Redefining Health in the Age of Exposomics

While genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics reveal vital aspects of human biology, they overlook a major influence—our environment. The emerging field of exposomics aims to fill this gap by measuring how external factors, like pollution or stress, interact with our genes and shape health outcomes.

At Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Banbury Center, experts proposed integrating exposomics into biomedicine to better understand complex health effects, such as those following a chemical spill. These may include physical illness, job loss, mental health issues, and gene-environment interactions.

The group also advocates creating a "human exposome" reference, similar to the Human Genome Project. Future wearable tech could even monitor individual exposures in real time. These advancements could revolutionize medicine—making the Banbury meeting a turning point for biology, environmental health, and personalized care.

18-06-2025