Links to Related Topics

There are many websites with information on twins, research involving twins, and multiple birth organisations. We have listed some sites below that you may find interesting. Please note that ISTS is not responsible for the content of the sites listed and provides these addresses for your information and interest only. Due to the large number of sites, it is impossible to closely monitor all of them. If you feel that something listed on any site is inappropriate or if you would like to have a site considered for addition, please notify us by emailing us at ists@qimr.edu.au.

Please click on the links below:

International Council of Multiple Birth Organizations (ICOMBO)

Twin Registers and Research

Worldwide Multiple Birth Support Organizations

Health Issues

Multiple Birth Bereavement Support

International Council of Multiple Birth Organizations (ICOMBO)

ICOMBO is a working group of the International Society for Twin Studies (ISTS).

Twin Registers and Research

AUSTRALIA

·
Australian Twin ADHD Project (ATAP)

· Australian Twin Register

· Genetic Epidemiology Group of The Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia

· Western Australian Twin Register

BELGIUM

· East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey

e-mail:c.derom@pi.de

CANADA

·
University of British Columbia Twin Project

CHILE

·
Chilean School-Age Children Twin Registry

CHINA

· Chinese National Twin Program (CNTP)

e-mail:cchp@public3.bta.net.cn

· Guangzhou Twin Registry

DENMARK

·
The Danish Twin Registry

GERMANY

·
Berlin Twin Register

· German Observational Study of Adult Twins (GOSAT) and the Bielefeld Longitudinal Study of Adult Twins (BiLSAT)

e-mail:angleitner@uni-bielefeld.de

FINLAND

·
Finnish Twin Cohort Study

ISRAEL

·
The Longitudinal Israeli Study of Twins

ITALY

·
Italian Twin Register

· Register of Italian Twin Athletes (RITA)

e-mail:casini@iusm.it

· Twin Register of Rome (TERRY)

e-mail:casini@iusm.it

JAPAN

· Osaka University Aged Twin Registry

e-mail:hayakawa@sahs.med.osaka-u.ac.jp

MALAYSIA

·
National Malaysian Twin Registry

e-mail:twinregistry@rcmp.unikl.edu.my

NETHERLANDS

·
Netherlands Twin Register

NORWAY

· Norway Twin Registries

e-mail:mina.bergem@psykiatri.uio.no

· The NIPH Twin Panel

e-mail:jennifer.harris@folkehelsa.no

SOUTH KOREA

·
Korean Twin Study (Recently Updated)

· Seoul Twin Family Study

SPAIN

·
The Murcia Twin Registry

SRI LANKA

·
National Twin Registry of Sri Lanka

· National Twin Registry of Sri Lanka_2

SWEDEN

·
The Swedish Twin Registry

· The Swedish Young Male Twins Study

e-mail:Finn.rasmussen@ki.se

UNITED KINGDOM

·
St Thomas' Twin Research Unit

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 City Hospital. 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 (LINK) 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.

e-mail:twinrecruitment@gstt.nhs.uk

Newsletter Autumn 2006.

· Twins' Early Development Study (TEDS)

e-mail:a.trouton@iop.kcl.ac.uk

· Northern Region Multiple Pregnancy Register

e-mail:Christopher.Wright@ncl.ac.uk

· Twin study of bipolar disorder

at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London

e-mail:a.trouton@iop.kcl.ac.uk

· Twin study of the development of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

at the Unit of Diabetes, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London

e-mail: Ms Jarka Valasheek

· Twin Study of Children with Language, Reading and Communication Problems

at the University of Oxford

e-mail: Ms Elaine Gray

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

·
California Twin Program

· Colorado Twin Registry

· Fullerton Virtual Twin Study

· Georgia Cardiovascular Twin Study

· International Twin Study

e-mail:tmack@usc.edu

· Michigan State University Twin Registry (MSUTR)

· Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry

· Minnesota Twin Family Study (MTFS)

· Minnesota Twin Registry

· National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council (NAS-NRC) Twin Registry

· NAS-NRC Twin Registry

· The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health)

