Current and past collaborations

The MSU Twin Registry is eager to collaborate with investigators at MSU and external universities in advancing health research. Current and past collaborators are listed below. Please consider using the MSU Twin Registry as a resource in your health research!

MSU Collaborators

Yuehua Cui, Ph.D.
David Clark, Ph.D. (formerly at MSU)
Brent Donnellan, Ph.D.
Gregory Fink, Ph.D.
Tedmond Friend, Ph.D.
Zach Hambrick, Ph.D.
Christopher Hopwood, Ph.D. (formerly at MSU)
Alexander Johnson, Ph.D.
George Mias, Ph.D.
Jason Moser, Ph.D.
Nigel Paneth, M.D., MPH
Amber Pearson, Ph.D.
James Pivarnik, Ph.D.
Supratik Rayamajhi, M.D.
Cheryl Sisk, Ph.D.
Rita Strakovsky, Ph.D.
Katharine Thakkar, Ph.D.
Ralph Watson, M.D.

External Collaborators

Christopher Beam, Ph.D. - USC
Dorret Boosma, Ph.D. - Virje Univ Amsterdam
Adriene Beltz, Ph.D. – Univ of Michigan
Sarah Carroll, Ph.D. – Univ Colorado at Boulder
Soo-Eung Chang, Ph.D. – Univ of Michigan
Leonard Epstein, Ph.D. – Univ of Buffalo
Myles Faith, Ph.D. – Univ of Buffalo
Ashley Gearhardt, Ph.D. – Univ of Michigan
Britny Hildebrandt, Ph.D. – Univ of Pittsburgh
Luke Hyde, Ph.D. – Univ of Michigan
Jaakko Kaprio, Ph.D. – Univ of Helsinki
Srividya Kidambi, M.D. – Medical College of Wisc
Theodore Kotchen, M.D. – Medical College of Wisc
Mingyu Liang, Ph.D. – Univ of Arizona
Juan Madrid-Valero, Ph.D. – Univ of Murcia
David Mattson, Ph.D. – Augusta Univ
Patrick Markey, Ph.D. – Villanova Univ
Megan Mikhail, Ph.D. - UCSF
Jodi Mindell, Ph.D. – Univ of Pennsylvania
Melisa Moore, Ph.D. – Univ of Pennsylvania
Melissa Munn-Chernoff, Ph.D. – Texas Tech Univ
Joel Nigg, Ph.D. – Oregon Health Sciences Univ
Molly Nikolas, Ph.D. – Univ of Iowa
Shannon O’Connor, Ph.D. – Univ of Toledo
Juan Ordoñana, Ph.D. – Univ of Murcia
Karri Silventoinen, Ph.D. – Univ of Helsinki
Elizabeth Shewark, Ph.D. – Univ of Notre Dame
Christopher Trentacosta, Ph.D. – Wayne State Univ
Jessica Van Huysse, Ph.D. – Univ of Michigan
Alexandra Vazquez, Ph.D. – Emory University

Examples of Past MSU Twin Registry Projects

Included below is a partial list of past MSU Twin Registry (MSUTR) studies. These projects either recruited twins from the MSUTR for the study or analyzed existing MSUTR data that were de-identified (i.e., data without any personal identifiers like names, addresses, birthdates). The breadth and depth of topics examined highlight the impact of MSUTR on advancing health research across Michigan and the nation!

GENETIC AND HORMONAL INFLUENCES ON MOOD AND BEHAVIOR

MSU DEPT. OF PSYCHOLOGY

Dr. Kelly Klump recruited MSUTR female twins for studies examining the influence of hormonal, genetic, and environmental factors on a range of psychological characteristics (e.g., mood, eating attitudes and behaviors, personality characteristics) during puberty and across the menstrual cycle. One aim of Dr. Klump's research is to determine whether associations between ovarian hormones, mood, and behavior are influenced by genes. This aim was expanded in a follow-up study focused on examining changes in behavior in twin pairs in which one or both co-twins are taking hormonal contraceptives. Finally, Dr. Kristen Culbert and Dr. Kelly Klump extended this work to boys and men by examining the influence of hormonal, genetic, and environmental factors on these same psychological characteristics in male twins from the MSUTR. These studies were funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

THE ETIOLOGY OF CEREBRAL PALSY

MSU DEPT. OF EPIDEMIOLOGY

The OWL (Outcomes, Wellness and Life course in Cerebral Palsy) project directed by Dr. Nigel Paneth recruited twin pairs from the MSUTR to study the origins of cerebral palsy. A particular interest was in twins discordant for cerebral palsy, which is the case for nearly 90% of twin pairs.

THE TWIN STUDY OF BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN and THE MICHIGAN TWIN NEUROGENTICS STUDY

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AND MSU DEPT. OF PSYCHOLOGY

Dr. Luke Hyde from the University of Michigan and Dr. Alex Burt at MSU recruited MSUTR twins to investigate brain and behavior development. The goal of MTwiNS (Michigan Twin Neurogenetics Study) is to better understand brain and behavior development in a sample of twins. Specifically, using a twin design, we examined how differences in behavior emerge at the level of the brain. MTwiNS builds on The Twin Study of Behavioral and Emotional Development in Children (TBED-C). We are recently conducted follow-up studies with families that previously participated in the TBED-C. These families included twins that are age 7 – 22 years old. During their visit, families engaged in an MRI session, clinical interviews, family interactions, and self-reports from the child and parent. This study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Mental Health, the NIH Office of the Director, and the Avielle Foundation.

EPIGENETIC INFLUENCES ON ATTENTION AND COGNITION

OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY

Dr. Joel Nigg recruited MSUTR twins to examine the relationship between changes in genetic structure (i.e., DNA methylation) and attention, higher cognition, and self-regulation in twins recruited from the MSUTR.

GENETIC INFLUENCES ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

MSU DEPARMENT OF KINESIOLOGY

Dr. James Pivarnik’s lab investigated genetic and environmental influences on body composition and physical activity, using male and female adolescent twins drawn from the MSUTR.

EPIGENETICS OF HYPERTENSION

MSU COLLEGE OF HUMAN MEDICINE AND MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN

Dr. Ralph Watson and Dr. Supratik Rayamajhi with the MSU College of Human Medicine and Dr. Srividya Kidambi with the Medical College of Wisconsin recruited MSUTR twins to study genetic contributions to the development of hypertension. 

STUTTERING

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Dr. Soo-Eun Chang recruited MSUTR twins to examine behavioral and brain development trajectories that lead to persistent forms of stuttering.

ADHD AND CONDUCT DISORDER

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

Dr. Molly Nikolas' ADHD and Development Lab used MSUTR data to study the co-occurrence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Conduct Disorder.

If you would be interested in collaborating with the MSUTR for your research, please contact the MSUTR at msutr@msu.edu, or either of the MSUTR Directors: Dr. S. Alexandra Burt (burts@msu.edu) and Dr. Kelly Klump (klump@msu.edu).