UK Biobank boosts patient record security

Genetic analysis project takes measures to protect subject's privacy

The UK Biobank project is bolstering its IT security to protect health information it will hold on 500,000 people for 30 years.

The project, to analyse genetics to help combat diseases, is being funded by the Department of Health and the Wellcome Trust.

Plans to meet the ISO27001 international information security standard will allow people who give information and samples to Biobank to feel secure, says Steve Walker, the project’s chief information officer.

‘Given the nature of the data it is vital that our systems and procedures are secure and are seen to be secure,’ he said.

Information about individuals, such as name and date of birth, will be separated from medical data and protected by key codes to maximise security, says Rory Collins, Biobank’s chief executive.

‘We will be storing information on their lifestyle, exposures to various environmental factors and their medical histories, so we want to give it the most careful protection. That way we are confident we can recruit people into the study,’ he said.

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