April 8, 2024

Database Workshop Meeting in Karlskrona

On April 8-9, NEAR database managers met at Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) in Karlskrona for a two-day workshop onsite and online. The first day started with welcoming and updating everyone about recent NEAR activities. This was followed by two well-attended presentations by Robert Thiesmeier, who discussed missing data methods, and Debora Rizzuto who presented an overview of NEAR. The presentations generated many questions and interest in using NEAR data. The rest of the afternoon was spent discussing non-response rates across all studies, with database managers contributing their insights and recommendations. As the day ended, the group enjoyed dinner at the restaurant “Nivå” in Karlskrona’s picturesque main square.

On the second day, the focus shifted to internal briefings and dialogues pertinent to the NEAR application process. Bolin Wu addressed improving workflow processes for handling data requests and delivery. Additionally, Basile Rommes presented the latest NEAR platform modifications. The session concluded with a roundup of the latest updates from the local databases and NEAR Central. The two days were valuable and productive, culminating in decisions about request management, data preparation, and delivery processes related to secure data transfers. The participants left energized and inspired to continue working together on improving NEAR’s database workflow processes.


Photos: Linnea Sjöberg

More activities

June 1, 2026

Newly Appointed Steering Group

We are pleased to announce the appointment of a new NEAR Steering Group, effective from 26 May 2026 to 31 December 2029. The Steering Group brings together leading national and international expertise across geriatrics, epidemiology, psychology, and life sciences, reflecting NEAR’s interdisciplinary mission and global outlook. Kaare Christensen and Luigi Ferrucci remain on the Steering […]

March 24, 2026

Uppsala University is joining NEAR!

NEAR is happy to share that we are expanding to include Uppsala University and two additional databases: the Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men (ULSAM) and the Healthy Ageing Initiative (HAI). HAI is led by Peter Nordström and Anna Nordström, and ULSAM is also led by Peter Nordström. ULSAM is a population-based longitudinal cohort study […]

December 11, 2025

NEAR Partners with Spanish Seniors-Enrica study

As aging is a global phenomenon with challenges that transcend borders, NEAR views building strong international partnerships with similar research networks and studies as essential. Thus, we’re happy to announce our new partnership with the Spanish Seniors-Enrica study. What is Seniors-Enrica? Seniors-Enrica is a national study on nutrition and cardiovascular risk factors, featuring two cohorts: […]