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 11th-December-2012 and 20th-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