Final steps towards re-opening the UKB-RAP Pinned Featured

Dan N

UKB Community team Communications Team

22 October 2026 15:02

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing about the final steps that remain before we can allow researchers back on the UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform (UKB-RAP) to resume their research projects.

We have completed the work to ensure that the UKB-RAP is secure. This has been confirmed by an independent cyber security company, and their report supports the re-opening of the UKB-RAP. We are now waiting for agreement from the UK health data controllers and the Government to allow access to the health outcome data of the UK Biobank participants.

As soon as we have that agreement, we shall be back in touch with the leads of each project to manage the phased re-introduction of researchers onto the platform. Initially it will not be possible to take any results files out of the UKB-RAP. We will pilot a manual output checking system this year with a small number of users, working towards an automated system available for widespread use during 2027.

We’ve produced this guide to help you navigate the changes to the platform. I’d encourage you to look at it now so that you are ready to begin work as soon as your access is restored.

I want to thank all those researchers and institutions that have supported the process of confirming deletion of de-identified data provided previously for projects that have now ended. Most institutions are now completely compliant so that all researchers at those institutions will be able to access the UKB-RAP when it does re-open.

However, despite our repeated reminders, we are still detecting a small number of code repositories that include de-identified participant data. As these constitute a serious breach of the Material Transfer Agreement, sanctions are being applied against the researchers who are responsible. Read more about the action we’re taking on code repositories here.

Thank you for your patience while we await approval to re-open. We hope to see many of you at our annual conference on 10 December, where our team will be on hand to offer in-person support with accessing the re-launched UKB-RAP and making new applications.

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