GERTRUD

Gertrud (German Twin Registry) is the first German registry where identical and fraternal twins of any age can register to participate in scientific studies. The registry was initiated by us, the Center for Environmental Neuroscience at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development (MPIB) and our cooperation partners—the University of Bielefeld, Medical School Hamburg, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Saarland University, and the University Clinic Tübingen—and was launched in 2022.

Since identical twins are genetically almost identical and fraternal twins share at least half of their genetic material, twin studies are key to investigating genetic and environmental factors as well as their interactions and to finding important answers to questions that concern us all: What environments promote our well-being? What activities can improve our health? How can we better our understanding of disease?

Our studies focus on the different factors of living environments and their effects on the human brain, behavior, and mental health. Based on these findings, we aim to develop recommendations to support and strengthen people's physical and mental well-being in the long term. By excluding genetic variations in twins, we try to draw conclusions about the influence and relationship of environmental factors.

More information about Gertrud can be found here: https://www.gertrud.info