Brain Plaques And Cognitive Decline In The Elderly - A Study Of Human Twins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
One hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a build up of plaques in the brain, starting years before symptoms are observed. We will use PiB-PET brain scans to determine the degree of plaque build-up in pairs of twins at risk of developing AD, and calculate the heritability of these plaques. We will also be able to calculate (potentially modifiable) environmental factors that may be contributing to the relationship between plaques and memory and thinking.
QTL Linkage Analysis For Complex Human Traits In Twin Families
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
This project will focus on finding genes for common human diseases. Now that the human genome has been sequenced, the race is on to find out what the estimated 38,000 human genes do and which ones are associated with which diseases. Scattered throughout the genome are small variations in DNA sequence, some of which increase the odds of disease while others are protective.
An Integrated “omic” Approach To Neurodevelopmental Disorders Using Disease-discordant Monozygotic Twins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$84,800.00
Summary
This project targets neurodevelopment disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy and epilepsy and focuses on studying the environmental factors (epigenetics) affecting the disease mechanisms in these disorders. The study will be performed on twin samples and will help in the diagnosis of the disease risk at an earlier stage. It will also help to understand the causes of these important neurological diseases.
Menopause is one of the important risk factors for bone loss, structural decay and bone fragility. We aim to quantify the biochemical, microstructural and biomechanical basis of loss of bone strength during and after menopause. A cohort of 324 pairs of female-female twins aged 25 to 75 years old will be followed up for up to 9 years. Defining the structural basis of bone fragility provides a rational means to identifying women at risk for fracture.
Using Twin And Family Studies To Make Genomics Relevant To Population Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$876,005.00
Summary
This Fellowship will make major impacts on health by building on decades of research creating large studies of families, and in particular twins. One aim is to produce a simple web-based tool for women to accurately know their risk of breast cancer based on family history, mammography and genetic markers. This could transform breast and genetic screening across the world. Another is to develop new ways of analysing twin data which resolve which risk factors are causal and relevant to prevention.
The Australian Centre of Excellence in Twin Research will build on the Australian Twin Registry, which for 30 years has played an integral part in health & medical research. The new Centre aims to expand a state-of-the-art resource for conducting research, bring together leading national and international researchers from across disciplines, and build capacity in people, techniques, and expertise to continue to enable twin research to address major health and medical issues.
We will conduct a study of more than 500 Australian female twin pairs in which one or both have had breast cancer. We will also study measured and unmeasured genetic and environmental causes of risk factors.