Advancing tools for human early lifecourse exposome research and translation (ATHLETE)
Authors: Vrijheid Martine , Basagaña Xavier , Gonzalez Juan R. , Jaddoe Vincent W. V. , Jensen Genon , Keun Hector C. , McEachan Rosemary R. C. , Porcel Joana , Siroux Valerie , Swertz Morris A. , Thomsen Cathrine , Aasvang Gunn Marit , Andrušaitytė Sandra , Angeli Karine , Avraam Demetris , Ballester Ferran , Burton Paul , Bustamante Mariona , Casas Maribel , Chatzi Leda , Chevrier Cécile , Cingotti Natacha , Conti David , Crépet Amélie , Dadvand Payam , Duijts Liesbeth , van Enckevort Esther , Esplugues Ana , Fossati Serena , Garlantezec Ronan , Gómez Roig María Dolores , Grazuleviciene Regina , Gützkow Kristine B. , Guxens Mònica , Haakma Sido , Hessel Ellen V. S. , Hoyles Lesley , Hyde Eleanor , Klanova Jana , van Klaveren Jacob D. , Kortenkamp Andreas , Le Brusquet Laurent , Leenen Ivonne , Lertxundi Aitana , Lertxundi Nerea , Lionis Christos , Llop Sabrina , Lopez-Espinosa Maria-Jose , Lyon-Caen Sarah , Maitre Lea , Mason Dan , Mathy Sandrine , Mazarico Edurne , Nawrot Tim , Nieuwenhuijsen Mark , Ortiz Rodney , Pedersen Marie , Perelló Josep , Pérez-Cruz Míriam , Philippat Claire , Piler Pavel , Pizzi Costanza , Quentin Joane , Richiardi Lorenzo , Rodriguez Adrian , Roumeliotaki Theano , Sabin Capote José Manuel , Santiago Leonardo , Santos Susana , Siskos Alexandros P. , Strandberg-Larsen Katrine , Stratakis Nikos , Sunyer Jordi , Tenenhaus Arthur , Vafeiadi Marina , Wilson Rebecca C. , Wright John , Yang Tiffany , Slama Remy 
Published: October 2021

Early life stages are vulnerable to environmental hazards and present important windows of opportunity for lifelong disease prevention. This makes early life a relevant starting point for exposome studies. The Advancing Tools for Human Early Lifecourse Exposome Research and Translation (ATHLETE) project aims to develop a toolbox of exposome tools and a Europe-wide exposome cohort that will be used to systematically quantify the effects of a wide range of community- and individual-level environmental risk factors on mental, cardiometabolic, and respiratory health outcomes and associated biological pathways, longitudinally from early pregnancy through to adolescence. Exposome tool and data development include as follows: (1) a findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable (FAIR) data infrastructure for early life exposome cohort data, including 16 prospective birth cohorts in 11 European countries; (2) targeted and nontargeted approaches to measure a wide range of environmental exposures (urban, chemical, physical, behavioral, social); (3) advanced statistical and toxicological strategies to analyze complex multidimensional exposome data; (4) estimation of associations between the exposome and early organ development, health trajectories, and biological (metagenomic, metabolomic, epigenetic, aging, and stress) pathways; (5) intervention strategies to improve early life urban and chemical exposomes, co-produced with local communities; and (6) child health impacts and associated costs related to the exposome. Data, tools, and results will be assembled in an openly accessible toolbox, which will provide great opportunities for researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders, beyond the duration of the project. ATHLETE’s results will help to better understand and prevent health damage from environmental exposures and their mixtures from the earliest parts of the life course onward.