GenomEUtwin: a strategy to identify genetic influences on health and disease.

In this issue of Twin Research, we describe different facets of a European Community funded effort, GenomEUtwin, which capitalises on eight of the world's largest and best characterised twin registers and a multi-national population cohort, MORGAM. This international study, reaching beyond the geographical borders of Europe, is based on linkage and association strategies designed to identify genetic contributors to health and disease using integrated expertise of participating groups in genetics, epidemiology and biostatistics. By merging information from numerous epidemiological and genetic databases, GenomEUtwin will create an intellectual and technical infrastructure for future genetic epidemiological studies aiming to define genetic and life style risks for common human diseases.