In October 2005, the UK Biobank1 will start collecting DNA samples and personal information from 500,000 volunteers aged between 45 and 69 years. The main purpose of the UK Biobank is to look at the relationship between disease, lifestyle and genes, as well as to identify susceptibility factors that affect individual response to specific drug treatments. In order to carry out such studies, detailed information on individuals drawn from a number of sources and gathered over a long period (in excess of ten years) is needed. Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire on lifestyle and the health of family members; undergo a physical examination and give permission to enable access to their medical records. The Protocol for the UK Biobank states that 'participants will receive feedback only on measures taken at the physical assessment and any abnormal finding at this assessment will also be communicated to their general practitioner (with their consent)'.
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