Study
Impulsive Aggression: A Twin study of Behavior and 5-HT
Principal Investigator
Emil F. Coccaro, M.D.
Description
The Pennsylvania Twins Research Program attributes its creation to the persistent work of Dr. Emil Coccaro. Dating back to 1997, Dr. Coccaro and his research staff at MCP Hahnemann University in Philadelphia set out to create a twin cohort. A twin cohort is a large database of names and home addresses of twins that have agreed to be contacted in the future regarding scientific studies. Dr. Coccaro and his staff thus, with the permission of the state of Pennsylvania, began mass mailings to all multiples born between 1959 and 1997 in Pennsylvania. From this list, those who agreed to become a member of the twin cohort were sent written consent forms along with zygosity questionnaires. The questionnaire was designed to retrieve demographic statistics as well as an attempt to classify each twin pair as either identical twin pair set or fraternal twin pair set.
Those that have given both consent and been 'determined' are now eligible to take part in our first twin study currently in Year 1. Those twins who have not filled out questionnaires, or signed consent forms and would like to be a part of our exciting studies should contact us toll free at 888-321-TWIN to learn more about the process of becoming a member of our cohort. Currently, we have 1800 twin pairs enrolled in our cohort, however, we have the possibility of enrolling another 3500 twin pairs in the next year. Those 3500 twin pairs include twins who have yet to fill out our questionnaire, twin pair sets with only one twin consented and those twins who need DNA testing to help us determine if they are identical or fraternal.
Contact
1-888-321-TWIN
twin@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu