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The EDGE Center

The EDGE Center is committed to conducting and communicating cutting edge science that reduces the burden of environmentally-related diseases through science translation into policy and practice.

Stories from the blog

Head shot of Joe Lim wearing a white coat in a lab.

Environmental exposures, the gut microbiome, and metabolic health

Joe Lim explores how exposure to toxicants during early development can contribute to disease development in adulthood

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A group of researchers pose for a selfie on a city sidewalk

Many EDGE researchers present at the 2025 ISES/ISEE conference in Atlanta

EDGE research was well-represented at the 2025 Joint Annual Meeting of the International Society of Exposure Science and the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology in Atlanta.

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An illustration of a brain cell with signs of inflammation.

Better understanding Alzheimer’s disease risk by creating a model of interacting brain vulnerabilities

Shelly Erickson is studying how air pollution exposure and aging interact to affect traumatic brain injury, a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

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In the News

Your kitchen is full of microplastics. Here's how to eat less of them
September 22, 2025 | BBC | Featured: Sheela Sathyanarayana | View

Wildfire Smoke Now Kills 41,000 Americans a Year, Study Finds
September 19, 2025 | HealthDay | Featured: Joel Kaufman | View

New study shows impact of One Health Clinic on young people experiencing homelessness with pets
September 17, 2025 | Trends | Featured: Peter Rabinowitz | View

Mold Allergy? 4 Tips to Protect Your Health
September 17, 2025 | Right as Rain-UW Medicine | Featured: Catherine Karr | View

Wildfire smoke to drift into greater Seattle area, impacting air quality
September 15, 2025 | FOX 13 | Featured: Coralynn Sack | View

The health risks from plastics almost nobody knows about
September 4, 2025 | The Washington Post | Featured: Sheela Sathyanarayana | View

Graphic showing an overlap of environment, choices and genes, with health in the middle.

The EDGE Center is committed to conducting and communicating science that reduces the burden of environmentally-related diseases through science translation into policy and practice. We use cutting edge molecular and systems biology to explore how the interactions of genetics, epigenetics and environmental factors contribute to diseases of public health importance. In particular, we are at the forefront of research into molecular signatures (biomarkers) associated with toxicant exposure. Our work to uncover important genetic, epigenetic and environmental contributions to chronic diseases can help improve prevention, early diagnosis, and the development of effective treatments. Such developments will substantially reduce the social burden and health care costs associated with sickness and early death caused by diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, liver disease, kidney disease, metabolic disorders like diabetes, chronic neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and developmental and reproductive disorders.