GEI+Overview

__**GEI Overview**__ The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI) is National Institutes of Health (NIH) collaboration between geneticists and environmental scientists. The GEI has two main components:
 * 1) The Genetics Program is a pipeline for analyzing genetic variation in groups of patients with specific illnesses.
 * 2) The Exposure Biology Program is an environmental technology development program to produce and validate new methods for monitoring environmental exposures that interact with a genetic variation to result in human diseases.

The PALMS (Personal Activity Location Measurement System) project is classified under the Exposure Biology program. A primary objective of the projects supported under this program is to develop innovative technologies to measure environmental exposures, diet, physical activity, psychosocial stress, and addictive substances that contribute to the development of disease.

Researchers in both components of GEI will work closely together to use and develop technologies used in genome-wide association studies to focus on common conditions, such as tooth decay, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. This should lead to a more thorough understanding of the underlying factors of many common diseases.

For more information on GEI, please visit the GEI homepage: []