Scientists can submit research proposals to use the entire package of 193,000 serum samples from the baseline examination (2014 to 2019) for health-related research purposes. The applicants are responsible for the conduct and financing the planned analyses. All submitted project outlines will be reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Board and as part of the NAKO e.V. use and access process. The call is open to researchers from institutions that comply with the European Union’s data protection standards in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
NAKO e.V. is calling on researchers to submit research proposals for the use of approximately 193,000 pre-sorted and ready-to-use 500-µl serum samples from the initial examination. The samples are currently stored at −180°C and are available for scientific projects that contribute to a better understanding of health and disease in the population. Research proposals on health-related topics that comply with the overall goals of NAKO as specified in NAKO Terms of Use and Access are welcome.
Several laboratory parameters have already been measured immediately after the baseline examination. These analytes are listed here.
Requirements
- Health-related research projects in accordance with overall goals of NAKO as specified in the terms of use and access policy
- Applications must include analysis of all 193,000 samples.
- Analysis, evaluation and storage must be carried out in accordance with European data protection standards.
- Applicants are fully responsible for the complete financing of the planned analyses and may also contribute to processing and provision costs, if applicable. If required, a letter of intent from the funding institution must be submitted.
- Upon completion of the research project, the result data will be integrated into the NAKO data set.
- In addition to the mentioned serum samples, applications for additional NAKO samples and data are welcome
- Research proposals must be submitted in English language using the form on the NAKO website.
- Submission Deadline: 4 May 2026.
The Scientific Advisory Board of NAKO e.V. reviews all submitted applications. Following a positive evaluation by the Scientific Advisory Board, you will be asked to apply for the set of serum samples and accompanying NAKO data records via the NAKO application portal, the TransferHub: www.nako.de/transferhub
Contact for questions and advice: fdm@nako.de
Do you require a letter of intent? www.nako.de/loi
The German National Cohort (NAKO) – Insight into common diseases
The German National Cohort (NAKO) is Germany’s largest long-term population study. The aim of the study is to gain a better understanding of the development and progression of common diseases and to identify starting points for prevention and health promotion.
In the initial examination, which took place between 2014 and 2019, more than 205,000 randomly selected individuals aged between 20 and 69 at the time were included in the study from the general population. Since then, participants have regularly taken part in comprehensive medical examinations, bio-sampling and surveys. These surveys are conducted in 18 study centres nationwide according to uniform standards. Between survey waves, participants also complete questionnaires on their state of health in order to record any new or progressive illnesses.
Thanks to its longitudinal design, NAKO allows changes in health to be observed over long periods of time – often before diseases become clinically detectable. NAKO e.V. has collected around 27 million biological samples to date and stored them in the biological sample repository at Helmholtz Munich, where their quality is assured for future research projects.
Thanks to its extensive collection of data and biological samples, the NAKO is able to collate information on many areas of disease. The following table shows how frequently various diseases occur within the NAKO cohort, based on the first examination (baseline):
| Medical history – Frequency self-reported at the start of the study (first examination) | number | percent | |
| Cardiovascular diseases | Myocardial infarction | 3.447 | 1,7 percent |
| Angina pectoris | 5.287 | 2,6 percent | |
| Heart failure | 5.258 | 2,6 percent | |
| Cardiac arrhythmia | 18.601 | 9,1 percent | |
| Peripheral arterial disease | 3.709 | 1,8 percent | |
| High blood pressure | 56.060 | 27,3 percent | |
| Metabolic disorders | Diabetis mellitus | 12.301 | 6,0 percent |
| Hyperlipidämie | 48.177 | 23,5 percent | |
| Gout or other uric acid disorders | 8.819 | 4,3 percent | |
| Thyroid disorder | 43.428 | 21,2 percent | |
| Cancer | All types of cancer | 14.831 | 7,2 percent |
| Infectious diseases | Tuberculosis | 2.302 | 1,1 percent |
| Shingles | 21.058 | 10,3 percent | |
| HIV / AIDS | 353 | 0,2 percent | |
| Hepatitis B | 2.826 | 1,4 percent | |
| Hepatitis C | 1.003 | 0,5 percent | |
| Post-herpetic neuralgia | 1.181 | 0,6 percent | |
| Lung diseases | COPD / Chronic Bronchitis | 10.513 | 5,1 percent |
| Asthmatic bronchitis | 17.059 | 8.3 percent | |
| Musculoskeletal disorders | Back pain lasting more than 3 months | 50.036 | 24,4 percent |
| Osteoporosis | 6,271 | 3,1 percent | |
| Osteoarthritis or joint wear | 47.333 | 23,1 percent | |
| Liver and intestinal disorders | Stomach ulcer or duodenal ulcer | 10.521 | 5,1 percent |
| Heartburn or reflux | 35.593 | 17,4 percent | |
| Colitis ulcerosa or Morbus Crohn | 2.270 | 1,1 percent | |
| Gallstones | 15.765 | 7,7 percent | |
| Cirrhosis of the liver | 523 | 0,3 percent | |
| Kidney diseases | Impaired kidney function or chronic kidney failure | 4.493 | 2,2 percent |
| Dialyse | 2.44 | 0,1 percent | |
| Stones in the kidney, ureter or bladder | 11.646 | 5,7 percent | |
| Neurological and psychiatric disorders | Stroke | 3.165 | 1,5 percent |
| Seizure or epileptic seizure | 3.398 | 1,7 percent | |
| Migraine | 24.080 | 11,7 percent | |
| Parkinson’s disease | 288 | 0,1 percent | |
| Depression | 29.769 | 14.5 percent | |
| Anxiety disorder or panic attack | 16.025 | 7,8 percent | |
| Multiple sclerosis | 857 | 0.4 percent | |
| Tinnitus | 24.458 | 11,9 percent | |
| Rare diseases | Rheumatoid arthritis/polyarthritis | 4.033 | 2,0 percent |
| Spondylitis ankylosans/Spondylitis ankylosans | 1.125 | 0,5 percent | |
| Systemischer Lupus erythematodes | 287 | 0,1 percent | |
| Sjögren’s Syndrom | 172 | 0,1 percent | |
| Fibromyalgie | 2.134 | 1,0 percent | |