CIOP-PIB participates in an international project Environmental stressors as causal determinants for immune-mediated diseases – mapping and prioritising evidence for knowledge-based policy-making (EXPOSIM). The project is funded under HORIZON EUROPE.

General information

EXPOSIM aims to provide a strong evidence base to better understand the impact of environmental stressors on immune health.

In a large majority of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including the immune-mediated diseases (IMDs), complex gene-environmental interactions contribute to the onset and development of disease through the modulation of biological pathways. IMDs are characterized by abnormal immune responses, have limited therapeutic options and require lifelong treatment if not detected during the preclinical stage. EXPOSIM will provide a strong evidence base to better understand the impact of combined environmental stressors on immune health, with a focus on air pollution, noise and hazardous waste in urban areas. More specifically, the project consortium will investigate the impact of environmental stressors – the external exposome – on IMDs and immune health at different stages in life (pregnancy, childhood and adulthood). Project partners will identify biological pathways and molecular mechanisms mediating the effect of combined exposures on IMDs. Through case studies and topical reviews, the effectiveness of exposure-reducing and health promoting interventions will be demonstrated, with a focus on vulnerable and highly exposed individuals. This knowledge will be translated into policy recommendations and informed decision-support tools. Moreover, the project emphasises on scientific collaborations and stakeholder engagement, involving co-creation of health-promoting actions, education, training and communication. EXPOSIM will build a user friendly toolbox for regional, national and EU policymakers, health professionals, researchers and citizens. To reach its ambitious objectives, EXPOSIM brings together a geographically balanced, experienced interdisciplinary consortium of ten European partners with complementary expertise in exposome research, epidemiology, immunology, omics, novel data analytics, health economics and social sciences and humanities. Ultimately, EXPOSIM will contribute to a healthy environment and healthy lives for all EU citizens.

CIOP-PIB’s contribution

CIOP-PIB is involved in several project work packages:

• Knowledge mapping of the policy and regulatory framework and state of research
• Exposure-reducing and health-promoting interventions in waste workers
• Understanding of biological mechanisms and pathways from exposome to immune health
• Stakeholder engagement: Needs and opportunities assessment for evidence-based exploitation
• Science-to-policy action and supporting the co-creation of exposure-reducing and health-promoting actions with stakeholders
• Training and education: Capacity building for relevant actors
• Dissemination, exploitation and communication
• Ethics
• Data Management and Biobanking
• Management and coordination

CIOP-PIB is a co-leader in identifying potential risk factors for waste workers, studying markers of inflammation and early signs of health effects, and implementing appropriate preventive measures. We aim to mitigate risks associated with waste workers’ occupational exposures. In addition, we will actively participate in and generate new data in research on biological mechanisms in relation to external exposome components and immune-mediated diseases.

Project Consortium

The project consortium consists of ten partners from 7 different countries.

Project duration

The project has received funding for 60 months from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2029.

More information about the project

https://exposim.eu/

https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101156311

Exposim Press Release

Contact information

Anna Koržinek

International Cooperation Division

Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute

e-mail: ankor@ciop.pl