Ongoing closure of the UKB-RAP Pinned Featured

UKB Communications The helpers that keep the community running smoothly. UKB Community team Communications Team

Dear Colleagues

​All access to UK Biobank’s Research Analysis Platform (UKB-RAP) was stopped in April due to clear breaches of the UK Biobank Material Transfer Agreement, which have shaken trust in UK Biobank and caused concern to some participants.

​The UK Biobank Board has conducted a full investigation into these breaches and security around participant data. The UKB-RAP will remain closed while access controls are reviewed and enhanced.

​We know that the inability to access the UKB-RAP has serious consequences for researchers, and we are working hard towards re-opening access for analyses. We expect to be able to provide a more specific timetable in early June.

​We want to reassure you that you will only need to cover your costs up to and including 22 April, when the UKB-RAP was closed. Researchers will not be charged for storage costs that accrue, or for jobs that were terminated mid-run. Once the platform re-opens, we will automatically extend any compute credits and projects at no additional cost.

​If you have questions, please contact us directly, or post here on the UK Biobank Community where the team will respond as quickly as possible.

​

Professor Sir Rory Collins

CEO and Principal Investigator, UK Biobank

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1 comment

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  • Comment author
    Yibin Zhou

    Thank you for the update and for the continued efforts to protect participant data and maintain trust in UK Biobank.

    I have always regarded UK Biobank and the UKB-RAP as among the most carefully governed platforms for controlled health data access, and I greatly appreciate the work involved in supporting research while safeguarding participant privacy and trust. The UK Biobank resource has made an extraordinary contribution to medical research, and its responsible stewardship is essential to sustaining that impact.

    Although it is unfortunate that access needs to remain paused for now, I fully understand the importance of reviewing and strengthening access controls before reopening. Thank you again to the UK Biobank team for your work during this difficult period.

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