NAKO Health Study
Germany's Largest Population Study
As part of the NAKO Health Study, researchers at 18 study centers across Germany are investigating the causes, progression, and prevention of common diseases. Unique health data is generated through repeated examinations, biosamples collection, and long-term follow-up.
A total of 205,000 participants—including around 10,000 at the Freiburg site—contribute blood samples, medical imaging, and comprehensive surveys on lifestyle, physical activity, nutrition, environmental conditions, and genetic factors. This provides valuable insights into the diverse influences on our health.
The findings derived from this database regarding risk factors, mechanisms, and prevention are incorporated into multicenter analyses for research, health care, and medical treatment. Detailed Information on scientific objectives, publications, and news can be found at www.nako.de. Publications involving our institute are also available in our Publications section.
Researchers from Freiburg are actively engaged in the NAKO Health Study expert groups, playing a key role in shaping scientific progress. Scientists from the Medical Center – University of Freiburg lead the expert groups for Kidney Diseases and Physiology as well as MRI, and are represented in numerous other working groups:
- Ophthalmic Diseases
- Anthropometry
- Biomaterials and Laboratory analyses
- Soccer
- Infectious Diseases
- Cancer
- Lung Diseases
- Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
- OMICS
- Endpoint Validation Committee for “Cancer”
The goal of this collaboration is to answer specific research questions, optimize structures and processes, and provide new impetus for research and prevention. In this way, the Freiburg site contributes significantly to the further development and quality of the NAKO Health Study beyond the activities of the local study center.
Examinations are conducted at intervals of several years and include surveys, physical and functional measurements, medical imaging, and biosamples. Invitations and the specific details vary depending on the examination phase. Further details about specific examination modules and additional information for participants can be found at centrally at www.nako.de.
Participants who have already completed the second examination phase will be invited successively and contacted by our team to schedule an appointment. The most important information for your next visit has been summarized in a brochure. For up-to-date information or questions regarding appointment scheduling, the team at our study center is available to assist you.Participants who have already completed the second phase will be invited successively and contacted by our team to schedule an appointment. The most important information for your next visit has been summarized in a brochure. For up-to-date information or questions regarding appointment scheduling, the team at our study center is available to assist you.
If you are coming to our study center by car, please take into account the current construction work around the building when looking for parking.
The reporting of results follows established NAKO guidelines is provided exclusively for the examinations designated for this purpose. Medical diagnoses and treatments are not part of the study.
At five study centers, a total of 30,000 participants also underwent an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, which provides additional insights into the early detection of health risks. MRI examination within the NAKO Health Study are conducted solely for research purposes; they are not designed for clinical diagnosis or the monitoring of disease progression.
Participants from the Freiburg study center who took part in both the baseline and the second follow-up examinations have the option of participating in the third examination phase at the Mannheim MRI site. The Freiburg Imaging Core —part of the Department of Radiology at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg —is responsible for the overall coordination of the additional MRI examinations for the NAKO study under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Fabian Bamberg.
In addition to general coordination, the Freiburg Imaging Core manages quality assurance and control, including the monitoring of MRI study centers as well as training and certifying the MRI study personnel.
At the Freiburg Study Center, a total of 10,000 citizens from Freiburg and the district of Emmendingen were randomly selected and invited to participate through local residents’ registration offices. A total of 10,110 people participated in the baseline examination at our study center, with 7,310 people returning for the first follow-up. With the start of the third examination phase in mid-2024, we are now once again sending out invitations to participants to our study center.
Would you like to know who will be welcoming you, or do you have questions about your appointment? Please feel free to contact our staff!
In addition to public funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMFTR), the Helmholtz Association, and the participating federal states, the Medical Center – University of Freiburg itself makes a significant contribution to financing the NAKO Health Study. These strategic investments enable state-of-the-art research within one of Germany’s most significant projects for improving healthcare and prevention. This sustainable investment underscores the Medical Centers’s dedication to fostering innovative projects and advancing health research in the long term.
» Numerous companies in Germany grant their employees time off to participate in examinations at NAKO Study Centers, thereby making a vital contribution to improving public health. Similarly, employees of the Medical Center – University of Freiburg are given time off for the duration of their study off. The Medical Director, Prof. Frederik Wenz, views support for the NAKO Health Study as a strong, positive signal—for research, for public health, and for the Medical Center’s role as a modern, socially responsible employer.
General information (study objectives, organization, data protection) and the latest findings and news can be found centrally at www.nako.de.
Stay up to date with the latest NAKO via NAKO Update, press releases, or on social media: Instagram · Facebook · LinkedIn · YouTube · Bluesky.