Highlights
- AWS provides £8 million worth of cloud computing storage to UK Biobank, enhancing data management and AI capabilities.
- The UK government matches this investment with an additional £8 million, bringing the total support to £16 million.
- Improved infrastructure will drive research into diseases such as Parkinson’s, dementia, and cancer.
Cloud computing company Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the UK government have announced a substantial investment to upgrade UK Biobank‘s cloud computing storage infrastructure. AWS will contribute £8 million worth of cloud computing storage, with the UK government providing an equivalent £8 million. This combined £16 million investment will significantly enhance UK Biobank’s ability to securely store and manage its extensive dataset.
This investment follows the establishment of a public-philanthropic consortium in October of the previous year, which aimed to secure UK Biobank’s long-term future. Initial support came from Eric Schmidt and Ken Griffin, with the UK government matching their contributions to a total of £32 million. Today’s additional investment brings the total backing for UK Biobank to nearly £50 million, nearing the organization’s ultimate fundraising goal.
Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle highlighted the significance of this investment for maintaining UK Biobank’s global leadership in health research. He noted that the upgraded cloud computing storage infrastructure will ensure that researchers worldwide have secure and efficient access to de-identified data.
UK Biobank’s CEO, Professor Sir Rory Collins, expressed appreciation for the support, emphasizing that the improved cloud computing storage will facilitate broader access to their data, benefiting researchers from various disciplines and regions. Lord Vallance, Minister for Science, also underscored the value of such collaborations in addressing major healthcare challenges and driving research advancements.
John Davies, Director of the UK Public Sector at AWS, commented that the investment will enable UK Biobank to utilize advanced digital capabilities, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, to accelerate research breakthroughs.
Overall, this investment marks a significant milestone in UK Biobank’s mission to advance scientific research and enhance health outcomes on a global scale.
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