Frontiers | Insights into Predictive Toxicology and Exposomics 2025

About this Research Topic

Submission deadlines

Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline 12 January 2026 | Manuscript Submission Deadline 2 May 2026
This Research Topic is currently accepting articles.
1. Check author guidelines

Background

This Research Topic spotlights pioneering work at the intersection of exposome science, functional genomics, and precision health. We invite contributions that move beyond associations to deliver mechanistic insight, predictive capability, and translational impact, illuminating how diverse exposures across the lifespan interact with the human genome and epigenome to shape biology and health.

This collection seeks studies that integrate multi-omics (genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) with exposomics to resolve the complexity of interindividual variability in toxicological responses. We especially welcome approaches that bridge endogenous exposures (e.g., diet-derived metabolites, microbiome-produced molecules, stress physiology) with exogenous toxicants (e.g., PFAS, phthalates, pesticides, metals) using modern measurement platforms capable of simultaneously detecting natural metabolites and environmental contaminants. Contributions leveraging high-throughput functional genomics (such as CRISPR screens and single-cell omics), advanced computational modeling and machine learning, and multi-scale systems frameworks are strongly encouraged.

We aim to curate research that generates actionable, testable predictions; uncovers causal pathways and mediators; and validates personalized biomarkers for risk stratification, early detection, and intervention. We also encourage submissions that harness real-world data streams, wearable sensors, and digital health readouts; build translational pipelines from discovery to clinical or public health practice; and address ethical, regulatory, and equity dimensions, including genetic privacy, algorithmic fairness, and access to precision environmental health.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

o Construction and validation of multi-omics signatures, including genetic and epigenetic markers for toxicity prediction and precision risk assessment;

o Integration of exposome and genomics analytics to forecast disease risk or adverse outcomes;

o Novel computational and machine learning models for toxicological prediction, including genetically stratified and mechanistically informed approaches;

o Functional genomics to identify causal mediators and mechanisms in toxicological pathways (e.g., gene editing, single-cell and spatial technologies);

o Use of real-world data, wearable sensors, and digital phenotyping in exposome and gene–environment interaction research;

o Predictive paradigms that connect endogenous (metabolic, microbial, neuroendocrine/psychological) and exogenous (environmental, chemical, lifestyle) exposures within the context of genetic variation;

o Development of in vitro, in vivo, and in silico models enabling precision toxicology, dose–response inference, and cross-species translation;

o Translational and clinical studies linking predictive signatures to individualized interventions, surveillance, and policy-relevant risk assessment;

o Ethical, regulatory, and societal implications, including genetic privacy, transparency, and equity in predictive toxicology;

o Enabling technologies and methodologies for high-resolution exposome profiling and integrative multi-omics characterization;

Submissions focused solely on single-analyte predictors, isolated pathways, or descriptive associations without mechanistic, predictive, or translational relevance will not be considered.

Our vision is to establish a global forum for rigorous, integrative science that advances predictive toxicology and the multi-signature exposome.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

Brief Research Report
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
Opinion

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Keywords: Exposome multi-omics integration Precision toxicology Functional genomics (CRISPR, single-cell) Mechanistic machine learning models Gene–environment interactions Predictive biomarkers and translational pipelines

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Topic editors

DM
douglas mark ruden
Wayne State University
Detroit, United States

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Frontiers in Genetics

Toxicogenomics

Manuscripts can be submitted to this Research Topic via the main journal or any other participating journal.