100,000 UK volunteers invited to donate genome to science

The search for UK volunteers willing to donate their genome and health data to science has begun with the launch today of the Personal Genome Project UK. PGP-UK, which is directed by Professor Stephan Beck (UCL Cancer Institute), ultimately aims to find 100,000 members of the public willing to take part. PGP-UK aims to offer every participant analysis of their genome, and every donated genome will potentially enable improvements in personalised medicine. It will be using a novel open consent protocol, enabling genomic data to be linked to medical and health records to create an information-rich resource that is made available under open access, allowing free and unrestricted access. This means many projects can immediately benefit from PGP-UK data, including the sequencing of 100,000 NHS patients being undertaken by Genomics England to combat diseases such as cancer and other common and rare diseases. "Donating your genome and health data to science is a great way to enable advances in the understanding of human genetics, biology, and health," said Professor Beck, who has over 30 years experience in genomics and played a leading role in the Human Genome Project. Donating your genome and health data to science is a great way to enable advances in the understanding of human genetics, biology, and health.