EXPOSIM

Environmental stressors as casual determinants for immune-mediated diseases – mapping and prioritising evidence for knowledge-based policy-making (EXPOSIM)

From Research to Action: Understanding how environmental stressors shape immune health

In recent years, environmental factors such as air pollution, noise, and toxic waste have been increasingly recognized for the interactions they have with biological processes to modulate immunity and contribute to autoimmune or immune-mediated diseases (IMDs). However, integrated evidence linking multiple exposures to immune health across the life course is lacking. EXPOSIM seeks to fill this gap by adopting a multidisciplinary approach that combines epidemiology, omics, toxicology, and modeling. The main goals are:

Identify molecular mechanisms and biological pathways that mediate the combined effects of environmental stressors on the immune system.
Quantify how different exposures (air, noise, waste) influence the risk of IMDs at different stages of life (pregnancy, childhood, adult).
Develop evidence-based interventions and policy recommendations, as well as practical tools for decision-makers, health professionals, and citizens.
The scientific component covers immunology, exposome, and epidemiology; the social/political impact component focuses on translation into environmental and regulatory policies.

OBJECTIVES

Map multiple environmental exposures (air, noise, chemicals, waste) and correlate them with immune markers in human cohorts.
Discover molecular pathways (e.g., via omics, proteomic/epigenetic profiles) that mediate the effects of combined exposures.
Evaluate exposure-reduction interventions (e.g., pollutant control, behavioral changes) in vulnerable groups.
Estimate the social costs and benefits of policies that promote healthier environments.
Produce decision-support tools for public managers and health professionals.
Engage stakeholders from the outset, promoting co-creation of strategies and active dissemination.

ACTIVITIES AND METHODOLOGY

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses to map the state of the art.
Analyses in large human cohorts (pregnancy, childhood, adults) to associate environmental exposures with immune markers and IMD diseases.
Multi-omics approaches (transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenetics) to uncover molecular mechanisms.
Pilot intervention studies to test exposure-reduction measures in vulnerable populations.
Modeling of health scenarios and cost-effectiveness of policies.
Communication/dissemination/capacity-building activities for decision-makers, professionals, and the public.

The expected impact includes changes in environmental policies, capacity-building of health professionals to consider environmental exposures, and public health gains through the reduction of IMDs.

CONSORTIUM AND COORDINATION

Coordinating entity: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
Partners: Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal), Hasselt University (Belgium), Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (Spain), public health institutes in Norway, work and environment institutes in Denmark, Biogenity, CIOP-PIB (Poland)
Principal investigators: (PI and co-PIs distributed among the institutes), with contributions from experts in environmental epidemiology, immunology, data science, and policy

FUNDING

Funding entity: European Commission, Horizon Europe programme (call HORIZON-HLTH-2024‐ENVHLTH)
Amount: approximately €7,998,991.01
Grant Agreement Number: 1011563118

DURATION AND KEY DATES

Start date: 1 January 2025
End date: 31 December 2029
Key expected milestones: kick-off in February 2025, annual transnational meetings, thematic workshops (exposures, omics, policy), delivery of decision-support tools in the medium term.

EXPECTED RESULTS/IMPACT

Production of reports and scientific articles that deepen our understanding of environmental exposures and immunity.
Tools (software/platform/dashboard) for policymakers and managers to assess risk/benefit scenarios.
Environmental policy recommendations to reduce harmful exposures.
Capacity-building of health professionals and decision-makers through training on environmental exposure.
Increased environmental and public health literacy among citizens.
Influence on regulations regarding air pollution, noise, and waste management in the EU.