Exposomics 

The concept of the exposome, first introduced by Christopher Wild in 2005, encompasses all non-genetic factors influencing health from conception onwards. This includes chemical exposures, diet, lifestyle factors, and psychosocial stressors. By comprehensively cataloging these exposures and their biological impacts, we can revolutionize our understanding of disease etiology and pave the way for more effective prevention and treatment strategies. 

The Human Exposome Project  

The Human Exposome Project represents a transformative approach to understanding how environmental exposures impact human health throughout the lifespan. Offering a compliment to the Human Genome Project, this ambitious initiative aims to systematically map the totality of environmental exposures and their effects on human biology.  

The Human Exposome Project prioritizes hazardous chemicals for regulatory action by developing more accurate and efficient methods for chemical risk assessment, identifying emerging contaminants of concern, and informing evidence-based regulatory policies to protect public health. This project will advance public health policies based on exposome data by designing targeted interventions to reduce harmful exposures at population and individual levels, developing precision public health strategies tailored to specific exposure profiles, and informing urban planning and environmental management decisions.  

The project will also enhance personalized medicine and health by developing exposome-based biomarkers for early disease detection, tailoring preventive strategies to individual exposure histories, and optimizing treatment plans based on exposome profiles. Establishing robust infrastructure, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and ensuring quality assurance through systematic reviews and evidence-based frameworks are crucial for this project’s success. 

 A Call for an Exposome Moonshot Forum 

The complexity and scale of the exposome necessitate a coordinated, global effort akin to the Human Genome Project. A moonshot approach is essential for several reasons. It will accelerate technological innovations by driving the development of high-throughput exposure assessment tools, advancing sensor technologies for real-time, personal exposure monitoring, and enhancing analytical capabilities for detecting low-level exposures and mixture effects.  

We have the opportunity to develop more effective strategies for preventing chronic diseases, design safer chemicals and more sustainable technologies, create personalized approaches to health promotion and disease management, inform policies that protect vulnerable populations from harmful exposures, and contribute to global efforts to create healthier, more resilient communities. We call on researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, healthcare professionals, and concerned citizens to join us in this historic effort. Together, we can unlock the secrets of the exposome and usher in a new era of precision prevention and personalized health.  

The Exposome Moonshot Forum aims to gather these diverse stakeholders to collaboratively translate the exposome from concept to utility. 

Join Us in May 2025! 

Submit Stakeholder nominations here.