Last updated Jan 16, 2019

The Access Sub-Committee of the UK Biobank Board is chaired by a member of the UK Biobank Board. It includes three further Board members with appropriate scientific expertise. It is anticipated that the Access Sub-Committee will meet quarterly, immediately before UK Biobank Board meetings. It is responsible for making the key access decisions, notably those regarding the use of depletable samples or potentially contentious research. Access Sub-Committee members of the UK Biobank Board are:

Professor Martin Bobrow, Chair
Professor Sir Michael Rawlins
Professor Andrew Hattersley
Professor Ruth Gilbert

The process of reviewing applications is managed by the UK Biobank Coordinating Centre, which conducts a set of standard checks and seeks advice on particular applications as required. Recommendations on each application are made by the UK Biobank Principal Investigator (or their designate) and are subject to confirmation by UK Biobank’s Access Sub-Committee. Applications that raise particular concerns (e.g. involve potentially contentious uses of the Resource) will typically be referred to the Access Sub-Committee or to UK Biobank’s Board.

The principles established to allow scientific access to UK Biobank are set out in the UK Biobank Ethics & Governance Framework. The detailed requirements of access are set out in the UK Biobank Access Procedures.

The functioning of the Access Procedures will be kept under review by the UK Biobank Principal Investigator (UKBPI), with UK Biobank’s Board and its Access Sub-Committee. Input from the participants, researchers, funders, UK Biobank Ethics Advisory Committee and other interested parties will be taken into account. UK Biobank’s Board will amend the Access Procedures as required on a periodic basis.

More information about using the resource can be found here.