One of the main benefits with collecting comprehensive genetic information on cohort subjects is the opportunity to assess interactions between genetic factors and prospectively collected environmental data. To date, few gene-environment interactions have been identified and although their extent and clinical impact remain an open empirical question, the current lack of homogenous large datasets with both genetic and environmental data has precluded comprehensive investigation. Capitalizing on this GWAS resource, we will be able to explore gene-environment interactions for a plethora of outcomes including complex traits such as height and BMI, but also disease outcomes. It will also allow us to study the impact of environmental factors within genetic strata to identify individuals for whom a particular intervention might be especially important [56–59].
