The EXIMIOUS consortium held its final General Assembly on 26–27 May 2025, hosted by the coordination team at KU Leuven. The hybrid meeting took place at the Faculty Club in Leuven and online, bringing together project partners, the Project Officer (PO), the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and select external stakeholders to review the project’s progress and discuss final outcomes.
The first day of the General Assembly, Monday 26 May, opened with a presentation in which the coordination team provided a high-level overview of the project, highlighting relevant progress and dissemination outcomes led by Work Package 7 (WP7).
Session 2 focused on the scientific progress within WP2 and WP3. The respective teams presented key outcomes and results, showcasing how the project advanced occupational and disease cohort studies to map complex exposure-immune response relationships. Discussions continued over a working lunch and poster session.
In the afternoon, Session 3 featured highlights from WP4, WP5 and WP6, focusing on toxicological assessments, omics data integration, and systems modelling. A collaborative poster viewing and breakout session followed, where participants engaged in group discussions on dissemination strategies, scientific publications and the of tools developed under EXIMIOUS.
On Tuesday 27 May, the General Assembly aimed at presenting the project’s broader impact.
Session 4, titled “EXIMIOUS, the larger picture”, began with a welcome by the KU Leuven coordination team. This was followed by compelling presentations:
- Pieter Bertier (Becoh) assessed occupational vs. disease cohort exposure approaches.
- Unni Cecilie Nygaard (NIPH) shared novel insights into blood cells as biomarkers in immune assessments.
- Camilla Sandal Sejbæk (RegionH) presented the innovative use of databases in exposome research through the “DocX” experience.
- Maria Cruz Jesus & David Soler (VHIR) concluded the session with a fascinating look at fungal exposures from bird nests and links to hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Following a short coffee break and poster viewing, Session 5 focused on EXIMIOUS’ basic research. Four talks highlighted key cohort studies and analytical methodologies:
- Riccardo Leinardi (UCL) discussed metal exposure in autoimmune diseases.
- Horatiu Moldovan (UMFST) & Rani Claus (KU Leuven) presented integrated occupational monitoring strategies.
- Louise Vermaele (NRCWE NFA/ KU Leuven) explored self-reported health symptoms in waste workers.
- Rafael Valente Veiga (UCAM) introduced a multi-omics integration framework for exposure-immune data.
The event concluded with an open-floor discussion, celebrating the project’s scientific outcomes and outlining pathways for future research and innovation in environmental health and immunology.
