TwinsUK

TwinsUK is a United Kingdom-based twin registry and research resource that was established in 1992. It is one of the largest twin registries in the world, with over 13,000 registered twins. The registry is used for a wide range of medical research studies, particularly those related to genetics and epigenetics.

History

TwinsUK was founded by Professor Tim Spector, a genetic epidemiologist at King's College London. The registry was initially established to study the genetic and environmental causes of osteoarthritis, but has since expanded to include research on a wide range of diseases and health conditions.

Research

TwinsUK has contributed to numerous significant scientific discoveries. The registry's unique structure allows researchers to control for genetic factors and focus on environmental influences on disease. This has led to important findings in areas such as ageing, microbiome, metabolism, and immune system function.

In addition to its own research, TwinsUK collaborates with other research institutions and contributes data to international research consortia. The registry's data is also made available to external researchers through a data access process.

Structure and Funding

TwinsUK is based at the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology at King's College London. The registry is funded through a combination of grants from the Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council, and other sources.

See Also

• Twin study
• Genetic epidemiology
• King's College London