Biohealth Norway is a large population based cohort established for genetic epidemiologic research. The collection of samples and information is still ongoing. When completed, the cohort will comprise biological samples and standardised health and exposure data from 500 000 Norwegian individuals of all ages, corresponding to approximately 1/10 of the Norwegian population.

The main research purpose is to improve prevention and treatment of disease by increased knowledge of the molecular nature of disease, based on discoveries of new genes associated to complex diseases and new information on the interaction between genes and environmental factors.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Division of Epidemiology, is responsible for the technology platform. The network is organised in collaboration with the regional health studies at the four universities in Norway, represented in the steering group.

The Norwegian health registries may provide valuable data by linking to the data obtained in the cohort studies. By utilising high-throughput genotyping, microarray analyses of RNA and proteins as well as measures of environmental exposure in biological samples, many very specific research questions can be resolved. Biohealth intend to provide technology support for other biobanks and will interact with other platforms such as the platforms on bioinformatics, SNP genotyping and microarrays.