Health trajectories in a rapidly changing world
Munich Sep 3—4 2026
International
NAKO Conference
2026
International NAKO Conference 2026
Dear colleagues,
in times of rapid societal, environmental, and technological change, public health has become one of our greatest global challenges. Chronic diseases, mental health, climate impacts, and the COVID-19 pandemic shape our lives and health systems in complex, interconnected ways. Understanding these dynamics requires large-scale, longitudinal, and deeply phenotyped data that reflect real lives, across generations and regions.
The population-based German National Cohort (NAKO) includes 200,000 participants at baseline with follow-up examinations every 5 years. The NAKO allows to investigate the risk factors and causes of major diseases, to develop prevention strategies and guide policy decisions.
Our first International NAKO Conference 2026 invites researchers from around the world to share insights, build collaborations, and chart the future of population health research together. We believe that challenges of our time can only be addressed through joint efforts, open exchange, and global cooperation.
Your Scientific Board
Marie-Theres Huemer, Wolfgang Lieb, Annette Peters, Tobias Pischon, Tamara Schikowski
The event on site is fully booked
We are delighted by the huge interest in our event: we have already reached the maximum number of participants. Registration for on-site participation is now closed.
If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please contact us by email at conference@nako.de
Media representatives are warmly invited to attend the event and obtain accreditation via presse@nako.de.
Conference live stream
You can’t attend the International NAKO Conference in person? Well, we’ve got a livestream for you!
Date
September 3rd, 2026, 11:30 a.m. –
September 4th, 2026, 1:15 p.m.
Information about the International NAKO Conference 2026
Inspiring Keynotes
Albert Hofman
Beate Ritz
Paul Elliott
Research Highlights
Cohorts from all over the world
During the poster session – “Cohorts all over the world” on 3 September from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm – more than 20 national and international cohort studies will present their profiles.
Among those taking part are: CHRIS Population Cohort Study, KORA Digital-Fit study, DigiHero, German Million Children Cohort, GINIplus and LISA cohorts, Multicentre DPV Registry, COPLANT, Indian Study of Healthy Ageing
NAKO Highlight Results
Researchers will present their latest findings and innovative research projects using NAKO data. Particular emphasis will be placed on NAKO’s longitudinal data, including the 5-year follow-up study and the health follow-up surveys.
Behind-the-Scenes: Guided tour of the NAKO biobank
Registered conference participants can take part in a guided tour of the biorepository on the Helmholtz Munich site on 3 September at 6.15 pm or on 4 September 2026 at 9.00 am.
Registration takes place on site via a sign-up list at the registration desk (a total of four groups – two per day; places are limited). We recommend signing up early.
Outlook on the future of NAKO
Get the newest insights on upcoming data releases such as omics, planned research projects and data collection, and the future of the NAKO study.
Call for Abstracts and Registration
Conference participation is free of charge.
The abstract submission is closed. Decisions has been sent out.
If you have any questions, please contact conference@nako.de.
Templates für your Contribution
You are warmly invited to use the following templates for your contribution to the conference. Posters and presentations designed in line with your own institution’s branding are also permitted.
NAKO-Logo english
NAKO-Logo english with Claim
Funding logo NAKO
Template Poster
Template Presentation
Visit the Knowledge Fair 'Discover NAKO'
At the Knowledge Fair ‘Discover NAKO’, conference participants can engage directly with NAKO administration, infrastructure, researchers, and NAKO expert groups to discuss general questions, specific research ideas, and practical applications. You will gain insights into available data, use and access policy, and the application process for using NAKO data. Take the chance to explore what NAKO has to offer, get insights on new data releases, network, and start new collaborations.
The Knowledge Fair ‘Discover NAKO’ will take place on September 3rd 14:40-16:00 and will be set up in the conference center with interactive information desks.
Accommodation in Munich
Contact Organisation
For any questions regarding the conference, feel free to contact the NAKO Conference Team: conference@nako.de
Organizing Team
NAKO e.V.
Katharina Koch
Friederike Fellenberg I Oliver Gibler
Nicole Memmer
Helmholtz Munich
Marie-Therese Huemer I Michael Stein
Susanne Göttlicher
Edith Bachmayer
The International NAKO Conference is organised by NAKO e.V. The event is hosted by Helmholtz Munich.
Open Call for reviewers
The Scientific Board of the International NAKO Conference cordially invites Scientists to register as a reviewer for the abstracts submitted for presentation at the International NAKO Conference 2026.
Programme
Here you will find the programme for the International NAKO Conference 2026 (subject to change).
