title: The Qatar Biobank: background and methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Qatar Biobank aims to collect extensive lifestyle, clinical, and biological information from up to 60,000 men and women Qatari nationals and long-term residents (individuals living in the country for ≥15 years) aged ≥18 years (approximately one-fifth of all Qatari citizens), to follow up these same individuals over the long term to record any subsequent disease, and hence to study the causes and progression of disease, and disease burden, in the Qatari population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between the 11(th)-December-2012 and 20(th)-February-2014, 1209 participants were recruited into the pilot study of the Qatar Biobank. At recruitment, extensive phenotype information was collected from each participant, including information/measurements of socio-demographic factors, prevalent health conditions, diet, lifestyle, anthropometry, body composition, bone health, cognitive function, grip strength, retinal imaging, total body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and measurements of cardiovascular and respiratory function. Blood, urine, and saliva were collected and stored for future research use. A panel of 66 clinical biomarkers was routinely measured on fresh blood samples in all participants. Rates of recruitment are to be progressively increased in the coming period and the recruitment base widened to achieve a cohort of consented individuals broadly representative of the eligible Qatari population. In addition, it is planned to add additional measures in sub-samples of the cohort, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain, heart and abdomen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean time for collection of the extensive phenotypic information and biological samples from each participant at the baseline recruitment visit was 179 min. The 1209 pilot study participants (506 men and 703 women) were aged between 28-80 years (median 39 years); 899 (74.4%) were Qatari nationals and 310 (25.6%) were long-term residents. Approximately two-thirds of pilot participants were educated to graduate level or above.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pilot has proven that recruitment of volunteers into the Qatar Biobank project with intensive baseline measurements of behavioural, physical, and clinical characteristics is well accepted and logistically feasible. Qatar Biobank will provide a powerful resource to investigate the major determinants of ill-health and well-being in Qatar, providing valuable insights into the current and future public health burden that faces the country.
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation, P O Box 3050, Doha, Qatar. halkuwari@hmc.org.qa.
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Kuwari
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, P O Box 348, Doha, Qatar. aaja@qu.edu.qa.
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Thani
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation, P O Box 3050, Doha, Qatar. aalmarri@hmc.org.qa.
authors.forename: Ajayeb
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Marri
authors.affiliation: Sidra Medical and Research Centre, P O Box 26999, Doha, Qatar. amalkaabi@sidra.org.
authors.forename: Abdulla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Kaabi
authors.affiliation: Qatar Biobank, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community, P O Box 5825, Doha, Qatar. habderrahim@qf.org.qa.
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abderrahim
authors.affiliation: Qatar Biobank, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community, P O Box 5825, Doha, Qatar. nafifi@qf.org.qa.
authors.forename: Nahla
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Afifi
authors.affiliation: Qatar Biobank, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community, P O Box 5825, Doha, Qatar. fqafoud@qf.org.qa.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qafoud
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's campus, Norfolk Place, London, UK. q.chan@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Queenie
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's campus, Norfolk Place, London, UK. i.tzoulaki@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tzoulaki
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's campus, Norfolk Place, London, UK. p.downey@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Downey
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's campus, Norfolk Place, London, UK. heather.ward@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's campus, Norfolk Place, London, UK. neil.murphy@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's campus, Norfolk Place, London, UK. e.riboli@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riboli
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's campus, Norfolk Place, London, UK. p.elliott@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011157:Population Dynamics; D015995:Prevalence; D011780:Qatar / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult