UK Biobank gets new Chief Executive and Principal Investigator
8 August 2005
Professor Rory Collins has been appointed to the post of Chief Executive and Principal Investigator of UK Biobank with effect from 1 September 2005.
Professor Collins is currently the Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of Oxford, a British Heart Foundation Professor and Co-director of the Clinical Trial Service Unit and the Epidemiological Studies Unit in Oxford. He will commit about 60 per cent of his time to the leadership of UK Biobank.
The UK Biobank project was started in 2003 to support research into the separate and combined effects of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors on human health and disease. Pilot studies are underway, with the main study commencing in 2006, when it will begin to gather information on the health and lifestyle of 500 000 volunteers aged between 40 and 69.
The project is sponsored by the Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council, the Department of Health and the Scottish Executive with resources totalling £58m over 7 years.
Professor Collins will provide overall scientific leadership to UK Biobank and, as Principal Investigator, will be accountable for finalising the main scientific protocol and implementing the Biobank programme.
See also
- UK Biobank (Funded activities: Special initiatives)
- UK Biobank ethical aspects and public consultation (Reports: Knowledge centre)
- New UK Biobank Ethics and Governance Council website (News: 29 April 2005)