Apply for a Letter of Intent (LOI) or Letter of Support (LOS)

Here, you can apply for support from NAKO e.V. for your scientific projects.

Who can submit a request to NAKO e.V.?

Researchers can submit requests for support in the form of a letter of intent (LOI) or letter of support (LOS) to NAKO e.V. for scientific projects that are clearly related to the German National Cohort (NAKO) and its data or biosamples. These include, in particular, projects that contribute to research into common diseases, aim to use NAKO data and biosamples, or complement the study programme in a meaningful way.

A prerequisite is the willingness to engage in close professional exchange with NAKO e.V. and, if necessary, with participating institutions (e.g. study centres, thematic working groups, member institutions) and to strive for structured cooperation. Existing links to member institutions of NAKO e.V. or ongoing NAKO projects can facilitate the initiation of cooperation.

Scientific projects interested in receiving a letter of support or letter of intent should send their request in English to the NAKO e.V. office, providing the relevant project details and deadlines. The request should be made well in advance of the planned submission of the project application, as a technical and, if necessary, legal review is required.

The request should include:

  • Project title

  • Applicant institution(s)

  • Contact person with contact details

  • Submission deadline for the project application,

  • Type of support letter requested (letter of support or letter of intent)

  • Planned duration and a brief, comprehensible project summary with a description of the connection to NAKO

  • Additional information on data use, planned biosample analyses or the integration of NAKO structures may also be provided.

Upon receiving the request, the NAKO e.V. office first reviews the documents to ensure they are complete and may ask questions about the project, its relevance to NAKO, or planned aspects of use. Based on this, an internal expert review is conducted, focusing in particular on scientific quality, compatibility with the objectives of NAKO e.V., and the protection of participants.

The responsible decision-making body (e.g. board of directors or use & access committee) may then request additional information, approve or reject the cooperation request. If approved, the requested letter of support is drafted and usually sent digitally; if rejected, a brief explanation is provided by email.

Application form

Here you can apply for a letter of itent or support. Please complete the form in English only.

By submitting this form, you agree to our privacy policy.

Any questions? Please feel free to contact us at geschaeftsstelle@nako.de

Further information on the study profile of NAKO can be found at here.