Funding for the world's largest study of the role of nature and nurture in health and disease have been announced today.

The Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council and the Department of Health are providing an initial £45 million for the UK biobank project - a study of genes, environment and health.

Forum Response: Medical Research Council

Professor Sir George Radda, chief executive of the Medical Research Council, told ePolitix.com: "This exciting project may one day herald a new era of medicine. In 20 years time, we may see individualised approaches to disease prevention and treatment.

"Once we understand the genetic bases of various diseases and the genetic differences between individuals that may affect their responses, it may become possible for a GP to prescribe drugs or other treatments designed specifically for people's own genetic makeup."

Forum Response: Consumers Association

Nikki Ratcliff, senior policy adviser at the Consumers' Association, told ePolitix.com: "By studying the combined effect of genes, environment and lifestyle factors, this project offers great potential for the future of health and health care. But many ethical questions raised by BioBank UK need to be urgently considered.

"Informed consent is central to the whole debate. People who consent to being involved in the study should be given the option to refuse certain types of research.

"And more detailed research is urgently needed to tackle the level of information available so people can give informed consent. Issues such as who owns the information, who has access to it, and how it is used and protected are also vitally important and need to be settled before this project goes ahead."