Royal patron of twins research

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has become the International Patron of the Australian Twin Registry, based at the University of Melbourne, and the Danish Twin Registry, announced in a joint ceremony in Denmark in January.

Director of the Australian Twin Registry and University of Melbourne Professor John Hopper said he was extremely grateful for the Crown Princess’s patronage and that as a mother of twins she was a great ambassador for twin research.

“We are extremely thrilled about the announcement and hope the Crown Princess’s patronage will raise awareness of the importance of twin research on a range of health issues from cancer, to diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, to osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease,” he says.

In a message of support to the two registries, the Crown Princess said she was proud to be the International Patron of the Australian and Danish twin registries, which she says were long established pioneers in medical research involving twins, and world authorities in the field. 

“Twins are special, as I now know as the mother of Vincent and Josephine. What is perhaps less well-known is the special contribution twins of all ages have made to medical and health research through the Australian, Danish and other twin registries across the world.

“Twin registries bring twins and researchers together to undertake vital research that is of benefit to everyone. Twin research has contributed to breakthroughs in the understanding of human development and ageing including many serious illnesses such as psychiatric diseases, cancer, heart disease, diabetes and birth defects.

“As a parent of twins, I look forward to contributing to awareness of the unique role that twins and their families can play in health research, and to encouraging other families with twins to support this important work.”

As the largest voluntary twin register in the world, Australian Twin Registry researchers have made a significant impact in health research since the registry began in 1981. 

More than 450 twin studies have been supported by the ATR over its history across a broad spectrum of medical conditions.

Vincent Pollaers, Chairman of the Australian Twin Registry and an identical twin, says for over 30 years, nearly 80,000 Australian volunteer twin members – of all ages, and identical and non-identical – had registered their interest to participate in research. 

“Our vital work could not continue without their support. Princess Mary’s patronage is a vote of thanks to all of our twin volunteers, and acknowledgment of the important contribution they make,” Mr Pollaers says.

Long-time twin volunteer members of the ATR, 33-year-old sisters Silvana Kelly and Daniela Ahimastos who joined the organisation when they were 14, said they found it very rewarding to assist with research studies. 

“Volunteering for our first study when we were teenagers helped us to determine that we both suffered from hayfever, but over the years we have volunteered to help collate data for medical research with the aim of helping others,” Ms Kelly says.

“We have been proud to be able to contribute and have come to appreciate fully the benefits that twins have in determining the influences of environmental and genetic factors on health and disease,” Ms Kelly says.

Twins researcher Dr Jeffrey Craig of the University of Melbourne, the Murdoch Children’s Research and Royal Children’s Hospital says he was delighted with the news of Princess Mary’s patronage of the twin registries and as a champion for twins research. He says he believed studies of human health should always start with twins.

“Twins enable us to tease apart the effects of nature (genetics) and nurture (environment). For example, my colleagues and I are trying to find out how and when diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity originate.

“Most interestingly, we are finding that the environment experienced in the first 1000 days of life, including time spent in the womb, can predispose to such diseases.

“Specifically, we are studying the switches that control the activity of their genes and remarkably we have found that these switches are often different at birth. So from the get-go, even genetically-identical twins can be different in respect to the behaviour of their genes.”

He says that ironically most “identical” twins will tell you they are different; they have different personalities, different interests and can even get different illnesses.

“It is only by working with twins however that we can begin to understand how all of us can have different settings for our gene switches and different health outcomes.”

Key ATR supporters are the Federal Government’s National Health and Medical Research Council, which has provided core funding since the ATR began in 1981, and the University of Melbourne, where the registry is based.

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