Deferred Decisions Build Durable Science

UK Biobank recruited 500,000 people (2006–2010), linked them to NHS records, and postponed many irreversible choices (e.g., which assays and analyses) until the infrastructure and data were in place. Leaders set expectations for a long payoff—famously telling funders at the 10‑year review that 'nothing' had yet been achieved—while committing to open, global researcher access. This 'option‑value' governance let the project adapt to new tech and survive short‑term political pressures. — It offers a replicable playbook for designing institutions that produce public goods on multi‑decade horizons without being derailed by election‑cycle incentives.