The second Epi Study Nurse (ESN) course for the German National Cohort (NAKO) has come to a successful conclusion. We now wish the participants every success for the final exam, which will take place between 4 and 6 May 2026.
As in the first course, the group of participants comprised staff from various NAKO member institutions as well as external partner organisations, including the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL). The interdisciplinary exchange and the diverse perspectives drawn from practical research work significantly enriched the course content.
The tried-and-tested course format combines online sessions with several face-to-face sessions. It covers key topics such as the fundamentals of epidemiology, quality management, data protection, ethics and data management, as well as practical aspects of conducting studies, including communication, questionnaires and the handling of biological samples and research findings. New to the programme of the second course was an additional module on recruitment, delivered by Dr Stefan Rach, a researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS.
The Epi Study Nurse course provides practical training in the fundamentals of Good Epidemiological Practice (GEP) and is specifically aimed at non-medical study staff. The aim is to strengthen the quality and standardisation of epidemiological studies in the long term through sound training. The course was initiated by Dr Sylvia Gastell, Head of the NAKO Study Centre Berlin-South and researcher at the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, and developed in close collaboration with the Robert Koch Institute and the professional associations DGEpi, GMDS and DGSMP.
“The Epi Study Nurse course is a key component in ensuring the long-term transfer of knowledge within the German National Cohort (NAKO) and beyond. As part of our so-called YoungNAKO programme, we specifically support the next generation of professionals in epidemiological research. This is because well-qualified study staff are a key prerequisite for high-quality data and thus for the scientific success of epidemiological studies,” emphasises Prof. Dr Tamara Schikowski, a member of the Board of Directors of NAKO e.V. and, together with Sylvia Gastell, responsible for organising the course.
Epi Study Nurse
The training programme is aimed at investigators, data managers and laboratory staff involved in the NAKO Staff from other epidemiological studies are also welcome to participate. The Epi Study Nurse course is delivered as a block course with face-to-face modules at least once a year.
Co-operation partner:
Robert Koch-Institute (RKI)
German Society for Epidemiology (DGEpi)
German Association for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology (GMDS)
German Society for Social Medicine and Prevention (DGSMP)
Target group: Non-physician team members of the German National Cohort (NAKO) and other epidemiological studies
Format: Two two-day and one three-day classroom courses, plus two shorter online meetings and a three-day period for working on exam questions.
Language: German
Place for the face-to-face courses:
German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE), Potsdam-Rehbrücke
Dates: Registration for 2027 is open.
Registration and Contact: epistudynurse@nako.de
Organisation
Prof. Dr. Tamara Schikowski
Dr. Sylvia Gastell
Publication
Epidemiologische Study Nurse (ESN) – ein Fortbildungskurs für Mitarbeitende in epidemiologischen Studien. Idee, Entwicklung, Pilotierung | Publisso