Twin Volunteer Advisory Panel (VAP)

In 2009 we established the twin volunteer advisory panel (VAP) to ensure that we take the opinions and views of our volunteers on board during the development and running of research programmes at the DTR. The VAP consists of 12 members who live in or near London and travel to St Thomas’ for 2 meetings a year, and 12 members from across the United Kingdom who correspond by email and phone only. Membership lasts for 2 years.

What does the VAP do?

The VAP fulfils a wide variety of roles including...

• approving new research protocols
• piloting our online questionnaires
• reviewing newsletters / recruitment letters / e-communications
• discussing ethical issues
• providing advice on a variety of topics such as how often we contact you, to new ways of keeping in touch and media requests

We endeavour to make the entire panel representative of the twin registry; including identical and non-identical twins and male and female twins of different ages. Only one twin in a pair can be on the panel at any one time.

Quotes from our first ever VAP on being asked "What did you like most about being on the VAP?"

“I enjoyed being able to put forward my ideas and share my experiences and it was really good to learn more about the department and how the twins’ contribution is used and valued.

“Meeting other twins and hearing of their experiences and thoughts on being a twin – meeting “faces” behind the names..and most importantly feeling a part of the bigger picture that is the DTR”

“It made me feel more involved in the work of the DTR, and useful! It was good to feel consulted, and to understand how much thought and effort goes into all the research that you do. It was a positive experience, and I’m glad that I was able to take part!”

“It was good to hear the views and experiences first hand of other twins and how this led to lively and interesting debates – all in the line of research”

“Made me feel even more useful than membership of the DTR already does”

“I liked the opportunity to help shape the research of the department having participated in their research for so long and being able to directly speak to Dr Cherkas and other members of the team.”