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GNC Study Center Berlin-South/Brandenburg Welcomes 10,000th Study Participant

With the 10,000th participant, Germany’s largest health study, the German National Cohort Health Study (GNC, German abbreviation: NAKO), is now also entering the second round in the south of Berlin. "We are very pleased to have achieved our recruitment target after four years and to be able to start the follow-up examinations in April," said Dr. Sylvia Gastell, head of the GNC Study Center in Berlin-Steglitz, which is operated by the DZD partner German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE). The second examination phase here will last until the end of 2022.

On March 18, 2019 the GNC team welcomed the 10,000th study participant. Source: DIfE

A total of 200,000 randomly selected test persons aged 20 to 69 are to participate in the GNC Health Study throughout Germany. They will be comprehensively examined and followed up for up to 30 years. The aim of the study is to investigate the causes of typical widespread diseases such as cancer, dementia and diabetes in order to develop new prevention and treatment strategies. In addition to the Steglitz Study Center, there are two other examination centers in Berlin-Mitte and Berlin-North, each of which also recruit 10,000 participants.

Expertise in nutritional behavior and physical activity
DIfE operates the study center responsible for Berlin-South and Brandenburg on Campus Benjamin Franklin of the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. It has a leading role in the examination modules, which record dietary behavior and physical activity. Already during the pilot phase, DIfE developed appropriate survey and statistical analysis methods. During the main phase it shall be responsible for these thematic areas and shall lead the corresponding expert and competence groups.

GNC Health Study examination program
The 10,000th participant, Daniel Kühl, was welcomed by the GNC team in Steglitz on March 18, 2018: "I didn’t hesitate to participate in the study, and I will be sure to come back for the follow-up examination,“ said Kühl. He is eagerly awaiting the results of the extensive tests conducted on him by the specially trained specialist personnel. The initial examination takes about three to five hours. The participants must submit blood, urine and stool samples, are examined extensively and interviewed about their lifestyle. A randomly selected subgroup will subsequently take part in an extended program that includes an ultrasound examination of the heart and abdominal fat, a fitness test, hearing and smell tests, an eye examination and a whole-body MRI.

SAVE THE DATE
GNC Health Study – Launch of the Follow-up Examinations

On Tuesday, May 21, 2019, Dr. Sylvia Gastell will give a lecture on the occasion of the interim goal achieved by the GNC Study Center Berlin- South/Brandenburg. The focus will also be on the special role of DIfE in the GNC Health Study.

Time: 1:00 p.m.
Venue: DIfE, Large Conference Center
Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116
14558 Nuthetal

Directions on how to get to DIfE can be found at http://www.dife.de/kontakt/anfahrt.php

The event is open to the public and free of charge. Please register by May 14,  2019 at presse(at)dife.de or Phone: 033200 88 2335.