Research infrastructure The national research infrastructure The Swedish Twin Registry contains is the largest of its kind and an invaluable resource for medical research.
The Swedish Twin Registry (STR) is a research infrastructure for population based, epidemiological and molecular studies of twins. The purpose of the STR is to enable research about the importance of genetic and environmental factors for health, lifestyle and behavior.
The Registry was established in the 1960s and contains information about some 87 000 twin pairs for which zygosity is known, both mono- and dizygotic pairs. At present there are around 30 projects ongoing based on its data. The studies cover a variety of topics on public health issues such as allergies, cancer, dementia and cardiovascular disease.
The STR facilitates access to data, samples and twin-contacts for de novo data-collection. For more than 60 years, it has been used for research on a large number of diseases, behaviors and health problems. All living Swedish born twins over the age of 9 years have been contacted by the STR and it is thereby the largest twin registry in the world.
Nationwide questionnaires, measurements and telephone interviews have been conducted for different birth cohorts since the 1960s. Broad consents and a unified system make it possible to combine data and samples over the sub-studies to address new research questions. Beside selfreported health and exposures, additional critical information is obtained through regular linkages to the national health registers. At present, the STR holds DNA and other biological samples from more than 58 000 twins to be used for new analyses. Genome-wide genotyping is available for the vast majority.
The Swedish Twin Registry is managed by Karolinska Institutet.
Before researchers can access data from STR, an application must be submitted, reviewed, and approved by the registry's steering committee. Each project must also have approval from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority.
For more information please visit the Swedish Twin Registry's webpage
