The German contribution to EPIC comes from two study centres, one in Heidelberg and one in Potsdam near Berlin. Recruitment took place between 1994 and 1998 and blood was collected from all participants.
Heidelberg: Participants are drawn from a random sample of the general population of the Heidelberg area.
Potsdam: Recruitment in Potsdam took place between August 1994 and September 1998. There are 27,548 participants and 26,448 gave a blood sample.

Follow-up for the identification of cancer cases relies on a number of methods including health insurance records, cancer and pathology registries and active follow-up through participants and their next of kin. By the end of 2002, 817 participants had died (380 for Heidelberg; 437 for Potsdam) and 1532 new cases of cancer had been diagnosed.
Heidelberg: Follow-up is active and based on a 4-stage strategy, including written reminders and telephone calls for the return of the follow-up questionnaire. By end of 2008, 1221 participants had died; 1837 incident cancer cases had been diagnosed.
Potsdam: Follow-up questionnaires are mailed to each participant every two years and reminders are sent to encourage participants to return the questionnaires. The majority of cohort members are linked to a local cancer registry for identification of the majority of cancers. Those not covered by the registry require contact with local physicians.