· NY Obesity Research Center Child Twin Registry (Project "Grow-2-Gether")

· Pittsburgh Registry of Infant Multiplets

· San Diego twin blood pressure study at UCSD

· Southern California Twin Register

· Southern Illinois Twins

· University of Washington Twin Registry

· Vietnam Era Twin (VET) Registry

e-mail: VETR@va.gov

· Wisconsin Twin Project

Worldwide Multiple Birth Support Organizations

· Argentina - Multifamilias

Multifamilias is the first support foundation for multiple birth parents. Contact: master@multifamilias.org.ar

· Argentina - Padres Múltiples

Parents of Multiples is a young support organization for multiple birth parents whose main purposes are: to share scientific information, everyday experiences, and give support in those moments when it is needed. Contact: informes@padresmultiples.com.ar

Australian Multiple Birth Association

· Center for Study of Multiple Birth

· Council for Multiple Birth Organizations COMBO News November 2006.

Czechoslovakia Multiple Birth Group

The Finnish Society for Families of Multiples

(in Finnish)

· Hungarian Multiple Births

Contact info: gazso@ikresek.hu

· Italian Parents of Twins and Multiples Association - Il Mondo dei Gemelli

The first Association in Italy that specifically refers to families with multiples. Through the Association's activities, it hopes to help many families by soliciting institutions, media and firm interests.

· Jumeaux Infos

(French language newspaper for parents of twins, triplets and more)

· MOST (Mothers of Supertwins), Inc.

PO Box 306, East Islip, NY 11730-0306.

Telephone: +1 631 859 1110 Email: Info@MOSTonline.org Website: www.MOSTonline.org

MOST in an international non-profit organization and support network for families who have or are expecting triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets, or more. MOST provides information, resources, empathy, and good humor during pregnancy, infancy, toddlerhood, and school age.

Multiple Births Canada / Naissances Multiples Canada

(previously Parents of Multiple Births Association (POMBA) Canada)

· Multiple Births Foundation

Multiple Births: Prenatal Education and Bereavement Support

This Web Site offers information regarding multiple births. It includes pregnancy and post-natal information and, from the point of view of new parents, it attempts to address some of your questions and concerns.

South Africa Multiple Birth Association

Twintalk~SA

Twintalk~SA was established in October 2005, by Jacqui, a divorced mother of twin daughters (age 7) and a son (9 years). Twintalk~SA is a strictly non-profit organization which hopes to unite parents of multiples, both nationally and internationally and provide a base of support, information and assistance. Founder: Jacqui Thomas, South Africa. Email: jacqui_t@absamail.co.za

Twin Hope

The Twins Foundation

Twins magazine

Twins Network

TwinsUK

TwinsUK is a brand new company dedicated to providing a comprehensive service to families with twins or more from pregnancy to pre-school. From Twins Tips advice to exclusive TwinKits™ and the perfect gifts for two, our extensive range of practical and innovative products are designed to make life a little easier and more enjoyable!

Talk about Twins

In-depth, well-researched articles for parents of multiples on a variety of topics from pregnancy and discipline to education and family travel. Included are a variety of printable checklists specifically to help new parents of multiples get organized.

Although a joyous time, there are sometimes risks in multiple births. Hence this Web Site also offers bereavement support for parents who have lost one, more or all of their multiple birth children during pregnancy or in infancy.

Health Issues

Low Birth Weight - Ottawa Coalition for the Prevention of Low Birth Weight

Everything you want or need to know about Low Birth Weight prevention with downloadable information in multiple different languages.

· Premature and Preterm Babies

· More on Premature and Preterm Babies

· PreemieCare

PreemieCare is a relatively new division of MOST. The mission of PreemieCare is to educate, support and offer additional resources for families of babies born preterm. Specifically for the year 2004/2005, PreemieCare's focus has been on RSV awareness and prevention. Issues such as breastfeeding preemies, parenting in the NICU, early intervention and much more are also addressed by PreemieCare.

· Conjoined Twins

· Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (UK)

-United Kingdom Site

· Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (Australia)

-Australian Site providing support for families whose babies suffered from Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrom (TTTS)