Chronic inflammatory diseases are a significant health issue, responsible for over half of all deaths worldwide. In response to this, a new £50 million research center has been launched to study how environmental exposures contribute to these conditions. The MRC Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) in Exposome Immunology will receive funding over 14 years and will involve teams from the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester.
The focus is on understanding the 'exposome,' which includes various environmental factors like pollution, diet, and infectious diseases that affect health. Researchers aim to explore how these factors interact with genetics to cause disease. Initial studies will examine the impact of air pollution, smoking, and viral infections on the immune system at mucosal barriers such as those in the lungs and gut.
Professor Dame Fiona Powrie from the University of Oxford highlighted the collaborative nature of this initiative: "This is an exciting opportunity to bring together complementary expertise in The University of Manchester and University of Oxford to build a multidisciplinary team to tackle this challenge."
The research will employ artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze large datasets from sources like UK Biobank. These findings will be tested through laboratory studies involving cells, mice, and healthy volunteers exposed to common pollutants.
Professor Judi Allen from The University of Manchester emphasized the importance of understanding environmental interactions: "Globally we’re facing a crisis in chronic inflammatory diseases... We need to understand how our environment interacts with our genes."
The ultimate goal is identifying underlying causes for better prevention and treatment strategies. Professor Patrick Chinnery from MRC stated: "This new MRC Centre of Research Excellence will transform our understanding... paving the way for more effective and targeted treatments."