Reliable gene-lifestyle interaction studies will yield important evidence for the shaping of personalised healthcare. Studies need statistical power with adequate environmental exposures and lifestyle heterogeneity to obtain reliable evidence on the interplay between nurture and nature. Europe has a historic strength in large epidemiological studies but technology development and implementation is needed to better ascertain environmental exposure and dietary heterogeneity. There is a lack of information about the quality and quantity of biological samples of existing European cohorts and about the completeness and consistency of phenotype data. This type of information is required.
