NIHR BioResource
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NIHR BioResource is a unique and powerful resource for studying disease mechanisms and for investigating the links between genes, the environment, health and disease; enabling scientific discoveries as well as facilitating translational medicine for the benefit of patients. Our mission is to facilitate human health research and its transformation into medical practice. We have over 180,000 consented volunteers, from the general population and patients with common and rare diseases. BioResource volunteers are willing to be recalled according to their genotype and/or phenotype and to participate in academic and industry-led experimental medicine and clinical research studies. Participants who join the NIHR BioResource donate their DNA via a blood or saliva sample which is used together with other information (e.g. gender, ethnicity, health records, genomics), to match them to specific research studies. Genotyping information via high density array is available for most of the BioResource panel, and many of those with rare diseases have whole genome sequencing data available. Where blood samples were taken, plasma, serum and whole blood samples are banked and - along with underlying data - these samples may be requested through our approvals process, see https://bioresource.nihr.ac.uk/researchers/researchers/application-process/ As well as healthy volunteers (GEN), primarily blood donors, the NIHR BioResource has enrolled over 15,000 patients with Rare Diseases (RD), and has 2 established large cohorts of patients with mental health disorders (MH) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). New patient cohorts are continuously being added, with our Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMID) cohorts that started in 2020 growing steadily. We were able to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by starting a COVID-19 BioResource which has recruited patients, health workers and visitors to screening pods, vaccination and long COVID clinics and enabled a variety of rapid and multi-disciplinary research studies. Our newest cohort (summer 2021) is the Young People's BioResource (YP) focused on recruiting those aged under 25. Programmes with blood derived banked samples (Plasma, Serum, DNA): COVID 7,600 participants; Genotype array data, Health and Lifestyle questionnaire data and clinical data available. Generic (Healthy) 92,000 participants; Genotype array data and Health and Lifestyle questionnaire data available. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) 34,000 participants; Genotype array data, WES/WGS data, Health and Lifestyle questionnaire data and clinical data available. Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMID) 700 participants; Genotype array data pending, Health and Lifestyle questionnaire data and clinical data available. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) 250 participants: Genotype array data pending, Health and Lifestyle questionnaire data and clinical data available. Rare Disease (RD) 15,000 participants; Genotype array data, WGS data, Health and Lifestyle questionnaire data and clinical data available. Programmes with saliva derived banked samples (DNA): Mental Health (MH) 31,000 participants; Genotype array data, Health and Lifestyle questionnaire data and clinical data available. Young People's BioResource (YP) 9 participants; Genotype array data and Health and Lifestyle questionnaire data pending. Researchers apply for access to Samples, Data and/or volunteer access (Recall) as specific study requests. Recall could include contacting volunteers with questionnaires or clinical appointments to obtain bespoke samples (from easily accessible sites e.g. urine, skin biopsy) or to take part in activities like an MRI or exercise test. Please contact us if you have a research interest in any disorders or sample types outside of those listed as our core cohorts, we can mine the demographic, genetic and clinical data held to determine if we have suitable candidates for recall to generate the bespoke samples/ data required. Applications are reviewed by a scientific steering committee and delivery timelines will depend on current demand and the complexity of the study. Industry partners may encounter a cost to access BioResource volunteers. A detailed cost for Industry-led studies through commercial agreements can be found at: https://bioresource.nihr.ac.uk/industry/industry-home/ The Annual Statistics table only lists access requests for banked samples in the March to March period used for HTA reporting (hence the figures for 2021 are not yet complete), some studies are ongoing requests requiring multiple shipments and are reported in multiple years. A higher proportion of researchers request data access or recall studies than banked samples. For current figures on the overall BioResource research activity: 43 Data access applications and 52 research studies were submitted in the 12 months between October 2020-2021. We also contribute to the UK LLC and HDR UK (Gut Reaction) national programmes.

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Last Updated: 14/10/2021

Annual Statistics