In a move aimed at promoting equitable access to its extensive genetic and health data, UK Biobank, recognized as the world's largest biomedical database, has introduced the groundbreaking Global Researcher Access Fund. The fund, unveiled this week, eliminates application costs for approved researchers from institutions in less wealthy countries, marking a significant stride towards democratizing worldwide access to the database.
Available to all UK Biobank-approved researchers from low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs), the fund covers application fees that could previously pose as barriers to entry. This inclusive approach ensures that researchers from these regions, whether they are already leveraging UK Biobank data or initiating new projects, can tap into the database's vast resources for their biomedical research endeavours.
Researchers were awarded funding to gain access to UK Biobank's comprehensive datasets, spanning whole genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing, imaging data, assay data, enhanced measures, and core data. This Tier 3 access is facilitated through the UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform (UKB-RAP), granting researchers a three-year window to execute their approved projects.
The decision to establish the Global Researcher Access Fund stems from the acknowledgement that despite UK Biobank's global accessibility, only a limited number of projects have involved researchers from LMICs over the past decade. Lauren Carson, Head of Research Development at UK Biobank, foresees that the fund could triple the number of projects undertaken by scientists from LMICs.
Previously, access fees, albeit reduced for LMIC researchers, still posed significant barriers. In response to feedback, the fund now covers the reduced fee, enabling bona fide researchers engaged in biomedical research for public benefit to access Tier 3 resources.
The establishment of the UK Biobank Global Researcher Access Fund is made possible through generous contributions from leading pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, and Regeneron.
Dr. Carson expressed gratitude to industry donors for their philanthropic contributions, underscoring the significance of enabling researchers from developing countries to contribute to scientific discovery on par with their counterparts from economically developed nations.
Researchers with approved registration to UK Biobank can complete an access application for a research project, automatically qualifying for the fund. Interested applicants can apply for access following the steps outlined on the UK Biobank website.
Article by RB Reporter
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