Twin Research Opportunities
Latest Research Requests Click Here
Would you be interested in helping with a research project involving twins?
Twinsonline is often asked for twins of all ages to come forward to help with research. Often this involves answering questions or possibly being interviewed on the telephone or in person.
Researchers if you have any research opportunities please e-mail giving details of
- What age group you are wanting to research,
- Which sex twins you would like to research (or if it is unimportant please specify this)
- When you will be expecting to do your research
- What people will be expected to do in the study (answer a questionnaire, be interviewed on the telephone, be interviewed or observed in person etc
- Where you will be doing your research (which country)
- Contact numbers, e-mail address etc
- Closing date for entries
- What you can offer the participants if applicable (such as expenses, accommodation, a mention in your publication, a gift or remuneration for their help)
Please note that the research is conducted by external (non-Twinsonline) companies and individuals. Any research you undertake you do so at your own risk Twinsonline cannot be held responsible.
Twins Research Unit, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK
St. Thomas’ Hospital in London have the Twins Research and Epidemiology unit dedicated to Twin research in the UK.
The Twin Research Unit (TRU) at St Thomas’ Hospital London was established in 1992 and is now part of King’s College London. Research focuses on determining the environmental and genetic factors that cause common conditions such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, obesity, stroke, migraine, cataracts, glaucoma and back pain. With over 60 publications in the last 2 years alone, the TRU - with the help of over 10,000 twins - has made a significant contribution to science and our understanding of what causes common diseases. We hope our discoveries will further aid the development of future potential therapies for such diseases. Our achievements have gained considerable press coverage and we have featured a number of times on BBC1’s CityHospital. The TRU is supported by The Wellcome Trust, Arthritis Research Campaign, British Heart Foundation, Chronic Disease Research Foundation, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, and the European Commission.
In order to participate in our ongoing research, we ask same-sexed twins (identical and non-identical twins, male or female, age 16 and older) to participate in a research visit at St. Thomas’ Hospital London, Monday to Friday. The visit involves completing questionnaires and taking measurements such as height, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels. We also carry out a bone mineral density scan and an eye test and other tests depending on our research areas at the time. We are able to forward the clinical results to you and your GP (if agreed) – a great health check our twins tell us! All data collected and used as part of the study is, of course, anonymous.
Twins who are interested in contributing to research but are unable to come to St Thomas,’ are still invited to receive our newsletter and complete our questionnaire which is posted out annually. However, for us to be able to use the information both twins in a twin pair must agree to participate in the research. Our newsletter summarises our research and findings and also features a ‘Twins in the News’ section and new publications about twins. We hope you enjoy it. For further information, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!
- Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology Unit
- King’s College London
- St Thomas’ Campus,
- Lambeth Palace Road,
- London
- SE1 7EH
TEL: 0207 188 5555
Email: twinrecruitment@gstt.nhs.uk
Website: http://www.twinsuk.ac.uk/
North West Twin Patent Foramen Ovale Study: investigating a common variant in the structure of the heart affecting 1 in 4 people 
Are you eligible for this study?
You need to be either identical or non-identical twins of either sex aged 18 years or older.
What are we studying?
A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a flap valve that can allow blood to flow between the upper chambers of the heart. The PFO serves a useful function when we are babies in the womb, but is redundant after birth and usually closes up by the age of 2 years. However, in 1 in 4 people the PFO remains open. Most people with this condition live entirely normal lives, but it has been noted that PFOs are more common in some people that experience migraine, have varicose veins or have had a stroke at a young age. The reasons for this are not clear. We wish to understand the role that PFOs may play in these conditions by studying if PFOs are inherited and the genes that may be involved in this.
What will you have to do?
You will be asked to complete a short health questionnaire and attend the University Hospital of South Manchester (United Kingdom) for a single 80-minute study visit. You will have a simple blood test, a contrast ultrasound test to look for a PFO and a Doppler ultrasound test to check for varicose veins. These tests are minimally invasive and do not cause discomfort.
Will you be paid to take part?
We are not able to pay you for your time but we will be able to compensate you for your travel expenses (either fully or in part depending on the distance you have travelled) and provide refreshments.
Recruitment for this study is ongoing.
For further information, please contact:
Dr Rockesh Gurtu
Cardiovascular Research Fellow
Tel: 0161 291 5846
Email: Rockesh.Gurtu@manchester.ac.uk
Wanted Twins for Research into Diabetes
The British Diabetic Twin Study is an ongoing study and we would be most grateful for any advertisement and help you could provide to help us recruit more twins.
- We are looking for Twins with Diabetes as well as Healthy Twins
- We are interested in Both Males as well as Female Twins
- Our Research is ongoing and presently we are investigating Epigenetic changes in Twins.
- Participants will be expected to be interviewed as well as to give a small blood and buccal cell sample the latter using a tooth brush.
- The study is being performed at Barts and The London Hospital Queen Mary University of London.
- ·Our Contact details are: Administrator Stephanie Cunningham email: Stephanie.cunningham@qmul.ac.uk ; Tel:02078822482 or 02078822365
- We are willing to pay for reasonable travel as well as subsistence expenses or we can travel to the Twins whichever is preferable. Participants will be acknowledged in future publications but individuals cannot be named for anonymity.
- Best Regards
Mohammed I Hawa
©Copyright Sarah Cooper for Twinsonline www.twinsonline.org.uk 2012 All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer:- Twinsonline is here as a guide only - anything you do you do at your own risk
If you have a health concern please go see the relevant member of your health team (GP, Health Visitor, Midwife, Obstetrician)
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