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A cohort is the constitution of a group of subjects sharing a certain number of characteristics, followed longitudinally at the individual level, according to a pre-established protocol. In France there are a few large cohorts, carried out either in the general population or by recruiting subjects with particular disorders. Platforms for research in life sciences, health, and education, these cohorts, funded for ten years, make it possible to set up databases that can be shared and scaled. Many questions, concerning in particular the biological, medical, social, and environmental determinants of diseases or disorders, and their interactions, can thus benefit from new approaches. The parallel creation of biological banks, the use of new communication technologies, data sharing and international cooperation, as well as a longitudinal approach strengthen the research system.