From research to action: the EXPOSIM project to transform our understanding of the environmental impact on health, with the participation of the Pulmonology Research Group of Vall d'Hebron

Ten organizations, spread over seven European countries, with the participation of the Vall d'Hebron Pneumology Research group, have received 8.35 million euros in funding from the Horizon Europe program of the European Commission and the Secretary of State Switzerland for Education, Research and Innovation to launch EXPOSIM. This project will build a strong evidence base on the impact of environmental and occupational stressors such as chemicals, air pollution, noise and aeroallergens on immune-mediated diseases (IMDs) across the lifespan. By developing policy recommendations, training tools and awareness materials, EXPOSIM aims to provide the necessary support to its stakeholders: patients, highly exposed workers, researchers, policymakers and all EU citizens. The project, led by KU Leuven, will start on 1 January 2025, with the overall aim of accelerating the transition towards a health-promoting environment for all European citizens.

A growing threat to immune health - A threat to the health of millions

Imagine a world where everyone is affected by a chronic disease. Sounds like a scary future, doesn't it? According to the World Health Organization, this could become a reality by 2030 if we don't act now. It all starts with a simple statistic - the current prevalence of autoimmune diseases is 20.3% in women, while it is only 11.6% in men. Workers who are exposed to particles and solvents are also listed as an important risk group. In Europe, IMDs are among the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in children and affect between 10 and 25% of the population. These conditions have a huge impact on individuals and society in general.

According to the WHO, IMDs are influenced by both intrinsic (e.g. genetics, hormones) and extrinsic (e.g. pollution, living environment, social interactions) factors during the process of disease onset, development and progression, with the environmental contribution exceeding 50% and up to 95% for some autoimmune diseases. How these environmental stressors can affect health is one of the many questions that the EXPOSIM project aims to answer.

From stressors to solutions: EXPOSIM innovations

Through extensive studies, EXPOSIM will provide a deeper understanding of how combined environmental stressors such as air pollution, noise and hazardous waste affect our immune health. From pregnancy to adulthood, EXPOSIM will investigate how these stressors affect our bodies and potentially contribute to immune-mediated diseases (IMDs). By identifying the biological pathways and molecular mechanisms involved, EXPOSIM will uncover the complex relationship between our environment and our health. But it's not just about understanding the problem: EXPOSIM also focuses on finding solutions. The project will show the effectiveness of interventions to reduce exposure and promote health, with special emphasis on vulnerable and highly exposed people (mother-child population, workers at risk, etc.). EXPOSIM also recognizes the importance of collaboration and commitment. By bringing together scientists, policymakers, health professionals and citizens, the project aims to co-create health promotion, education and training actions and create a user-friendly toolbox for use at the regional, national level and the EU.

Joining forces for a healthier future

EXPOSIM has ambitious goals and to achieve them, it brings together a consortium of nine European partners with diverse experience in exposome research. The consortium is geographically balanced and experienced, with members involved in projects such as EXIMIOUS, EPHOR, EHEN, PARC and METEOR. This interdisciplinary team includes experts in epidemiology, immunology, omics, data analysis, health economics, and social sciences and humanities. Through this collaboration, EXPOSIM aims to contribute to a better understanding of environmental factors on human health and contribute to the general well-being of European citizens.

Facts and figures

The funding program is Horizon Europe (HORIZON-HLTH-2024-ENVHLTH), and has a budget of 8.35 million euros. The program will start on January 1, 2025, and will end on December 31, 2029. And the consortium is made up of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, the Folkehelseinstitutte, the Aarhus Universitet, the Universiteit de Hasselt, Universidade Nova, Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljo, Biogenity ApS, Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy - Panstwowy Instytut Badawczy and accelopment Schweiz AG.

Drs. María Jesús Cruz and Xavier Muñoz, from the VHIR Pulmonology Research Group, will participate in the project investigating the impact of environmental exposures on respiratory diseases mediated by the immune system, such as asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. These pathologies affect millions of people worldwide and are influenced by environmental factors such as pollution and exposure to chemical or biological agents. Understanding these relationships can help identify risk factors, develop prevention strategies and improve treatments, contributing to reducing the burden of these diseases in the population.