A new Australian study is recruiting identical and non-identical twins to better understand how genetically similar people respond differently to infections, diseases, and treatments.
Researchers from the Snow Centre for Immune Health and Twins Research Australia at the University of Melbourne are looking to recruit 100 pairs of identical and non-identical twins as part of a new research study.
The study will seek to provide novel insight into how our genes and environment influence our immune system and function. It has the potential to highlight achievable advances in personalised medicine, such as figuring out which people will respond better to certain vaccines and which people are more likely to experience side effects of treatment.
“By comparing twins who respond differently to the same immune challenges, researchers can estimate how much of the differences are genetic and how much are environmental,” said Dr Lucas Calais-Ferreira, director of Twins Research Australia (one of the world’s largest volunteer twin research registries).
“The findings help build the foundation for personalised medicine and more targeted treatments for immune‑related conditions, such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and others.”
Participants will be studied using the Cyton2 Cell Timer model, which tracks how immune cells behave over time and examines how our age, sex, and genetics affect immune function. The model can identify when and how long immune cells are active for, allowing researchers to study the variance in immune system function between different people.
Professor Jason Tye-Din, director of the Snow Centre, said the collaboration brings together cutting-edge immunology research and decades of twin research.
“The Cyton2 Cell Timer technology is like switching from a photo to a video. You can see motion and timing that a still image cannot show,” he told media.
“Together, we can find answers neither could find alone and help improve how immune-related conditions are understood and treated.”
Identical and non-identical twins aged 18 to 80 who are interested in participating in the new study are advised to visit twins.org.au for further information.
