Submit your request
Email usDo you need participants for your study?
You can recruit them via Hersenonderzoek.nl
We support you in recruiting, inviting, and pre-screening suitable candidates.
Email us and let us know which participants you are looking for.
We can help you with:
- Recruitment
- Pre-screening
- Dissemination
Participants from across the Netherlands
More than 40,000 people from across the Netherlands are registered with us. They want to contribute to brain research. Let us know who you are looking for, and we will connect you with them.
- 40,000+ registrants
- Living across the Netherlands
- Ages 18–99
- Healthy individuals and people with diagnoses
- Medical background known
- Demographic background known
- Lifestyle information available
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Collaborations
In recent years, we have supported these hospitals, universities, and research centers in recruiting participants for various studies, both digital and on-site.
Recruitment
More than 40,000 people are registered with Hersenonderzoek.nl. When signing up, they complete an intake questionnaire. Based on this information, we select suitable participants for researchers. When a study starts, they receive an invitation and decide for themselves whether to take part.
Data Request Form (DRF)
The DRF gives you an overview of available data for pre-screening. Extra selection criteria can be added. Each new request starts with this form, which helps us estimate suitable participants and, if needed, arrange a non-binding intake meeting with the PI to discuss the project.
Procedure
All Hersenonderzoek.nl participants are listed in our XS5 portal. When someone signs up for your study, their contact details become visible. You then have one week to include or exclude them. The portal’s status updates help us track recruitment progress together.
Setting up a project usually takes 1–2 months. During this time, we handle paperwork, invitations, and the study webpage. The duration of our service proposal is 6 to 12 months. If an extension is required or desired, we will discuss it in a timely manner.
The costs for a PhD candidate spending time on recruitment are much higher than recruiting through Hersenonderzoek.nl. And it’s faster too!
Costs
We start with a non-binding, free intake meeting to discuss your needs and requirements. We check whether the participants you are looking for are in our registry and estimate how many people could sign up for your type of study within the desired timeframe. Project costs start at €5,000 excluding VAT. This covers setting up the project and contacting the participant pool. For more complex projects, such as matching or recruitment across multiple locations, costs may be higher. We are happy to advise you and always provide a tailored quote.
In addition, we discuss the role we can play in keeping participants engaged and in the dissemination of your research results.
Tip
Are you at the stage of applying for funding for your future study? It’s a good idea to include recruitment and dissemination in your application. Hersenonderzoek.nl can serve as a partner in this process. Our experience shows that funders such as the Hersenstichting, Alzheimer Nederland, and ZonMw greatly value this. We are happy to advise you on different approaches and the best way to phrase it.
This is how it works
Are you interested in collaborating with Hersenonderzoek.nl? We would be happy to show you how it works through a demo study.
When our register doesn’t cover your target group
If our register doesn’t provide enough suitable participants, we can create a tailored recruitment campaign. We use our channels to attract the right people and connect them to your study once they register.
We are happy to inform you about the different options available.
Sharing your research results
At Hersenonderzoek.nl, we are happy to support you with dissemination. In a standard project, we provide two dissemination moments in the form of an article and/or video.
There are many other ways to bring your research to the attention of the general public. Think of our newsletter with over 30,000 subscribers, a series of articles, update and results videos, Q&As, livestreams, podcasts, participant experiences, and events. Even if you are not recruiting through Hersenonderzoek.nl or are conducting fundamental research, we can assist you.
Would you like to share the progress and results of your study? Let us know, and we can work together on a tailored dissemination plan.
Inclusions suddenly went almost three times faster
Looking for people with a family history of dementia willing to undergo a lumbar puncture.
How it all began
Hersenonderzoek.nl was born out of the frustration of researchers at the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam.
We know better than anyone how much time, money, posters, ads, phone calls, and emails research assistants spend trying to find the right participants. Yet many are still excluded during (pre-)screening. And once you’ve included participants, your colleagues cannot simply approach them after your study—they have to start the process all over again.
It doesn’t have to be this way. That’s why we set up this registry: a national resource that all Dutch brain researchers can use. Our goal is to accelerate solutions for brain diseases.
Read how researchers experience recruitment through Hersenonderzoek.nl (in Dutch).
Over 50,000 participants included
We have supported over 90 brain researchers in finding the right participants, resulting in more than 50,000 inclusions.
- Both online and on-site studies
- Research on dementia, depression, aging, addiction, anxiety, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s, OCD, cluster headaches, sleep, MS, and more
- From neuropsychological assessments to online tests and questionnaires, and from behavioral intervention studies to clinical trials
- Supporting universities, academic hospitals, and other research institutes across the country; from Maastricht University to UMCG, and from NKI to SWOV and the Brain Research Center
We were able to reach thousands of people across the Netherlands in a short time for our online survey.
Over 5,700 people completed Laura’s survey.
What our researchers say
We asked Laura from the LifeBrain study to share her experience with recruitment via Hersenonderzoek.nl (and yes, this makes us very happy!):
“Your database is a goldmine, with people from all age groups and backgrounds that are otherwise hard to reach.
I also found your support structured, fast, and professional. You responded quickly and appropriately to participants’ questions and comments. The website looks attractive and works well.
I’ve already recommended you to a colleague who is working on participant inclusion—hope they reach out to you! Nothing but praise, and I look forward to working with you again in the future.”
Over 5,700 people participated in Laura’s online survey.
Can we help you too?
Curious if we can help you too? Don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re happy to explore the possibilities with you
Newsletter for researchers (in Dutch)
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