Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EIRENE PPP (Environmental Exposure Assessment Research Infrastructure Preparatory Phase Project)
Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2025-09-30
EIRENE (Research Infrastructure for Environmental Exposure Assessment in Europe) is the first European initiative dedicated to studying the human exposome—the full range of environmental factors influencing health throughout life, including air, water, food, chemicals, and social environments. Understanding these interactions is vital for disease prevention, well-being, and evidence-based policy.
Europe currently lacks a consolidated infrastructure for large-scale exposome research. Prioritised in the 2021 ESFRI Roadmap, EIRENE addresses this gap by creating a pan-European platform integrating advanced technologies, harmonised laboratory capacities, and comprehensive data resources. The preparatory phase (EIRENE PPP) designs the scientific and technical architecture, governance, legal frameworks, and sustainable funding models, alongside robust data systems, ethical guidelines, and training programmes. By offering transnational and virtual access to services and integrated data, EIRENE will foster excellence in environmental and health research, support policy, drive healthcare innovation, and strengthen industrial competitiveness.
Europe currently lacks a consolidated infrastructure for large-scale exposome research. Prioritised in the 2021 ESFRI Roadmap, EIRENE addresses this gap by creating a pan-European platform integrating advanced technologies, harmonised laboratory capacities, and comprehensive data resources. The preparatory phase (EIRENE PPP) designs the scientific and technical architecture, governance, legal frameworks, and sustainable funding models, alongside robust data systems, ethical guidelines, and training programmes. By offering transnational and virtual access to services and integrated data, EIRENE will foster excellence in environmental and health research, support policy, drive healthcare innovation, and strengthen industrial competitiveness.
EIRENE PPP advanced the concept and structure of EIRENE, documented in the Vision & Strategy, which unifies national infrastructures into a distributed network offering harmonised services and open access. The architecture is organised around six pillars: chemical profiling, toxicological profiling, biological profiling, environmental data and samples, human data and samples, and data tools—providing physical and virtual access to labs, biobanks, monitoring programmes, and computational platforms.
Core services were defined through stakeholder consultations, resulting in a service catalogue and access rules. A Data Management Plan, data policy, and ethical guidelines were developed, aligned with FAIR principles and GDPR. Governance and legal frameworks were proposed, selecting the ERIC model as most suitable. A financial model and business plan were completed, alongside HR strategies and a training roadmap, including an EIRENE Training Network to address skill gaps.
Socioeconomic impact analysis and KPIs were established. EIRENE strengthened global visibility, partnering with initiatives such as NEXUS (US) and IHEN. Open-access capacities were developed, including SOPs, spectral libraries, datasets, and Galaxy-based data pipelines via ELIXIR. These achievements position EIRENE as a key infrastructure for exposome research, supporting informed decisions and contributing to environmental protection, public health, and policy.
Core services were defined through stakeholder consultations, resulting in a service catalogue and access rules. A Data Management Plan, data policy, and ethical guidelines were developed, aligned with FAIR principles and GDPR. Governance and legal frameworks were proposed, selecting the ERIC model as most suitable. A financial model and business plan were completed, alongside HR strategies and a training roadmap, including an EIRENE Training Network to address skill gaps.
Socioeconomic impact analysis and KPIs were established. EIRENE strengthened global visibility, partnering with initiatives such as NEXUS (US) and IHEN. Open-access capacities were developed, including SOPs, spectral libraries, datasets, and Galaxy-based data pipelines via ELIXIR. These achievements position EIRENE as a key infrastructure for exposome research, supporting informed decisions and contributing to environmental protection, public health, and policy.
• Scientific Excellence: EIRENE sets a strategic vision and R&I agenda based on scientific and societal challenges, stakeholder needs, and technical capacity assessments. It bridges gaps between existing infrastructures (ACTRIS, ICOS, SHARE, ELIXIR, BBMRI, ECRIN, METROFOOD), enabling interdisciplinary research aligned with EU priorities such as SRIA and the Green Deal.
• Problem-Solving Capacity: A robust design and roadmap will mobilise resources for sustainable funding, investments, and capacity building. Harmonised labs for biomarker screening, structured cohort networks, and advanced computational tools will enable interpretation of complex exposure data, fostering excellence in Environment & Health research.
• Strategic Foundation: Technical design, legal and financial frameworks underpin the updated business plan, guiding national authorities and funders. Decisions on legal structure and financial model were endorsed by stakeholders to secure long-term commitment. The Czech Republic shows strong political and financial support; other countries require continued engagement for broader participation.
• Aligning Investments: A detailed inventory of capacities and regional strategies will inform development and investment plans. Short-term upgrades of national infrastructures and long-term strategies—including HR development—will optimise resources and prevent duplication. Education and training funding will ensure skilled personnel and clear perspectives for future investments.
• Global Leadership: KPIs will monitor socio-economic contributions and progress toward strategic goals, reinforcing EIRENE’s role as a global leader in exposome science.
• Problem-Solving Capacity: A robust design and roadmap will mobilise resources for sustainable funding, investments, and capacity building. Harmonised labs for biomarker screening, structured cohort networks, and advanced computational tools will enable interpretation of complex exposure data, fostering excellence in Environment & Health research.
• Strategic Foundation: Technical design, legal and financial frameworks underpin the updated business plan, guiding national authorities and funders. Decisions on legal structure and financial model were endorsed by stakeholders to secure long-term commitment. The Czech Republic shows strong political and financial support; other countries require continued engagement for broader participation.
• Aligning Investments: A detailed inventory of capacities and regional strategies will inform development and investment plans. Short-term upgrades of national infrastructures and long-term strategies—including HR development—will optimise resources and prevent duplication. Education and training funding will ensure skilled personnel and clear perspectives for future investments.
• Global Leadership: KPIs will monitor socio-economic contributions and progress toward strategic goals, reinforcing EIRENE’s role as a global leader in exposome science.