About GERTRUD
GERTRUD (German Twin Registry) is the first nationwide German registry for twins and multiples, enabling identical, fraternal, and higher-order multiples of all ages to participate in scientific studies. Family members can also register and participate in family-based studies within so-called family designs, thereby contributing to more informative and robust research.
The registry is a research initiative in the Environmental Neuroscience field at the Max-Planck-Institute for Human Development (MPIB) and their cooperation partners (University Hospital Tübingen, Bielefeld University, Medical School Hamburg, Max-Planck-Institut for Empirical Aesthetics und Saarland University) that originated in 2022.
You can register directly with GERTRUD here:
Please note: This registration form is currently only available in German.
How does GERTRUD work?
You can easily register online for GERTRUD. Registration takes about 5 minutes. Afterward, you will receive an email containing a sign-up link for your relatives, which you are welcome to share with them.
By registering, you will receive regular information about current studies. You can then decide on a case-by-case basis whether you wish to participate in a particular study. Alternatively, you can find information about current studies here and contact the relevant study team directly. Participation in studies is, of course, voluntary. If you have any questions regarding your participation, please feel free to contact us at gertrud@mpib-berlin.mpg.de. You can unsubscribe from notifications or withdraw your consent to participate at any time.
Have we sparked your interest? If you are 16 years of age or older, you can participate directly in a 60- to 90-minute online study that offers 20 € in compensation. You will receive the link to this study via email after completing your registration.
Please note: This study is currently only available in German.
Why is there twin and multiple research?
Twins and multiples share about 50% (dizygotic or polyzygotic) to nearly 100% (identical) genetic makeup, while their life and environmental experiences may differ. They therefore offer science particularly valuable insights into the influence of genetics and environment on development and health. By participating in research projects, twins and multiples can make an important contribution to the common good. You can find more about that at For Twins & Families.
In the Environmental Neuroscience field at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, we investigate, among other things, how environmental factors influence people's health and behavior. Research is carried out into how mental and psychological health and behavior are shaped by the interaction between genetic factors and environmental conditions, for example, through experiences, lifestyle, and living conditions. Since identical twins share almost 100% of their genetic material and dizygotic twins and polyzygotic multiples share about 50%, conclusions can be drawn about the influence of genetic and environmental factors.
The Extended Twin Family Design
By including family members of twins and higher-order multiples, the research design is expanded to incorporate a valuable additional perspective. Information provided by parents, siblings, children, and other relatives enables a more comprehensive understanding of individual development and health. This extended twin family design helps researchers distinguish more precisely between genetic and environmental influences and better understand how they interact.
In addition, the extended twin family design makes it possible to investigate traits and health-related characteristics across multiple generations. This allows researchers to better understand which characteristics are passed down within families and which are shaped by different environmental conditions and life experiences. The participation of family members therefore enhances the scientific value of the analyses and contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the factors underlying health, disease, and individual developmental trajectories.
Our Vision
Our goal is to investigate the impact of the physical environment on the individual. We hypothesize that the complexity of environmental factors exerts a decisive influence on brain plasticity and behavioral changes. In other words, by controlling for genetic variations in twins, researchers seek to conclude the interactions and influences of environmental factors.
The primary focus of our studies lies on the various facets of urban life and their effects on the human brain, behavior, and mental health. Based on these findings, we aim to develop recommendations that sustainably promote and strengthen people's physical and mental well-being.
Would you also like to contribute to advancing our understanding of diseases, human behavior, and/or environmental influences? Then sign up for GERTRUD! You can find further information on how to register here.
Further Twin Registries
Worldwide, there are numerous twin registries that hold various groups of twins for research purposes. Here you can find a list of the most well-known twin registries from around the world.