Advancing Biobehavioral Research: An Overview and Update from the University of São Paulo Twin Panel

The Painel USP de Gêmeos (University of São Paulo Twin Panel) is, based at the Instituto de Psicologia da Universidade de São Paulo. It was formally established in 2017 to advance research on fundamental psychological processes through twin study designs. Our relatively new registry comprises a volunteer sample of 8839 twin individuals, 70% of whom live in Brazil's Southeast, the region with the highest twinning birth rate (10.64‰) of the country, within a national population of 213 million. Our collaborative research group has expanded to include partners from psychology, dentistry, and medicine at USP, as well as other Brazilian institutions, such as the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Universidade Federal da Bahia, and Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo. We are advancing biobehavioral research in Brazil through innovative methodologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international partnerships. All twin participants contribute to multiple studies associated with four datasets employing the same hierarchical identification system for participants and families: the Biorepository, the Physiological and Physical Repository, the Behavioral Repository, and Fonoteca Cesar Ades (FOCA). Future directions include expanding our twin registry across the five regions of Brazil, our research partnerships, promoting genetic literacy, and fostering public engagement.

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Publication Details

Journal
Twin Research and Human Genetics
Published
2026-01-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2025.10040
Primary Topic
Cognitive Abilities and Testing
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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Advancing Biobehavioral Research: An Overview and Update from the University of São Paulo Twin Panel

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Advancing Biobehavioral Research: An Overview and Update from the University of São Paulo Twin Panel

Isabella França Ferreira, Fausto Medeiros Mendes, Cláudia Peixoto, Rosana Suemi Tokumaru, L. C. R. Pontes, Mariana Minatel Braga Fraga, Tânia Kiehl Lucci, J EM Correia, Freitas Js, Ricardo Prist, Fräulein Vidigal de Paula, Elisangela dos Anjos Paula Vieira, Segal Nl, Cíntia Fridman, Lilian C. Luchesi, Mário Henrique Burlacchini de Carvalho, E Crosato, Mariana Azevedo Carvalho, John Fontenele Araújo, Sarah Maria Barneze Costa, Timon Lebaron-Khérif, Liana Isler Kupferman, Rana Esseily, Emma Otta, Patricia Ferreira Monticelli, Thaís Gomes de Oliveira Machado, Claudio Possani, Maria de Lourdes Brizot, Adriana Sicuto de Oliveira Ueno, Briseida Dôgo de Resende, Herculano da Silva Martinho, Paulo Henrique Braz da Silva
article en

Abstract

The Painel USP de Gêmeos (University of São Paulo Twin Panel) is, based at the Instituto de Psicologia da Universidade de São Paulo. It was formally established in 2017 to advance research on fundamental psychological processes through twin study designs. Our relatively new registry comprises a volunteer sample of 8839 twin individuals, 70% of whom live in Brazil's Southeast, the region with the highest twinning birth rate (10.64‰) of the country, within a national population of 213 million. Our collaborative research group has expanded to include partners from psychology, dentistry, and medicine at USP, as well as other Brazilian institutions, such as the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Universidade Federal da Bahia, and Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo. We are advancing biobehavioral research in Brazil through innovative methodologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international partnerships. All twin participants contribute to multiple studies associated with four datasets employing the same hierarchical identification system for participants and families: the Biorepository, the Physiological and Physical Repository, the Behavioral Repository, and Fonoteca Cesar Ades (FOCA). Future directions include expanding our twin registry across the five regions of Brazil, our research partnerships, promoting genetic literacy, and fostering public engagement.

Twin Research and Human Genetics
California State University, Fullerton (US), Universidade de São Paulo (BR), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (BR), Université Paris Nanterre (FR), Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (BR), Universidade Federal do ABC (BR)
Quality Education
Openalex Percentile: Top 83%
Cognitive Abilities and Testing
DOISourceOpenAlex
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