The Value of “Free;” the UK Biobank
January 16, 2018 | Terry Sharrer

DNA
In 2007 a public-private consortium formed the UK Biobank with the intent of gathering molecular data and medical records of 500,000 British citizens, and last July it released the accumulated data collected so far. If funded continuously, the project will continue until the last of the 500k registrants dies. Some 406 projects have used this data for disease and drug discovery—paying a small access fee. Elsewhere, DeCode Genetics, 23andMe, the Million Veterans Project and the Kadoorie Biobank have been accumulating vast amounts of data, while artificial intelligence has been building capacity to analyze the health potential of virtually all humanity. It would be hard to imagine a greater possible benefit to mankind. MORE
Image Credit: Pixabay