Gulf-Era Twin Registry (GET-R)
For the Gulf-Era Twin Registry, researchers are collecting data on the military and life experiences of up to 12,000 twins who separated from military service after 2001. VA researchers will use the registry to identify Veterans who may be eligible for future research studies.
Topics for future studies might include:
- Health conditions such as cancer, chronic disease, or posttraumatic stress disorder
- Exposures such as blasts or head injuries
- Health behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol use
Research will include Veterans with and without these experiences.
Studying Veteran twins helps researchers understand the relationship between genetic and environmental risk factors, military service and combat deployment exposures, and health conditions.
The Gulf-Era Twin Registry is similar to VA’s Vietnam Era Twin Registry, which has been used for research for almost 30 years.
Participants
VA contacted approximately 6,000 twin pairs (12,000 Veterans) who separated from military service after 2001. These Veterans may have served during any conflict, including the Gulf War in 1990-1991 or Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, or New Dawn. At this time VA researchers are not recruiting for this study.
Participants must be a twin.
Methods
VA researchers contacted selected Veterans and asked them to fill out a questionnaire either online, on paper, or by telephone.
The questionnaire includes a broad range of questions including, physical and mental health, alcohol and tobacco use, military experiences, and demographics.
This information will be stored and used to help VA researchers identify twins that are a good fit for future studies.
If you have questions about this research, please contact (202) 266-4695 or 1-800-211-5272.
Investigators
Aaron Schneiderman, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Shanna Smith, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., C.P.H.
