Biobanks aren’t new, and some, such as Great Britain’s UK Biobank, are larger. But the new biobank is still noteworthy, both for its ambitions and the challenges it will face. If you are thinking about joining a biobank or genetic research project, you’ll want to pay attention to what is happening with this one.

With its focuses on Kaiser members, researchers will have access to participants’ health information. Since most common health conditions arise from a combination of genetics and “environment” (science-speak for non-genetic factors such as food choices, exercise habits, and air quality), being able to blend genetic information with health records is a coveted prize to many researchers.  The average age of biobank participants is 65, allowing researchers to look at genetics and health outcomes over a longer span of time. Diseases of aging, such as heart disease, will be a key focus of the project.

But this won’t be easy. It’s notoriously difficult to tease clear answers out of a thicket of thousands of DNA profiles and personal health records. The project has two years to pull all that information together in a usable way.

As with other reputable biobanks, participation in the Kaiser biobank is voluntary. If you are thinking about joining a biobank or other genetic research project, you can find some general information in Chapter 2 of our book. You’ll find specific information on protecting your privacy in Chapter 8.