Health is essential for an optimal life and is a fundamental human right. Primary public health or promotion of health for the prevention of diseases has more to offer than is currently explored in research and development. My long-term career goal is to contribute to better health and prevention of diseases among populations. My research interests include environmental health, epigenetics, common complex diseases, local, urban and global exposures, population and global health.

Our environment is larger than the natural and built ecosystems. Social, cultural, economic and political influences are all part of our environment. I prefer the term exposome because it is more inclusive compared with the term ‘environment’. The exposome includes all exposures, determines our lifestyle and subsequently affects our health. It influences the expression of our genes and the science of epigenetics needs to be included in how we address our health. Our genes and individual behaviours have long been burdened with our health status. We ride tandem with the exposome but we know little about how to ride healthy!

The prevalence of common complex diseases (CCDs) is accelerating and infectious diseases continue to be a burden. Globally, epidemiology patterns are shifting and much research is needed on how the exposome is affecting health and diseases.

The world is increasingly a small place and we are global citizens. Climate change and Global Environmental Changes (GEC) are acute phenomena that are affecting living environments and migration in populations. The adverse effects of these phenomena on public health are disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. India is especially vulnerable because we are an emerging economy with the largest potential for urbanization and an impending need for investing in and modernizing public health.

Research is fundamental to the progress of public health, which is critical for achievement of each Sustainable Development Goal.

Common Complex Diseases: These diseases are common globally and are very complex because of the multiple factors associated with them. Type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and cancer are examples. The term non-communicable diseases (NCDs) undermines the increasing prevalence and interdependence of factors causing these diseases.

Epigenetics: It is the science of heritable changes in gene-expression that occur without changes in the DNA sequence.

Global Environmental Changes: these are cumulative changes to the environment which are affecting natural systems that are the basis of human civilization (https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040218-043706) These changes potentially impact health and development and are an effect of human activity on earth.