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Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

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About me:

Francesco Casanova research is exploring the association between metabolic and mental health using genetic epidemiology and data science techniques. His research investigates a wide range of mental health conditions including depression, schizophrenia and neurodegenerative diseases.

Francesco obtained his PhD in Exercise Physiology from Bangor University and in 2010 joined the University of Exeter working in the Diabetes & Vascular Medicine Research Centre led by Professor Angela Shore. Francesco worked on the SUMMIT project (http://www.imi-summit.eu/), an IMI funded project with 29 partners.

Francesco joined the Complex Traits Genomics team in 2019 after collaborating with the team for a few years. Francesco worked with Dr Jess Tyrrell to explore causal relationships between metabolic traits, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, and mental health traits.

In March 2022 Francesco joined the Epidemiology and Public Health group to investigate the role of plasma and brain iron in cognitive decline and dementia using Mendelian randomization. This project is a collaboration between Exeter and the National Institute of Aging (NIA) in Baltimore (USA).

Interests:

Francesco's research is using data science to explore the association between metabolic traits (for example obesity and type 2 diabetes) and mental health and cognitive phenotypes. Francesco is an expert in using genetic epidemiology statistical analysis techniques such as Mendelian Randomization and Gene by Environment interaction, amongst others. Francesco has also explored the causal role of iron in mental health, with focus on neurodegenerative disease (dementia and Parkinson's disease).

Francesco is interested in exploring how the association between metabolic and mental health/cognition differs between populations and how it is influenced by psycosocial factors, currently focusing on European and Chinese populations using the UK Biobank and the China Kadoorie Biobank. Francesco's research is also investigating the positive role of physical activity on mental health outcomes.

Qualifications:

PhD

BSc

AFHEA

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