Our Future Health is a groundbreaking and ambitious research programme. It aims to revolutionise the way to prevent, detect and treat diseases, paving the way to a population that lives in good health for longer.
Launched in collaboration with the public, charity and private sectors, this long-term programme involves the analysis of vast amounts of patient data, including genetic information, lifestyle and environmental factors. By studying the health trajectories of millions of participants over many years, the study aims to gain critical insights into disease risk factors, early disease biomarkers, and design personalised interventions.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Our Future Health is its emphasis on harnessing cutting-edge technologies and big data analytics to identify patterns and connections that may have previously eluded researchers. This innovative approach could revolutionise disease prevention and treatment.
A healthy population is critical for the overall well-being and prosperity of society. Reduced rates of illness and disability have clear economic and social benefits as well as contributing to higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. Lower disease prevalence results in reduced healthcare expenses and medical costs which releases resources that can be directed towards other important areas.
Boosting Britain’s health is of critical importance for the future of the National Health Service (NHS). Reduced rates of chronic diseases and preventable illnesses alleviates pressure on healthcare facilities, enhancing patient outcomes and ensuring that quality healthcare remains accessible to all. It also frees up resources that can be used for research, technological advancements, and innovative treatments.
While Our Future Health aims to revolutionise healthcare, it also faces significant challenges and complexities, one of which is the sheer scale and scope of the project. Analysing vast amounts of data from thousands of participants over an extended period demands sophisticated infrastructure and robust data management systems.
The ability to process biological samples at scale without losing trust in the quality and reliability of the samples, both now and in the future, is crucial to the success of Our Future Health. Finding a partner who can manage an end-to-end solution, from processing and genotyping to long-term storage, can help reduce the risk of sample damage through movement and transportation.
UK Biocentre has a footprint of 70,000 square feet which encompasses processing laboratories as well as the capacity to store 35 million frozen biological samples. It was originally set up as a centre of excellence to facilitate UK academic research for high throughput research studies offering comprehensive sample processing and cold storage.
UK Biocentre was the first Lighthouse Laboratory to be established during the COVID-19 pandemic, processing over 100,000 samples a day and more than 31 million in total. The centre is a not-for-profit organisation supporting academic and commercial research, offering end-to-end solutions to the biomedical research community as well as the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries.
Michael Cook, Executive Director of Science at Our Future Health, recently spoke at the Genomics & Precision Medicine 2023 exhibitors show as part of a panel discussion. He was joined by Tony Cox OBE, Chief Executive Officer of UK Biocentre.
Michael said that “UK Biocentre is our bio sample processing and custom array genotyping site for bloods, as well as our long-term biobank. This will provide genotype data for a range of different research questions and insights from which we can benefit when we open our data access proposals in the future.”
As part of the panel discussion, Michael and Tony talked about the size of the project, the importance of a robust planning process, and the challenges of meeting data quality requirements. Michael commented that “the 11 months that went in to assuring this through the Design and Pilot stage was critical.”
Tony explained that “there was an extensive study design and planning process around the samples coming from all parts of the UK, and our logistics process funnels samples into UK Biocentre at the rate of many thousands a day. Those are processed within just a few hours to maximise the utility of the samples.”
Concluding the discussion, Michael stressed the importance of quality assurance with regards to the lifecycle of samples. He said that “because we were predominantly funded by the government, we ran an open PCR2015 compliant procedure. Everybody had to bid, and everyone was then reviewed by an independent group that assessed each application.”
He noted that “UK Biocentre had the best package of solutions, not just with their facilities but in terms of their automation capabilities and their proven expertise in high throughput.”
Tony added that “the UK Biocentre was able to provide quality assurances which, along with the automation and barcode systems that allows full traceability of the samples and ensures that the donor samples are secure for many years to come.”
Our Future Health has enormous potential as it continues to build over the next three years of its four-year collection plan. One of the pioneering aspects is its integration into the blood donation process in England. Donors can consent to participate in the study as they give blood, giving NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) future access to the donor’s genetic data.
By combining innovative research methods, advanced technologies, and a diverse and representative participant pool, Our Future Health envisions a future where healthcare is more precise, accessible, and impactful, shaping a healthier and more informed society for generations to come.
For more information or to take part in the programme, please visit www.ourfuturehealth.org.uk and for more information about UK Biocentre please visit www.ukbiocentre.com