JOHN NEWTON, the newly appointed chief executive of the UK Biobank project, impressed MPs when he spoke at a recent meeting of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. In the long-term, the project promises to be the largest, most comprehensive population study of its kind in the world (New Scientist, 10 May, p 25). Eventually up to half a million British volunteers aged between 45 and 69 will be involved. Britain, with its well-established National Health Service and various public-health statistics agencies, is well placed to undertake this sort of project.
The aim is to provide scientists with the kind…