You can also download the programme as a PDF file here.
| Time (CEST) | Location | |
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Registration | Foyer, ground floor |
| 12:30 – 13:00 | Welcome Prof. Veronika von Messling, BMFTR Annette Peters, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the NAKO e.V. | Main lecture hall, 1st floor |
| 13:00 – 13:45 | Keynote 1 ‘Cohort studies in the age of AI’ — Albert Hofman, Chair Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA | Main lecture hall, 1st floor |
| 13:45 – 14:15 | NAKO RESEARCH SESSION 1 The Interplay Between Cognitive Function and Sleep Patterns in Relation to Mortality Among Older Adults in Germany: Evidence from NAKO Data — Jayanta Bora, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e. V. (DZNE) Regional differences in associations of adherence to a Mediterranean and a Nordic diet with all-cause mortality — Paula Stürmer, Kiel University | Main lecture hall, 1st floor |
| 14:15 – 14:25 | Teaser for the Knowledge Fair “Discover NAKO” | Main lecture hall, 1st floor |
14:25 – 14:40 | Coffee Break | Foyer, ground floor |
| 14:40 – 16:00 | Knowledge Fair “Discover NAKO” At the NAKO Knowledge Fair, conference participants can engage directly with NAKO administration, infrastructure, researchers, and NAKO expert groups to discuss general questions, specific research ideas, and practical applications. You will gain insights into available data, use and access policy, and the application process for using NAKO data. Take the chance to explore what NAKO has to offer, get insights on new data releases, network, and start new collaborations. The NAKO Knowledge Fair will be set up in the conference center with interactive information desks on topics such as:
| Seminar rooms, ground floor |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | NAKO Research Session 2 Impact of Incidental Findings in Whole-Body MRI Examinations within the German National Cohort — Jeremias Doll, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg White Matter Lesion topography links to cardiovascular risk through arterial territory vulnerability — Tatiana Miller, Heinrich Heine University | Main lecture hall, 1st floor |
| 16:30 – 16:45 | Coffee break | Foyer, ground floor |
| 16:30 – 17:30 | Poster session – “Cohorts all over the world” Other population-based cohorts from around the world are invited to present a profile of their cohort study in a dedicated poster session. | Foyer, ground floor |
| 17:30 – 18:15 | Keynote 2 ‘Environmental exposures and brain health: integrating geospatial and omics tools in exposure assessment’ — Beate Ritz, Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology, Environmental Health, and Neurology at the Fielding School of Public Health, DG School of Medicine, UCLA | Main lecture hall, 1st floor |
| 18:15 – 19:00 | Tour to the NAKO Biorepository at Helmholtz Munich (5 min walk from the congress center) On-site registration is required. | Meeting point: In front of the conference center |
| Time (CEST) | Location | |
| 09:00 – 09:45 |
Pre-conference session (choose one)
Please choose one of the events. On-site registration is required. |
(1) Main lecture hall, 1st floor (2) Meeting point: In front of the conference center |
| 09:45 – 10:30 |
Keynote 3 ‘The Value of Biobanks’ — Paul Elliott, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London, United Kingdom and founding member of the UK Biobank |
Main lecture hall, 1st floor |
| 10:30 – 11:30 |
NAKO Research Session 3 Differences in cancer incidence rates by ascertainment methods in UKB and NAKO — Thu Thi Pham, University of Oxford Impacts of Long-Term Air Temperature and Air Pollution Exposure on Respiratory Disease Incidence in a German-wide Cohort — Brooke Ury, Helmholtz Munich Cross-sectional Relation of a Lifestyle Risk Index, Visceral Adiposity, and Glycemic Status: Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) & German National Cohort (NAKO) — Gertraud Maskarinec, University of Hawaii |
Main lecture hall, 1st floor |
| 11:30 – 12:30 |
Lunch poster session – NAKO research Researchers will present their newest findings and innovative research projects using NAKO data. |
Foyer, ground floor |
| 12:30 – 13:00 |
NAKO Research Session 4 Who Adhered to the Rules? Social Distancing, Mask Wearing and Risk Perception During the COVID-19 Crisis – Insights from a Cross-National European Collaboration — Dmitry Bulaev, Luxembourg Institute of Health Cardiovascular remodelling, respiratory tract infections, and SARS-CoV-2 risk: a comparative analysis of the NAKO and UK Biobank cohorts — Annika Fischer, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research |
Main lecture hall, 1st floor |
| 13:00 – 13:15 |
Closing remarks Annette Peters, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the NAKO e.V. |
Main lecture hall, 1st floor |
Research newsletter
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