UK Biobank launches world’s largest population proteomics study

U.K. – A groundbreaking population proteomics study utilizing patient samples from the UK Biobank has been launched, supported by 14 major pharmaceutical companies.

This initiative, known as the Pharma Proteomics Project, aims to revolutionize the understanding of diseases and their treatment by creating an extensive dataset of protein measurements.

The project will analyze up to 5,400 proteins in each of 600,000 patient samples. By doing so, it will generate valuable insights into how protein levels fluctuate over time and during illness.

These samples are derived from 500,000 UK Biobank volunteers who have contributed to the organization since its inception over two decades ago, along with 100,000 additional second samples collected from some participants up to 15 years later.

This large-scale effort builds upon a pilot study published in 2023, which analyzed approximately 3,000 proteins from 54,000 UK Biobank volunteers.

That study uncovered more than 14,000 associations between genetic variations and altered protein levels.

Many of these connections were previously unknown, leading to significant advancements in predicting diseases and developing potential therapies for conditions such as cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, and cancer.

The full-scale project elevates the pilot study to a much higher level, with actionable results anticipated within the next five years, according to Professor Sir Rory Collins, who has been leading UK Biobank since its establishment in 2002.

The first phase of the study involves testing 300,000 samples—250,000 initial samples and 50,000 follow-up samples—at the Regeneron Genetics Center in the United States.

Funding for this stage has been provided by pharmaceutical backers, including Alden Scientific, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Calico Life Sciences, Roche, GSK, Isomorphic Labs, Johnson & Johnson, MSD, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Regeneron, and Takeda.

The data generated will be made accessible to scientists worldwide, provided they propose suitable research projects for its use.

However, the sponsoring pharmaceutical companies will initially have a brief period of exclusive access. Measuring protein levels in the initial 300,000 samples is expected to take approximately one year.

Professor Collins highlighted the importance of collaboration, noting that the involvement of a broad consortium of companies underscores the value of pre-competitive research in advancing collective knowledge to improve health.

He also expressed hope that additional companies would join the effort to support the project.

This study will integrate proteomic and genetic data, following the UK Biobank’s publication of whole-genome sequencing data for its half a million participants in November 2023.

Additionally, the project will incorporate imaging data, as nearly 100,000 volunteers have undergone MRI scans since joining the initiative, alongside anonymized health and lifestyle information.

Dr. Chris Whelan of Johnson & Johnson, serving as the Pharma Proteomics Project Lead, emphasized that adding proteomic data for the entire UK Biobank cohort will be transformative.

He noted its potential to enhance the prediction of disease onset and prognosis, particularly for under-researched diseases lacking robust prospective data.

Beyond advancing personalized treatments, this project could pave the way for artificial intelligence algorithms capable of predicting diseases years earlier than current methods allow.

The integration of genetic, proteomic, imaging, and health data is expected to be a game changer in healthcare research and innovation.