The EIRENE Implementation Phase Project (EIRENE IMP) supports the transition of EIRENE from its preparatory phase into a fully operational, distributed European research infrastructure (RI). EIRENE entered the ESFRI Roadmap in 2021 and addresses a major gap in the European RI landscape: the absence of coordinated, large‑scale infrastructure dedicated to exposome research, i.e., the comprehensive study of environmental exposures and their effects on human health over the life course.

Background and Rationale

Environmental exposures—including chemicals, air pollution, lifestyle factors, and socio‑environmental conditions—play a crucial role in the rise of non‑communicable diseases. While Europe has made major investments in genomics, exposome science has lacked long‑term infrastructure, harmonized methodologies, and data frameworks. As a result, current research remains fragmented, and unable to comprehensively assess complex exposure mixtures or long‑term health trajectories.
EIRENE aims to deliver the exposome equivalent of the Human Genome Project, assembling a high‑capacity research infrastructure with harmonized tools, shared data systems, and coordinated access to advanced measurement and modelling technologies.

Mission and Strategic Aim

EIRENE’s mission is to advance frontier exposome science, support environmental health research, and provide high‑quality, interoperable services that enable robust, reproducible analyses of environmental exposures and their health impacts. The strategic goal for 2025–2030 is for EIRENE to become a fully operational European RI, legally established as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) and capable of delivering services to academia, policymakers, industry, and society.

Consortium

The EIRENE IMP consortium unites 23 core partners acting as national hub coordinators, representing 19 European countries, plus partners from the USA, Australia, Canada, and Japan. This global reach enables interoperability with existing exposome initiatives such as IHEN, NEXUS, and the Global Exposome Forum. As an additional consulting partner, X‑officio provides specialised legal, governance, and procurement support for establishing EIRENE ERIC .

What EIRENE Will Provide

EIRENE will develop and coordinate:

• High‑throughput mass spectrometry platforms, AI‑driven analytical tools, and multiomics integration.
• Wearable sensors, micro‑samplers, and geospatial data systems for external exposure monitoring.
• New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for hazard characterization and mixture toxicity testing.
• Integrated data infrastructures aligned with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).
• A unified transnational access (TNA) and virtual access (VA) framework.
• A user‑oriented service catalogue, training programmes, and science‑to‑policy interfaces.

Key Objectives of the Implementation Phase (SO1–SO6)

1. Scientific Excellence & Service Provision (SO1)
   Finalise scientific vision, service architecture, quality frameworks, and harmonised infrastructure services.
2. Consolidating the Consortium (SO2)
   Secure long‑term national commitments, financial sustainability, and operational readiness.
3. Establishing the Legal Entity (SO3)
   Prepare the full ERIC application, including Statutes, governance model, implementing rules, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and staffing.
4. Data Infrastructure & Governance (SO4)
   Implement robust FAIR‑aligned data governance, ELSI (Ethical, Legal and Social Implications) frameworks, interoperability standards, and EOSC integration.
5. User & Provider Communities (SO5)
   Build and train a broad user base, develop a single‑entry access system, and create the EIRENE Training Network.
6. Global Impact & International Positioning (SO6)
   Strengthen global collaborations, demonstrate socioeconomic value, and develop innovation and communication strategies.

Implementation Approach

The project is structured into 10 Work Packages, grouped under three thematic pillars:

1. Enabling Science: Finalizing the scientific and technological vision, service architecture, and access policies; piloting services and user pathways.
2. Sustainable Operation: Establishing the ERIC legal structure, governance, financial model, managerial capacity, and long‑term sustainability.
3. Delivering Value on a Global Scale: Building data infrastructures, FAIR frameworks, user support systems, an international collaboration roadmap, and socioeconomic impact assessment tools.

Expected Results by Project End

By month 36, the project will deliver:

• A ready‑to-submit ERIC application (statutes, governance, financial plan).
• A fully developed service architecture and interim service catalogue.
• A complete data governance and FAIR framework.
• A User Access and Support System and a functional training network.
• Socioeconomic impact models, communication strategies, and stakeholder engagement mechanisms.
• An operational central office with defined roles for hubs, nodes, and service centers.

At this stage, EIRENE will be prepared to launch its operational phase and provide open, high‑quality services to its scientific, industrial, and policy communities.

Long-Term Impact

EIRENE will:

• Advance exposome‑informed precision public health.
• Enable evidence-based chemical regulation and support EU Green Deal, Zero Pollution, and One Health initiatives.
• Strengthen the European Research Area by integrating fragmented efforts across environmental, health, biomedical, and social science domains.
• Improve European competitiveness, stimulate innovation, and provide a basis for major public‑health and environmental policy decisions.