- I can't take time off work without a good reason. Will you send a letter to my employer to say that I need time off work to take part?
If you can provide us with the email address of your employer we will be able to send them a standard letter. It might be worth checking with your employer to see whether, through such schemes as Investors in People, you are able to take time off from work to participate in charity/ community activities such as this. If this is not possible we can, however, offer you a different appointment time (for example in the evening or on a Saturday) if this is more convenient for you.
- English is not my first language. Can you send me the information in Bengali/Gujarat/Punjabi/Urdu/other language? Will there be someone available to translate at the assessment?
A summary of what taking part involves is available in a number of languages and you can either download this from the study website home page at www.ukbiobank.ac.uk or we can send you a copy. We should, however, point out that the questionnaire you will be asked to complete at the assessment visit is only available in English. UK Biobank is unable to provide a translator for you. However, you are more than welcome to attend with an adult (aged 18 years or over) friend, family member or community member who can translate for you. You should be aware that some of the questions are of a very personal nature, though you do not have to answer them if you don't want to.
- How often will I have to attend?
The initial assessment will involve one visit only. However, at the time of the visit, we will ask your permission to contact you again in the future to re-invite you for another visit. You are, of course, free to accept or decline as you prefer.
- Will commercial organisations benefit financially from my participation in this project?
Probably. We hope that some research findings generated by UK Biobank will lead to the development of new drugs and, realistically, some of these will be by commercial organisations such as pharmaceutical companies. There will be charges to use the UK Biobank resource with the possibility of charges being higher for organisations that might derive financial benefit.
- Why should I take part in a research that might be commercially exploited?
UK Biobank will help researchers at a variety of scientific institutes, including universities, government, charities and commercial companies. All will be held to the same scientific and ethical standards before data are released. Access to data will be granted under licence for scientifically and ethically approved research consistent with our purpose. There will be charges to use the UK Biobank resource with the possibility of charges being higher for organisations that might derive financial benefit. All researchers will be required to put results from all analyses in the UK Biobank database for all to use.
- What are UK Biobank's resource implications for GPs?
They ought to be small but there will be some. UK Biobank does not provide a health check but participants will have some body measurements taken and it would be impractical and inappropriate to conceal these from them. A printed report will be provided at the end of their visit as a means of feeding back such measurements, alongside standard norms. Sufficient information will be provided to give meaning to the measurements; if concerned, participants may want to discuss these with their GP or other health professional.
- Freedom of Information Act
If you wish, we will be more than happy to take your number and get a senior member of the study team to call you back. If you prefer to make your request in writing, then write to:
UK Biobank.
1-2 Spectrum Way
Adswood
Stockport
Cheshire
SK3 OSA
