In Exposome 2.0, we aim to combine the extensive expertise in the chemical characterization of human and environmental exposure with relevant clinical-epidemiological studies and with mechanistic insights regarding the adverse outcome pathways and toxicology.
Our ultimate ambition is to build an exposome framework and to contribute with scientific evidence to knowledge related to relevant health effects, such as endocrine-mediated and metabolic disorders, which are largely modulated by exposure to chemicals and environmental factors.
We aim to integrate mechanistic understanding at different levels of chemical complexity and biological organization in the exposome concept. We propose a synergistic, multidisciplinary approach built on three Research Pillars with a multi-level structural organization, providing information on multiple exposure, response mechanisms, and effects:
- Pillar I. Advanced high-end analytical, ‘omics’ and bioinformatics techniques for identification of relevant external and internal exposome and supporting mixture effect assessment;
- Pillar II. Relevant exposure-wide association studies (EWAS) investigating the influence of (chemical) stressors on endocrine-mediated and metabolic disorders;
- Pillar III. Characterization of modes of action and adverse outcome pathways linking exposure to relevant (mixtures of) stressors to endocrine-mediated and metabolic disorders.