Popularising Twin Research Sisira Siribaddana MD nipuna@stmail.lk

Background Establishment of a National Twin Register in Sri Lanka. Twin Research 2000; 3: 202-202. Cross cultural adaptation and preliminary validation of a zygosity determination questionnaire for Sri Lanka. Twin Research 2000; 3 : 205-212. Feasibility of using different approaches for recruiting younger twins for Sri Lankan Twin Registry Twin Research 2001; 4 :459-463 Sri Lankan Twin Registry. Twin Research 2002; 5 : 424-426 Challenges in recruiting older twins for the Sri Lankan Twin Registry Twin Research 2003; 6 :67-71

Establishment of a National Twin Register in Sri Lanka. Twin Research 2000; 3: 202-202.

Cross cultural adaptation and preliminary validation of a zygosity determination questionnaire for Sri Lanka. Twin Research 2000; 3 : 205-212.

Feasibility of using different approaches for recruiting younger twins for Sri Lankan Twin Registry Twin Research 2001; 4 :459-463

Sri Lankan Twin Registry. Twin Research 2002; 5 : 424-426

Challenges in recruiting older twins for the Sri Lankan Twin Registry Twin Research 2003; 6 :67-71

Walking the talk International collaboration between Kings college, department of psychological medicine, Social genetic and developmental psychiatry research centre, WHO & SLTR Capacity building in South ethical approval –WHO, IOP (UK), SJU (SL) Collaboration from the Ministry of Health, Epidemiology unit Unprecedented discussion with various academic bodies

Walking the talk

International collaboration between Kings college, department of psychological medicine, Social genetic and developmental psychiatry research centre, WHO & SLTR

Capacity building in South

ethical approval –WHO, IOP (UK), SJU (SL)

Collaboration from the Ministry of Health, Epidemiology unit

Unprecedented discussion with various academic bodies

School curriculum change 1997 A Level is a very competitive exam for university entrance Projects were introduced, not marked but essential for admissions Criticisms-no teacher training no guidance We have helped 52 students, teacher student WS Platform to published them with a expert comment (“Explorer” magazine) Series of how to do it Sri Lankan Twin Registry

A Level is a very competitive exam for university entrance

Projects were introduced, not marked but essential for admissions

Criticisms-no teacher training no guidance

We have helped 52 students, teacher student WS

Platform to published them with a expert comment (“Explorer” magazine)

Series of how to do it

Twin Projects Sri Lankan Twin Registry

Gaveshana (Explorer) 11 th issue Sri Lankan Twin Registry

Kirinda Multiple Birth Society Sri Lankan Twin Registry

Anguruwathota Multiple Birth Society Sri Lankan Twin Registry

Kegalle Multiple Birth Society Sri Lankan Twin Registry

Udunuwara Multiple Birth Society Sri Lankan Twin Registry

Locations of Multiple Birth Societies Sri Lankan Twin Registry

Helping Needy twins Sri Lankan Twin Registry

Published Brochures Sri Lankan Twin Registry

Twin Newsletter Sri Lankan Twin Registry

Photos Submitted by Registered Twins/ Triplets Sri Lankan Twin Registry

Hidden Agenda-Increasing Recruitment Colombo Twin & Singleton Survey (COTASS) recruited only adult twins (BMC Psychiatry 2008, 8:49 Twin Research & Human Genetics 2006 868-874 ) In Colombo district 400 000 forms distributed 340 000 collected using government administration structure to develop population based twin registry, 19332 twins, 4000 randomly selected with 2000 singletons Island wide volunteer registry 13626 multiples http://www.irdsrilanka.org/ird/AboutIRD.htm Sri Lankan Twin Registry

Colombo Twin & Singleton Survey (COTASS) recruited only adult twins

(BMC Psychiatry 2008, 8:49 Twin Research & Human Genetics 2006 868-874 )

In Colombo district 400 000 forms distributed 340 000 collected using government administration structure to develop population based twin registry, 19332 twins, 4000 randomly selected with 2000 singletons

Island wide volunteer registry 13626 multiples

Glimpse into the Future-Using Art & Culture as an Inducement to Participate in Research Multiples engage in research through culture (MERC) Idea came from Twin Cultural Society - separate organisation but non existent now Unanswered questions Is this form of recruitment ethically acceptable Excess of younger twins, same sex twins, identical twins More expensive-token compensation more cheaper? WT funded but after funding is approved £ crashed relative to the SL Rupee http://www.infolanka.com/org/twin-registry/ Sri Lankan Twin Registry

Multiples engage in research through culture (MERC)

Idea came from Twin Cultural Society - separate organisation but non existent now

Unanswered questions

Is this form of recruitment ethically acceptable

Excess of younger twins, same sex twins, identical twins

More expensive-token compensation more cheaper?

WT funded but after funding is approved £ crashed relative to the SL Rupee