Cohort/Data Description
Cohort
Our cohort currently comprises 11, 000 twins registered on our database, of which 6,000 are participating actively aged 16 to 100 with approximately equal numbers of identical (MZ) and non-identical (DZ) twins, predominantly female (80%) for historical reasons. Detailed collection of physical, physiological, behavioural and lifestyle data is carried out via twin visits to the DTR by a highly experienced team of researchers, and the completion of self-administered questionnaires, which are sent to the volunteers for completion every six months. All studies have ethical approval from GSTT Ethics Committee.
Data
We have collected extensive biological and questionnaire data on several hundred phenotypes related to common diseased or intermediate traits and it is also the most highly and deeply genotyped cohort in the world.
All potential collaborators can access a list of phenotypes descriptions here.
A summary of data available on a large number of twins is listed below:
Genotypic Data
- GWAS Illumina ~6000
- Gene Expression ~850 (fat, LCL, skin)
- Sequence Data (future)
Samples
- DNA
- Cell Lines
- Serum
- Plasma
- Urine
The DTR would like to state that it cannot guarantee data exclusivity.
If there is a possibility of projects overlapping or other investigators/groups working on related topics, the steering committee may put you in contact with these groups and invite you to discuss your ideas before you proceed with your request. In certain instances where the collaborator funds the collection of specific data, we will establish an embargo period for you to work exclusively on the data of either six months for you to work with your data or after your first publication is accepted (whenever comes first) before the data are made available to other potential collaborators.
