The overarching goal of the Cassano Research Group is to understand the role of nutrition and its interaction with the genome in the etiology of chronic disease. Our past studies provided evidence that nutrients with antioxidant properties play a role in the etiology of lung disease, and this line of research culminated in a randomized controlled trial of vitamin E and selenium supplementation to study effects on rate of decline in lung function and risk of COPD. The trial found a protective effect of selenium on a marker of lung function decline in cigarette smokers, and evidence that vitamin E was protective in a subset of participants. Given important contributions of genetic susceptibility to major chronic diseases, and the hypothesis that dietary exposures interact with genomic variation in the causation of chronic disease, we also study whether genomic variation contributes to differential responses to diet in relation to lung phenotypes. For example, we found a differential response to vitamin E supplementation by genotype in a randomized trial of supplementation (Xu et al, 2022). Understanding the role of genetic variation, and the interaction between genes and nutrients, is important to identify prevention targets and to provide the best advice for dietary guidance to avoid chronic disease. The Cassano Research Group findings are contributing to the evidence base needed for precision nutrition approaches to dietary guidance.
Our work includes collaborations with the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium, the SpiroMeta consortium, and the COPD Gene Study to directly investigate gene-by-nutrient interactions in relation to pulmonary function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with studies on plasma omega 3 fatty acids, serum vitamin D, dietary patterns, and the dietary intake of fiber and omega 3 fatty acids. Dr. Cassano is a Co-Investigator in the Research Coordinating Center for a multi-site study, the Nutrition for Precision Health Study, which is funded by the NIH Common Fund.
Current projects include:
Genome-wide association study of lung function decline (NIH R01 HL149352, "Nutritional Omics of Lung Function Decline", multi-PIs D Hancock and PA Cassano; funding period ended 11/2024 and final papers anticipated in 2025)
Nutrition for Precision Health, powered by the All of Us Research Program: Research Coordinating Center (NIH U24 HD107676, multi-Pis M Ganz and S Mehta; Cassano PA co-Investigator).
Dr. Cassano's full publication list is available at NCBI.
Contact
Patricia A. Cassano, M.P.H., Ph.D., is the Alan D. Mathios Professor and Director, Division of Nutritional Sciences, and Professor, Department of Population Health Studies, Division of Epidemiology Weill Cornell Medicine, and Director of Graduate Studies for the Minor Field of Epidemiology in the Cornell University Graduate School.
Savage Hall
Ithaca, NY
(607)255-8001 pac6@cornell.edu
