The biological samples we collected from our participants contain many components providing a highly detailed picture of health.
Some of these biomarkers help researchers to identify conditions or explore how diseases change the body’s biochemistry. Studying some biomarkers in detail, such as changes to an individual’s protein levels, can help researchers see impact on mid-to-late life diseases and help with early diagnoses.
Biomarker data at a glance
Protein biomarkers
Data on the amounts of 3,000 proteins circulating in the blood. The proteins were measured using OLINK’s proteomics assays. More than 14,000 specific links between proteins and health conditions have already been found.
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Current availability- 54,000 participants
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Future availability- 500,000 participants (up to 5,400 proteins)
Biochemistry biomarkers
These 34 components in blood and urine are used to assess the function of organs such as kidney and liver, or identify if someone has, or is at risk of developing, diseases such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.
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Current availability
- 500,000 participants
- 20,000 participants with repeat biomarkers (collected about five years after recruitment)
Metabolite biomarkers
Data on more than 250 metabolites, compounds that are produced by the chemical processes happening in the body (mainly lipids, plus some amino acids). The metabolites were measured using Nightingale Health’s metabolic biomarker assays. This is allowing scientists worldwide to generate a better understanding of the role of metabolomics on the risk of developing a range of chronic diseases, such as heart diseases and Type 2 diabetes.
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Current availability
- 500,000 participants
- 20,000 participants with repeat biomarkers (collected about five years after first sample)
Inside the world’s largest metabolomics study webinar
We hosted a webinar exploring the full NMR metabolomics dataset.
The session covered how the data were generated, what is available to researchers and how these measures are already supporting research into ageing, cardiometabolic disease, and risk prediction.
It also included practical guidance on accessing and analysing the data through the UKB-RAP.
Blood count biomarkers
A full blood count provides information about the cells in the blood, for example the amount of red and white blood cells.
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Current availability
- 500,000 participants
- 20,000 participants with repeat biomarkers (collected about five years after recruitment)
Infectious disease biomarkers
This data shows whether someone has ever been infected with any of 20 specific pathogens (viruses, bacteria and parasites).
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Current availability
- 10,000 participants
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Future availability
- 60,000 participants
COVID-19 antibodies
This data shows whether someone was carrying COVID-19 antibodies in their blood at the time of taking a sample. Monthly samples were collected by the participants themselves for at least six months starting in mid-2020.
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Current availability
- 20,000 participants, and their children and grandchildren (aged over 18)
Access UK Biobank biomarker data
Researchers can explore all biomarker data on our data browser, Showcase.
Biomarker data research stories
Read a selection of stories about how healthcare is being changed by discoveries made with biomarker data.
DNA from nearly 750,000 people, including UK Biobank participants, reveals genes that make people prone to persistent Epstein-Barr virus infections, which are linked to rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and many other diseases.
Cancer survivors who caught COVID-19 were at higher risk of deadly relapses, data from almost 5,000 UK Biobank participants revealed.
An artificial-intelligence algorithm pinpoints five blood components that point to someone’s risk of atrial fibrillation.
Environment and lifestyle contribute more to the risk of premature death than does genetic predisposition.
Explore our other data categories
Magnetic resonance images, bone-density scans, carotid artery ultrasound and more
Genotyping, exome and whole-genome information
Linked electronic medical records, including hospital stays, cancer diagnoses and causes of death
Participants’ information on health and lifestyle collected via online or touchscreen questionnaires
Baseline data from physical exams, vision and hearing tests, activity monitor and more
Participants’ self-reported data on health and lifestyle
Derived data on participants’ environment, such as local air and noise pollution