“Together for a healthy Germany” – with this  purpose in mind, the Helmholtz Association, university-based partners and renowned research facilities have joined forces to launch the largest Germany-wide health study – the NAKO Gesundheitsstudie.

This study aims to investigate the origins of common illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, dementia, infections and diseases of the immune system. Individuals from all over Germany will be  examined and interviewed concerning their lifestyle habits such as physical activity, smoking, nutrition and profession. Moreover, various biospecimens such as blood-, urine-, stool-, saliva-samples as well as nasal swabs will be taken and stored for future research in a central bio-sample bank.

After 4 years, all participants will be invited for a second examination and interview at the study centre. In the course of the planned follow-up observation of up to 20 years, diseases will have emerged among many participants which can then be linked with the data collected earlier.  The study thus offers unique opportunities for a plethora of scientific examinations to facilitate improved early detection, prevention and treatment of diseases. The study will be financed by public funds from the Federal Ministry for Education and Research, the Helmholtz Association and Federal State Governments. More information: www.nako.de

An additional focus of the Clinical Research Center is to conduct research on infectious diseases and disorders of the immune system. The study site Hannover will be coordinated by the Department of Epidemiology at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research under the scientific supervision of Prof. Dr. Gérard Krause.

The facilities of the Clinical Research Center are located in the newly formed research centre in Feodor-Lynen Street 15 in Hannover. Three strong partners - HZI, Fraunhofer ITEM and MHH - got together and founded the Clinical Research Center Hannover (CRC). Since May 2014 study participants are being examined.