Francesco Paolo Casale Lab

Our research interests lie in the development and application of machine learning and statistical tools to analyze large genetic cohorts with deep molecular and phenotypic data, with the ultimate goal to further our understanding of complex trait biology. We aim to address fundamental biomedical questions such as: Which are the molecular, cellular and organ-level traits associated with disease severity and progression? Which of these are likely to drive disease pathogenesis? How does the interplay of genetic and environmental factors affect these traits?

Our approach combines principles from machine learning, statistical inference and systems genetics, with a strong focus on model scalability, robustness and interpretability. Current major research areas include the development of scalable tools for genetic association studies, deep learning models for imaging genetics, and computational methods to study gene-environment interactions and disease subtypes.