How the Science of ‘Exposomics’ Could Improve Drug Safety - A Columbia Magazine Article
Pioneering research seeks to reduce the frequency of adverse drug reactions.
Medication-related harm sends 700,000 people to emergency rooms annually in the U.S. and causes thousands of deaths. To prevent such events, scientists are exploring “exposomics,” a field that maps environmental and behavioral factors—like air pollution, diet, and stress—that influence drug reactions.
Gary Miller, an environmental health sciences professor at Columbia, leads the IndiPHARM project, supported by a $39.5 million federal grant. IndiPHARM aims to develop tools for personalized treatment by analyzing drug interactions with environmental exposures. Initially focusing on conditions like diabetes, fatty liver disease, and obesity; the project will leverage data from large trials and Columbia’s OHDSI database. Miller’s team includes experts from leading institutions like Harvard and the Mayo Clinic.
Additionally, Miller directs NEXUS, a national center promoting exposomics across NIH programs. Together, these initiatives aim to revolutionize precision medicine, improve patient care, and identify previously unrecognized drug interactions.