The EDC-MASLD project: gaining a better understanding of the progression of MASLD to severe forms, particularly the role of environmental exposures
Background
- The EDC-MASLD project addresses a major public health need in Europe: to better understand why, in some individuals, MASLD progresses to severe forms, while in others it remains mild—and, above all, what role environmental exposures (endocrine disruptors) play in this progression.
- Thanks to a large European cohort and multidisciplinary approaches (clinical, biological, omics, modeling, socio-economic), the project aims not only to describe associations, but also to elucidate mechanisms, identify predictive biomarkers, develop screening tools, and inform public health recommendations and regulatory policies.
- EDC-MASLD embodies an ambitious European initiative that seeks to broaden understanding of MASLD by including often overlooked environmental determinants. By combining clinical data, molecular biology, exposomics, toxicology, and modeling, and by mobilizing a large international consortium, the project has the potential to rewrite the trajectory of research on hepatic steatosis, influence public health and environmental policies, and propose concrete avenues for prevention and screening.
Project objectives
- The project aims to characterize the impact of environmental exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDCs) on the internal exposome and the severity of liver damage in MASLD, to understand the mechanisms involved, to develop an integrative systems biology platform for their study, and to identify pathways of impact to inform decision-makers and citizens.
Patient benefits
- EDC-MASLD could profoundly change the way we approach MASLD—no longer just as a consequence of metabolism, but as a multifactorial disease at the intersection of metabolism, environment, lifestyle, genetics, and socioeconomic factors.
Duration of the study
- 2 years
Overall budget
€569,000
Project leaders
Prof. Vlad Ratziu (APHP / IHU ICAN)
