Michigan State University Twin Registry (MSUTR)
MSUTR is a population-based twin registry based at Michigan State University (MSU) in the United States. It was created to examine developmental differences in genetic, environmental, and neurobiological influences on internalising and externalising symptoms. The registry began in 2001 as a university-based registry assessing undergraduates enrolled at MSU and expanded in 2004 to include twins aged 3 to 55. As of 2024, it includes thousands of twins and their families from Michigan and surrounding states. Since 2008, most participants have been recruited through the Michigan Twins Project (MTP); a brief mail-in survey which serves as an introduction to the registry and is now the most common way for twins to get involved with the MSUTR.
Study design
Registry, Cohort - twin, Cohort - open
Number of participants at first data collection
33,686 (participants as of 2024)
Recruitment is ongoing
Age at first data collection
3 - 55 years (participants)
Participant year of birth
Varied (participants)
Participant sex
All
Representative sample at baseline?
No
Sample features
Country
Year of first data collection
2001
Primary Institutions
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
Michigan State University (MSU)
Links
Profile paper DOI
Funders
Avielle Foundation (now known as Avielle Initiative)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Intramural Research Grants Program (IRGP)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Ongoing?
Yes
Data types collected
- Interview – face-to-face
- Physical or biological assessment (e.g. blood, saliva, gait, grip strength, anthropometry)
- Self-report questionnaire – paper or computer assisted
- None
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Healthcare data
- Medical birth registry
- Other government data
- Police & judicial system data
- Tax, income & benefit data
Engagement
Keywords
Consortia and dataset groups
