Healthier kids: Insights from twin research

Twins and researchers gathered for a recent Australian-first conference, Healthier kids: Insights from twin research, hosted by the University of Melbourne and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. 

According to Professor John Hopper from the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health and Director of the Australian Twin Registry, the conference highlighted the vital contribution of twin research at the most formative time of life – from conception to birth and into adolescence. 

“We believe that twins should be involved in all areas of child health research because of the unique insight they provide into the environmental and genetic factors that, in combination, make us all the individuals we are,” he explained. 

Over 200 researchers and twins attended the keynote address by visiting American researcher, Dr Nancy Segal, who spoke about her life-long work with twins raised apart and what they teach us about being human.

 “At the ATR we find that twins and their families are as passionate about research as the researchers themselves and deserve to have their opinions heard,” Professor Hopper said. 

“To this end, we ran very constructive sessions that brought twins and researchers together to discuss how best to combine our efforts to deliver the most beneficial research.”

Twins interested in joining the research, visit 

www.twins.org.au