Scientific Concept of the National Cohort (status ... - Nationale Kohorte

C.1
C.1 Annex: Description of the study centers
such as the renowned heart center, more than half a million inpatients and outpatients are
served per year.
The Institute of medical Informatics, Statistics, and Epidemiology (IMISE) comprises
strong expertise in clinical trials and biometry, medical informatics, and systems biology
and bioinformatics. IMISE is involved in research networks such as “Verbundprojekt ‘Familiärer
Darmkrebs’” and “Deutsche Studiengruppe für hochmaligne Non-Hodgkin Lymphome”
(DSNHL). IMISE offshoots include the Center for Clinical Studies (ZKS), conducting more
than 100 investigator-initiated or industry-led clinical trials, and the Interdisciplinary Center
for Bioinformatics (IZBI). A main goal of IMISE is to contribute to improving health care and
medical science through high-quality clinical trials and research into pathomechanisms of
disease. In addition to the scientific expertise required in this context, a strong IT infrastructure
has been established.
The Institute of laboratory medicine, Clinical Chemistry, and molecular diagnostics
(ILM) with its accredited laboratories provides a wide range of laboratory diagnostic services
for the university hospitals and beyond. ILM performs newborn screening for the states
of Saxony and Thuringia, is involved in numerous clinical trials as the central laboratory, and
has a strong research agenda, for instance, for CVD.
IMISE and ILM have been leading partners in establishing the “Leipzig Research Center
for Diseases of Civilization” (LIFE). In LIFE, population cohorts of children and adults are
recruited along with several disease cohorts, totaling more than 20,000 individuals. Detailed
phenotypic characterization of participants comprises questionnaires and technical assessments
of sociodemographics, disease history, anthropometry, and clinical and laboratory
measurements. LIFE brings together scientists from many institutes and clinics and has
strong links to the IFB Adiposity Diseases and the Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive
and Brain Sciences in Leipzig.
IMISE in conjunction with ILM will run the study center Leipzig. Additional epidemiologic
expertise is available from the study center Halle. We plan to recruit 10,000 participants for
the National Cohort. In addition to level 1 assessments, assessments for levels 2 and 3 are
envisioned.
Description of the study center Leipzig
In Leipzig 10,000 individuals will be recruited and will include inhabitants of the City of
Leipzig with its population of 500,000. A subcohort comprising inhabitants of surrounding
rural areas may be established. The study center has been established on the medical campus
of the University of Leipzig, about 15 min walking distance to the center of the city. It is
directly accessible by several tram lines, and a bus line and by car, linking the center to all
neighborhoods of Leipzig as well as to the main railway station.
The study center comprises rooms for interviews, questionnaires, anthropometry, ultrasound,
echocardiography, ECG, physical assessments, and preanalytical preparation and
interim storage of biosamples. A direct pneumatic delivery link to the main laboratory exists.
Currently, IT infrastructure is being established for large cohort studies including data entry
and storage, data transfer from instruments and instant laboratory measurements, and
tracking of biomaterials.
The location of the study center on the medical campus of the University of Leipzig facilitates
close cooperation with clinicians and scientists and provides options for additional assessments
for subcohorts in specialized facilities.
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