GP data ‘game changer’ in research projects

The Government has made steps to allow major UK research projects – UK Biobank, Genomics England and Our Future Health – to use GP data on people taking part in the studies, as well as the data they submit to the programme.

Experts welcomed the news, saying that the data would “offer fresh insights” into many different illnesses.

Professor Sir Rory Collins, principal investigator and chief executive of UK Biobank, said: “Access to our participants’ coded GP patient data will be a game changer for research into some of the most common and debilitating diseases.

“There’s no doubt this will revolutionise the power of UK Biobank.”

Around half a million adults are taking part in the study and have been sharing their data for more than 15 years, but until now, researchers have not been able to examine their GP data.

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Sir Rory added: “Combined with the existing wealth of genetic, lifestyle, imaging and environmental information on our half a million volunteers, researchers will be able to study diseases like dementia, depression, joint pain, and asthma in much greater depth, and earlier in their development when treatment is typically more effective.”

Commenting on the news, Professor Liam Smeeth, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “This is very exciting news as these GP data will help to transform understanding of diseases, and how to prevent and treat them.

“Researchers like me will be able to use the data to understand what’s really causing disease, and why some drugs work for some people and not others.

“We will solve so many major health challenges that affect us today, and we’ll do so because of this initiative to make these data available now.”