Dear Colleagues,

Susceptibility to many chronic diseases is a result of both genetic makeup and environmental influences. Some individuals are born with disease-causing genes while others are at higher risk of acquiring chronic diseases given the influence of their diets, lifestyles, and/or the physical and social environments where they live, work, and play, on their genes. Moreover, there is growing evidence that environmental exposures may cause both DNA mutations that alter the DNA sequence of genes and epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNA expression, that contribute to changes in genome function. Both types of changes may or may not lead to alterations in chronic disease risk. The meaning of such research is not easily translated or communicated to the lay public.

Accordingly, the aim of this Special Issue of IJERPH entitled, “Understanding the interplay between genetic predisposition and environment on chronic disease” is to not only highlight the broad scope of novel and contemporary research focused on the impact of the environment on genetic susceptibility for chronic disease, but also how it is communicated to the lay public. In addition to high-quality quantitative research studies and reviews evaluating the specific roles of gene-environment and epigenetic-environment interactions, we also welcome quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research that seeks to educate the public (including students, patients, high-risk populations, and communities, particularly those that are under-resourced) about chronic disease risk in light of their potential or actual collective susceptibilities.  Submissions authored by interdisciplinary teams as well as those that have meaningfully engaged patients, populations, and/or communities in their studies, using CBPR and citizen science, are particularly encouraged.

We invite articles targeting common chronic diseases including, but not limited to, the following:

• Cancer (all types)
• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Asthma
• Metabolic Syndrome/Obesity

Dr. Melinda S. Butsch Kovacic
Guest Editor

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