UK Biobank
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 9:36 am
The UK Biobank has extensive health records of a half million volunteers, of whom I'm one. Since 2008 it has given approved access to my full genome, the whole of what remains of my health records and a full day's follow-up scans just last year with those body-sized scanners that go clank and meep. 6-monthly broadband blood tests for the last decade, the medical equivalent to blowing up balloons to test lung function, you name it, UK Biobank holds it.
So.
Whichever godforsaken lunatic thought this was more disturbing than even more "researchers" accessing UK Biobank being American should be called out - American registrations are higher than any other group. And if someone asks me whether I'm more concerned at UK Biobank records being used to shoehorn US financial interests into the NHS than this specious nonsense about "Chinese spying" drummed up by MI5 or Iain Duncan Smith or whoever, go on. Take a guess.
The reason I consented to have my records made available through UK Biobank was to improve health outcomes worldwide. China is more than welcome to look and benefit.
So.
Researchers from China are to be allowed access to half a million UK GP records despite western intelligence agencies’ fears about the authoritarian regime amassing health data, the Guardian can reveal.
Preparations are under way to transfer the records to UK Biobank, a research hub that holds detailed medical information donated by 500,000 volunteers. One of the world’s largest troves of health data, the facility makes its information available to universities, scientific institutes and private companies. A Guardian analysis shows one in five successful applications for access come from China.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ ... gp-records
Whichever godforsaken lunatic thought this was more disturbing than even more "researchers" accessing UK Biobank being American should be called out - American registrations are higher than any other group. And if someone asks me whether I'm more concerned at UK Biobank records being used to shoehorn US financial interests into the NHS than this specious nonsense about "Chinese spying" drummed up by MI5 or Iain Duncan Smith or whoever, go on. Take a guess.
The reason I consented to have my records made available through UK Biobank was to improve health outcomes worldwide. China is more than welcome to look and benefit.