FOI2026/00445: UK Biobank discussions - Follow up to FOI2026/00276
Case reference FOI2026/00445
Received 20 May 2026
Published 5 November 2026
Request
Request received: 20 May 2026
Follow up to FOI2026/00276 - UK Biobank discussions
MRC previously stated “MRC maintains continuous engagement with these investments and does not undertake formal mid-point reviews. Progress is monitored and discussed through established management structures and agreed monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, which operate on an ongoing basis” in response to an FOI request with your reference FOI2026/00276 which is visible here1.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, further to that previous response, can you please provide:
1) any emails, teams/slack/other messages, or documents concerning "monitoring and evaluation mechanisms” (as described above) for UK Biobank, that were "monitored and discussed through established management structures" visible to members of the MRC Senior Executive Team between 10 March 2026 and 13 May 2026.
2) any “lines to take” or briefings for media inquiries to MRC concerning UK Biobank between 10 March 2026 and 13 May 2026. (this can be limited to only those where UKBiobank is the primary investment discussed in the document - if they’re mentioned only as one of multiple UKRI/MRC projects then that document is not of interest)
3) Any internal MRC discussion related to the website at biobank.rocher.lc
References to the 10 March include those immediately prior to the Guardian disclosures that Biobank had leaked re-identifiable data to the internet hundreds of times, the BMJ editorial in mid April, and events surrounding the statements to Parliament in late April which announced UK Biobank had a 10 May deadline (which they missed).
Clarification received: 16/06/2026
By 'visible to', I mean, for example that if an email/message includes a link to the document, then it is in scope, but if there's no reference to it in other communications, then it is not in scope. That an FOIable document was shared by means of a link to a shared office365/googledoc rather than an attachment (as previously) should not be a mechanism to evade this request.
On your reference to Biobank's ongoing issues. I am not particularly interested in communications after the 13 May, but if MRC wish to extend the period of my request to provide a more complete (but not misleading) view, MRC are welcome to do that at MRC's discretion (without the extended period being covered by the cost limit). It is, of course, better that more correct information is in the public domain.
Clarification received: 24/08/2026
[UKRI advised the requestor that in its current form their request would exceed the cost threshold under section 12 of the FOI Act and were asked to refine their request]
In terms of sequencing, please prioritise part 2, part 3, and then part 1.
If it helps, you can limit part 1 to material originated by the Senior Executive Team of MRC.
Response
Response sent: 05 November 2026
Full details of this response are provided in the attached document.
Documents
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