The Australian Twin Registry brings twins and researchers together to undertake medical research to benefit the health of all Australians. Twin research is helping us to better understand genetic and environmental causes in many diseases from epilepsy to cancer.  Here we explain why twins may just hold the key to our future health and happiness:   

The ATR is celebrating 30 years of service (established in 1981) and today is the largest voluntary twin research registry in the world.  Learn more about the registry through these interesting facts and figures.

There are approximately 400,000 twins in Australia or 2% of the total population.  (Around 17% of all twins are members of the Australian Twin Registry).

Around one-third of all twins are identical and the other two-thirds are non-identical or fraternal.

The Australian Twin Registry is today celebrating 30 years of service and we thank all the thousands of twins and researchers who have joined forces with us over these years to help unravel a myriad of medical mysteries. The story of the ATR begins in the early 1970s when the work of some early research pioneers laid the foundations for the formation of Australia’s first national twin registry in 1981.   

Twin research is playing a significant part in the fight against disease in Australia.  Over its 30-year-history, the Australian Twin Registry has facilitated more than 450 twin research studies.

On average, the registry supports about 10 new studies a year as well as supporting up to 70 ongoing studies.  The length of studies can range from one year to 30 years and some will continue long into the future.

Twin research is flourishing around Australia.  Following is an overview of current ATR supported twin studies happening from state to state.