TwinsUK (2019-2023) - An Epidemiological and Genomic Resource (360G-Wellcome-212904_Z_18_Z)

The TwinsUK cohort is a major genomic epidemiology resource with longitudinal deep genomic and phenomic data from over 13,500 adult twins who are highly engaged and recallable. We are seeking longer term funding to support operations and management, to continue enhancement of a highly successful programme of international science. The vision is to continue to be the most deeply characterised adult twin cohort in the world, providing a rich platform for scientists to research health and ageing longitudinally. More than 800 data access collaborations and 150,000 samples have been shared with external researchers, resulting in ~600 publications since 2012. In the next 5-year phase of TwinsUK we will integrate electronic health records into an enhanced deep tissue ‘omics resource and introduce dynamic phenotypic testing into clinical visits. The majority of funds requested are to support core staff and to add new enhancements in health records linkage and sociological and environmental data. These developments will not only augment the unique scientific value of the resource but enable co-analysis of these datasets with other world renowned cohorts. The result will be a unique global resource of longitudinal omics and twin research across the life-course, with immense potential for future scientific exploitation.