Dr. Cassano and her research group lead the following studies:

• Pat served as multi-PI with collaborator Dana Hancock (RTI, International) to lead an NIH-funded study of gene-by-nutrient interactions in relation to pulmonary function phenotypes. This project is finalizing publications in 2025. The project investigates the relation of genetic variation to pulmonary phenotypes using data from the UK Biobank, from CHARGE (a consortium of genome-wide association studies) and from the COPD Gene Study. These studies discovered new genetic variants that interact with nutrition, including vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, to influence lung function decline and risk of COPD, and the project is also exploring the mediation of effects through the methylome.

Other research in progress:

• The Nutrition for Precision Health Study is designed to develop algorithms to predict inter-individual differences in response to diet. It is a multi-site study, involving 16 centers. Dr. Cassano is co-investigator in the study’s Research Coordinating Center, which is funded through an NIH Common Fund Initiative (U24) through 2027.
• Systematic reviews of nutrient--disease associations including 2 Cochrane reviews in progress: vitamin D and prevention of asthma and atopic dermatitis in children; vitamin B interventions for sickle cell disease patients.