A new longitudinal study is recruiting 30,000 babies this year. Longitudinal studies revealed the link between smoking and lung cancer. Longitudinal studies contributed to preventing at least 100,000 cot deaths worldwide by finding the safest baby sleeping position.

Longitudinal studies revealed the lack of social mobility after the age of five. Use My Data was founded by cancer patients grateful for research that saved their lives. Use My Data campaigns to get people to join research projects and helps researchers devise trustworthy transparent data systems.

Prof Sir Simon Wessely stated he has seen willing participation in surveys drop by 10% per decade due to survey fatigue. Prof Sir Simon Wessely stated his mental health surveys in the military used to get 80% replies but now receive 40%. Our Future Health is recruiting 5 million volunteers now.

Our Future Health involves a blood sample and a questionnaire for a £10 token. In a separate development, Royal Caribbean stated that people booking cruises are not so worried about Iran anymore.