The International Human Exposome Network trained 22 environmental health researchers from across the globe to be ambassadors for exposome research. The ambassadors from Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and Africa designed and presented their own training projects to be delivered back to their own region and institution.
In a five-day training school held in Barcelona in October 2025, researchers received a crash course on all aspects of exposome research, including hands-on experience applying exposomic tools. Leading experts in the field taught material covering various exposome domains, including exposome maps, geospatial modeling, biomarker and multi-omics methods, and biostatistical principles.
“By using a train-the-trainers approach, IHEN aims to reach a large cohort of young researchers, educating the next generation of exposome researchers in all global regions.”
–Martine Vrijheid, IHEN project coordinator and head of ISGlobal’s Environment and Health over the Lifecourse programme
Why the human exposome?
The human exposome concept is key to understanding the significant impact our environment has on human health, including issues related to urban health, child health, chemicals, and climate. The human exposome refers to the integrated compilation of all physical, chemical, biological, and social influences that impact biology and health.
“The exposome complements the genome. Exposomics tools allow us to embrace the phenotypic complexity and variance that genomic tools can’t do alone.”
– Konstantinos Makris, exposome trainer and Precision Exposomics and Health Lab Director, Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology.
This approach is groundbreaking because it enables researchers to explore multiple types of exposure at the same time. Understanding the human exposome is important to improve the health, social, and economic competitiveness of the populations worldwide.
Stay tuned to meet our exposome ambassadors
