UK Biobank Metabolomics: Investigating Biomarkers and Health Outcomes

Summary

The latest release of data from UK Biobank covers metabolites collected from all 500,00 UK participants and provides a new opportunity for scientific investigation into associations between plasma biomarkers and incident disease in UK Biobank participants.

Blood samples were collected from participants at their baseline assessment (2006-2010) and again at repeat visits. Quantities of different biomarkers in the blood samples were assessed firstly using assay methods, and subsequently using NMR-based methods, to obtain more precise measurements on a broader range of blood-based metabolites.

The student will begin by using statistical methods to assess the key similarities and differences between the assay-based- and the NMR-based- biomarker measurements. Following this they will investigate associations between several specific biomarkers of interest and incident cases of disease, such as specific cancers or cardiovascular disease, identified using linked health records (including hospital episode statistics (HES), mortality and/or cancer registry data). Additional data are available regarding medical measurements (e.g. blood pressure, body composition), lifestyle behaviours (e.g. smoking, physical activity) and socioeconomic background.

Main Method: Quantitative Data Analysis

Available to: FHS, and ASIP students