CA25174 - Reducing Endocrine Disruptor Exposure for a Healthy Start for Future Generations (EndLess)

EndLess addresses one of Europe’s most urgent yet under-recognised health and sustainability challenges: exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during pregnancy and early childhood. Despite significant scientific advances, early-life exposure to EDCs remains widespread, while prevention efforts are fragmented across disciplines and countries. EndLess will unite researchers and professionals from COST Members and International (YRI).

This Action will build a truly interdisciplinary and intersectoral network that bridges environmental health, toxicology, epidemiology, public health, communication, and social sciences. Its goals are to:(1) map early-life EDC exposure sources; (2) harmonise exposure assessment protocols across Europe; (3) integrate epidemiological and toxicological evidence; (4) develop preventive tools and guidelines; (5) build capacity among YRIs, particularly from ITCs; and (6) ensure long-term sustainability through an open-access digital toolbox consolidating all outputs.

EndLess is a purely networking Action, it will coordinate and synthesise existing knowledge through Working Groups, Training Schools, Short-Term Scientific Missions, and cross-disciplinary workshops. By promoting open science, inclusiveness, and stakeholder engagement, across academia, government agencies, NGOs, SMEs, and international partners, EndLess will transform scientific knowledge into tangible prevention, policy, and educational outcomes. The Action will strengthen Europe’s capacity and leadership in protecting maternal and child health from harmful chemical exposures, ensuring a lasting legacy of collaboration and prevention beyond the Action lifetime.