Why GenV Matters for Our Health – Now and for the Future

Every day, our bodies are affected by the world around us. This includes the air we breathe, the food we eat, the stress we feel, and even the places we live. Scientists call this mix of things the “exposome”. It includes things like air quality, diet, exercise, pollution, and social connections. 

The exposome can have a big impact on our health – sometimes even more than our genes. When we know which parts of the exposome matter most, we can help stop people from getting sick. 

That’s where GenV comes in. GenV is the largest health and wellbeing study of its kind in Australia. Almost 125,000 children and parents are already taking part.  The GenV families reflects the diversity of people living in Victoria and much of Australia. This makes the information from GenV useful for everyone. 

By following families over time, GenV can: 

• Spot early signs of health issues like asthma, food allergies, obesity, or anxiety.  

• Learn what works to slow or even stop disease before it starts. 

• Understand how life situations – like where we live and the food eat – change our health. 

The best part? This information doesn’t just help now, it can help plan for decades to come. Researchers across Australia and the world can use it to make health care fairer and better for all. 

Every family in GenV is part of something bigger than themselves. GenV is a “once in a generation” resource that can make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of children today and in years to come.  

GenV’s Scientific Director, Professor Melissa Wake, recently spoke to the ABC about the exposome and how GenV is helping to unlock its secrets. You can read the full article here.