Gemini - Health and Development in Twins

Gemini is a population-based birth cohort of 2402 families with twins born in England and Wales between March and December 2007, set up to assess genetic and environmental contributions to early life growth, with a focus on behavioural pathways. It is the largest study of the genetic and environmental contributions to early growth ever to be undertaken. The twin design allows researchers to establish the relative contribution of genetic and environmental influences on early growth and behaviour; the prospective design enables researchers to understand the cause-effect relationships between weight and behaviour from birth, as these traits emerge and develop. 

Gemini aims to advance understanding of the genetic and environmental influences on obesity risk; to identify potentially modifiable determinants of excessive weight gain in adolescents; and to contribute to a longer-term programme of integrated genetic environmental research in preventive health behaviours.

Data have been collected from birth, and data collection is ongoing. Gemini has one of the richest datasets of early life growth, with anthropometrics collected every 3 months from birth. Gemini also has the largest contemporary dietary dataset British toddlers, collected using 3-day diet diaries when children were approximately 21 months old, and repeated at 7 years of age. Data also include repeated measures of: child eating behaviour, food preferences, temperament and sleep; parental feeding practices, eating behaviour, sleep, wellbeing, and physical activity; the early home family food, activity and media environment; DNA; and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on health and wellbeing. 

Gemini has been supported by funding from Cancer Research UK, 2007-2012 (C1418/A7974); MQ:Transforming Mental Health, 2018-2023 (MQF17/4); Economic and Social Research Council, 2020-2021 (ES/V005006/1), Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, 2022-2023.

Principal Investigator: Dr Clare Llewellyn
Website: www.geministudy.co.uk 
Twitter: @GeminiResearch 

Gemini team members:
Dr Clare Llewellyn, Director
Dr Alison Fildes, Deputy Director
Dr Andrea Smith, Research Fellow
Dr Abi Fisher, Associate Professor
Dr Zeynep Nas, Postdoctoral Fellow
Alice Kininmonth, Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr Moritz Herle, Research Fellow
Lisa Heggie, PhD student
Kristiane Tommerup, PhD student
Francesca Bentivegna, PhD student