Approved Research

Exposome, genetic predisposition in complex diseases and multimorbidity

Lay summary

The causes of complex diseases are still poorly understood and are likely to involve multiple factors including genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, lifestyle, the social and economic context. Epidemiological studies have identified several factors that may increase or decrease disease risk or may impact disease prognosis and quality of life. Innovative approaches are necessary to determine whether such factors are "true causes", i.e. factors that would reduce disease incidence when modified or removed through interventions (e.g. a modified diet, the reduction of exposure to a chemical substance). Our aim is to (i) evaluate whether known or suspected factors truly influence the development of diseases, considered as single entities as well as possibly interconnected diseases (multimorbidity); (ii) explore genetic factors jointly influencing multiple diseases with the aim of identifying the underlying biological mechanisms; (iii) use methods broadly known as "causal inference" that includes the use of genetic data (Mendelian randomization) or other types of data to distinguish between true causal factors from statistical associations; and (iv) identify interactions between factors (e.g. a genetic factor and an environmental exposure) that may improve prediction of disease occurrence or prognosis.