Tag: YoungNAKO

Individual brain changes associated with depression and anxiety follow common patterns

Press release from the Central Institute for Mental Health (CIMH) I Depression and anxiety disorders are associated with individual changes in brain structure. A study involving more than 50,000 MRI scans reveals common patterns at the group level. An international study involving the Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH) shows that depression and anxiety disorders […]

YoungNAKO: Insights into the practical aspects of biosample processing

The course module ‘Biosample collection and analysis pipelines’ of the YoungNAKO graduate programme took place in Hanover as a face-to-face event, combining specialist input with practical insights and in-depth discussion. The participants gained a direct insight into the work behind the scenes and were able to better understand the processes involved in handling NAKO biological […]

Kick-off meeting for the second cohort of the YoungNAKO Graduate Programme

On 4 and 5 May 2026 early-career researchers from the second cohort* of the YoungNAKO  Graduate Programme met for the first time. The two-day kick-off meeting was dedicated to getting to know one another, exchanging ideas on research topics and jointly planning future activities. Getting to know one another across disciplinary boundaries The day started […]

Second Epi Study Nurse course successfully completed

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 […]

Faces of YoungNAKO: Environment, health and the search for patterns

How does our environment affect our health? For Asmaa Alselwi, a doctoral student at Helmholtz Munich, this question is central. Her goal is to reveal complex relationships and derive possible courses of action from them. In this interview, she talks about what fascinates her about epidemiological research, how she came to YoungNAKO, and why good […]

Mental health during the pandemic: NAKO shows increased burden

A recent analysis of the German National Cohort (NAKO) of around 80,000 adults shows that while the majority of NAKO participants kept their mental health stable during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and stress increased until 2022 – especially among younger adults under the age of 40 and among women. […]

Faces of YoungNAKO: Research between city air, statistics and health relevance 

His path into research was anything but coincidental. He combines technical expertise from his bachelor’s degree in medical information management with health science perspectives from his master’s degree in public health in Innsbruck, a combination that gives him a particularly broad perspective today.  Why do some people get ill – and others don’t?  From an […]

Faces of YoungNAKO: “We bring a breath of fresh air and new perspectives”

Sehajpreet is a doctoral researcher in radiation epidemiology. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and her Master’s in Epidemiology at the University of Bremen Which aspects are most important to you in your work? “The meaningfulness and usefulness of science in improving the health of others, especially in the field of radiation protection. […]

Register now for the information event on the YoungNAKO graduate programme

Doctoral students working with large-scale population-based cohort studies like the German National Cohort (NAKO) are cordially invited to an online information event on the YoungNAKO graduate programme on 25 March. Please register by e-mail. Participation is free of charge. How is the training programme for early career researchers structured? What specific skills or knowledge can […]