Peri/Post-natal Epigenetic Twins Study (PETS)

Synopsis

PETS is a study of twins, from when they were in the womb through to childhood and beyond. The study aims to identify what makes us all who we are; our health, development and well being. Where better to start than with twins, who share the same mother, but are usually in their own ‘sac’ during pregnancy, then share the same home environment as children. Despite this, even ‘identical’ twins can have different personalities, physical characteristics and illnesses. Why is this?

Summary

Study name	The Peri/Post-natal Epigenetic Twins Study
Study abbreviation	PETS
Current principal investigator/s	A/Professor Jeff Craig Dr Richard Saffery
Current project manager	Jane Loke
Phone	+ 61 3 9936 6549
Email	twins.study@mcri.edu.au
Primary Institution	Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Collaborating Institution/s	University of Melbourne Deakin University Australian Institute of Family Studies LaTrobe University Royal Women’s Hospital Mercy Hospital for Women Monash Medical Centre
Major funding sources	National Health and Medical Research Council Bonnie Babes Foundation Sigrid Juselius Foundation Academy of Finland Finnish Cultural Foundation Financial Markets Foundation for Children Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program
Study website	mcri.edu.au/research/themes/population-health/environmental-genetic-epidemiology-research
Key reference/s	Saffery, R., Morley, R., Carlin, J.B., Joo, J.H.E., Novakovic, B., Andronikos, R., Ollikainen, M., Li, X., Loke, Y.J., Carson, N., Wallace, E.M., Umstad, M.P., Permezel, M., Galati, J. and Craig, J.M. (2012). Cohort Profile: Peri/postnatal Epigenetics Twins Study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 41, 55-61. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyr140 Loke Y.J., Novakovic B., Ollikainen M., Wallace E.M., Umstad, M.P., Permezel M., Morley R., Ponsonby A.L., Gordon L., Galati J.C., Saffery R. and Craig J.M. (2013) The Peri/Postnatal Epigenetic Twins Study (PETS). Twin research and human genetics: the official journal of the International Society for Twin Studies, 16, 13-20. doi: 10.1017/thg.2012.114 Leong P, Loke YJ, Saffery R, Silk T, Burnett A, Josev E, Scurrah K, Theda C, Czajko A, Pua EP, Seal ML, Craig JM. Epigenetic influences on neurodevelopmental at 11 years of age: Protocol for the longitudinal peri/postnatal epigenetic twins study at 11 years of age (PETS@11). Twins Res. Hum. Genet. 2020 Feb. doi: 10.1017/thg.2019.120
Are data available to others outside study team?	Yes, with custodian approval
Study focus	Investigating whether epigenetic marks measured at birth and early life can provide clues to the causal links between intrauterine exposures influencing perinatal phenotype and the risk of chronic diseases later in life.
Sampling frame	Women attending multiple pregnancy clinics at 3 Melbourne (Australia) hospitals (Royal Women’s Hospital, Monash Medical Centre, Mercy Hospital for Women) who were 18-22 weeks gestation
Year commenced	2007
Commencement sample	250 twin pairs and mothers
Imaging	Ultrasound data including Doppler
Linkage	No
Biosamples?	Blood Cord blood Newborn screening (Guthrie) card Placenta (sample) Umbilical cord (sample) Buccal Saliva Faeces
Ethics approvals or requirements?	This project only (Specific consent) Future research related to this project (Extended consent)

Waves

Wave	Year	Age (mean, range)	Eligible sample
1	2007 – 2009	< 12 weeks gest	250
2	2007 – 2009	13-24 weeks gest	250
3	2007 – 2009	25 weeks to birth	250
4	2007 – 2009	Birth	250
5	2008 – 2011	18 months	250
6	2014 – 2016	6 years	224
7	2018 – 2020	11 years	111