The University of Manchester will host the UK Biobank, a project that aims to collect DNA samples and medical information from up to 500,000 volunteers aged between 45-69 years. The £45 million undertaking, jointly funded by the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust and the Department of Health, will look at the role of genes and environment in health and disease. It hopes to identify factors involved in common diseases such as heart disease, cancer, Parkinson's disease and diabetes.
'Manchester welcomes the opportunity to host this landmark project to determine the contributions of both nature and nurture to human health' said Bill Ollier, professor of immunogenetics. The university will be responsible for recruiting the participants in 2004, initial data and sample collection and co-ordinating the six regional participating centres. 'This announcement heralds the next phase of UK Biobank' said John Newton, the project's newly appointed chief executive.
The UK government is set to publish a white paper on genetics, intended to inject knowledge of the subject into the National Health Service, the Times Higher Educational Supplement reported last week. It is likely to propose putting more money into the treatment of genetic conditions, and lay the groundwork for more genetics research. It is also expected to address public concern about the social implications of new genetics knowledge.
Sources and References
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NHS to get injection of genetics knowledge
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Coordination centre for UK Biobank project announced
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