Why GenV matters for our health
01/10/2025
Every day our bodies are influenced by the environment around us. From air quality, diet and stress to social connections and more. Scientists call this mix of exposures the 'exposome', and it can affect our health as much as, or even more than, our genes.
Understanding the exposome is key to preventing disease and promoting wellbeing. But until recently, researchers lacked the scale and diversity of data needed to study it properly.
That’s where GenV comes in. GenV is one of the world’s largest birth and parent cohort studies, led from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. With almost 125,000 children and parents already participating, GenV reflects the diversity of families across Victoria - making its data relevant and powerful for researchers, policymakers, and communities Australia-wide.
By following families over time, GenV can:
- detect early signs of health issues like asthma, obesity, or anxiety
- understand how life circumstances - such as where we live, nutrition, and stress - shape health outcomes
- identify what works to prevent disease before it starts.
This knowledge doesn’t just help today’s children; it can shape health care and policy for decades to come.
In a recent interview with the ABC, GenV’s Scientific Director Professor Melissa Wake explained how GenV is helping researchers unlock the exposome’s secrets. By linking environmental, health, and social data, GenV is creating a 'once in a generation' resource to improve health equity and outcomes for all.
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