ABOUT SOUTH ASIA BIOBANK

 

Transforming tomorrow’s health for millions of South Asian people worldwide.

South Asia Biobank is an international research study designed to prevent the high risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer among South Asian people.

By collecting this information from thousands of people, South Asian Biobank Study aims to help us find out why diseases may affect some people more than others. This could help us to transform the health of South Asians world-wide.

If you participate you can learn more about your own health and support you and your GP to make better decisions about your health and care.

Find out more about the health assessment and see a sample report

WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE?

This study is designed to understand why South Asians are at high risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other critical illnesses. Your participation in the study will transform research today and benefit tomorrow’s health among millions of South Asians worldwide.

 

WHY IS THIS STUDY BEING CARRIED OUT ?

background

Much progress in medical science has been made in the past five decades but this has not provided answers to why South Asians remain at such high risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other critical illnesses compared to other populations.

To date, most large-scale studies have largely recruited people of European ancestry. This lack of diversity in research hinders our understanding of reasons why populations such as South Asians are more susceptible to certain illnesses. 

DESIGN

The absence of South Asians in research studies has added to unacceptable health disparities, and raises the question of whether new diagnostics, and treatments derived from research will benefit all populations equally.

South Asia Biobank is designed to bring together the largest world-wide resource of biological data in-order to address critical questions, such as why South Asians remain at X3 risk of diabetes and x 2 risk of cardiovascular disease and other critical illnesses.  – we are establishing the South Asia Biobank to do just that. 

FUTURE BENEFIT

South Asia Biobank will be a major world-wide resource for medical researchers for decades to come.  The more information we can arm ourselves with about serious conditions like diabetes, the more chance we have of preventing disease, finding new treatments and even cures.

Your participation will transform research today and benefit tomorrow’s health among millions of South Asians worldwide

Our Objective

“We aim to recruit some 200,000 people aged 18-85 over the next three years to understand how genes, lifestyle and the environment interact and result in high rates of heart disease, diabetes, and other critical illnesses among South Asians.”

Professor Jaspal S Kooner, Director South Asia Biobank

PARTICIPANT CRITERIA

In order to take part in the study participants have to meet a basic criterion of:

  1. Be of South Asian origin
  2. Aged between 18-85
  3. Have an NHS number

You will not be able to participate if you are pregnant or have suffered from a recent acute illness.

What to expect

We will book an assessment for you. You will be asked to sign a consent form to participate in the study. After this, we will ask questions about your health, lifestyle and diet. We will measure your height, weight, and body fat. We will do an ECG, assess  your lung function, and take a photograph of your retina. We will collect blood and urine samples. You will receive a full report of your assessment*.

GET INVOLVED

‘To get involved all you need to be is complete the booking form, where you provide your details and availability. You will be able to confirm the location, date and time of your appointment.

As part of your participation you will receive a report outlining the data collected from your assessment along with corresponding health advice.

*Some tests are site-specific and can depend on availability.

Contact us for more info

If you are interested in joining the team, have any questions or would like to find out more about the South Asia Biobank please complete the form below and one of the team will be in touch.