The German National Cohort (NAKO Gesundheitsstudie/NAKO) has been inviting men and women aged between 20 and 69 to 18 study centers throughout Germany since 2014. The participants are medically examined and questioned about their living conditions. At five of the 18 study centers, 30,000 study participants have the opportunity to take part in an MRI examination. The MRI sites include Augsburg, Berlin, Essen, Mannheim and Neubrandenburg.

The NAKO’s aim is to investigate the causes of chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, rheumatism, infectious diseases, and dementia in order to improve prevention, early diagnoses and treatment of these very widely spread diseases. The multicenter project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF), the participating federal states and the Helmholtz Association.

The Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology is responsible for the NAKO MRT Imaging Core for Incidental Findings. We are tasked with training and certifying radiologists, contributing to quality assurance of the study and providing ongoing support on MRI and incidental findings related issues. Additionally, we actively participate in the MRI-study center in Mannheim. 

Team

Prof. Dr. med. Hans-Ulrich Kauczor Head of the Imaging Core for Incidental Findings, Head of the MRI center Mannheim

Dr. rer. nat. Oyunbileg von Stackelberg Head of Scientific Project Management

Dr. rer. nat. Pavlína Miklánková Scientific Project Management

Dr. med. Viktoria Palm Medical Scientist

• NAKO