NEW YORK, March 15 (GenomeWeb News) - The UK Biobank is sending out invitations to 3,000 residents of the south Manchester area to take part in the start-up phase of the national DNA database, according to a statement released today.
The project, which aims to collect samples from up to a half million participants between the ages of 45 and 69, is scheduled to launch nationwide in the UK later this year.
To volunteer for the initial phase, candidates will spend an hour or so at an assessment center in Cheshire where they will answer questions, provide blood and urine samples, and grant UK Biobank permission to track their health "for many years."
Eventually up to 10 such assessment centers will be running at any one time around the UK.