Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Chinese Researchers Cleared to Access UK Biobank's NHS GP Records

UK Biobank approves access to half a million anonymised NHS GP records for global researchers, including Chinese institutions, following security audits.

Image
UK Biobank said that during its 13 years of operation no patient has been identified from its data

Overview

  • UK Biobank has officially cleared Chinese researchers, including a unit from BGI, to access anonymised NHS GP records under strict security protocols.
  • China accounts for nearly 20% of approved applications for access to UK Biobank data, second only to the United States.
  • The decision follows extensive audits by NHS England, which confirmed compliance with data protection and security requirements for international access.
  • MI5 has previously raised concerns about the potential misuse of health data by authoritarian regimes, highlighting risks of genetic surveillance and espionage.
  • UK Biobank emphasizes that all data shared is anonymised and access is granted only to legitimate researchers, with no evidence of individuals being identified to date.