Patricia Casas Agustench

Academic profile

Dr Patricia Casas Agustench

Lecturer in Nutrition
School of Health Professions (Faculty of Health)

The Global Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Patricia's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

Goal 02: SDG 2 - Zero HungerGoal 03: SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-beingGoal 04: SDG 4 - Quality EducationGoal 12: SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and ProductionGoal 13: SDG 13 - Climate ActionGoal 17: SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

About Patricia

I am a Lecturer in Nutrition with experience across academic institutions in Spain, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Currently, I teach across multiple programmes within the Faculty of Health, including the BSc (Hons) Dietetics, MSc (Hons) Human Nutrition, BSc (Hons) Nutrition, Exercise and Health, and BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science.

I have developed a multidisciplinary research career focused on nutrition and cardiometabolic health, with a strong emphasis on translational science. Over the past 20 years, my work has ranged from examining the benefits of nut consumption on metabolic risk factors to exploring gene–diet and epigenetic interactions that influence obesity and diabetes. I have employed diverse methodologies, including metabolomics, indirect calorimetry, and high-performance liquid chromatography.

More recently, my research has centred on how diet—particularly dietary nitrate and other bioactive compounds—and oral microbiome modulation can support vascular health. This work contributes to a growing field at the intersection of nutrition, oral health, and chronic disease prevention, and aims to develop novel strategies for integrating nutrition into broader preventive healthcare.

This emerging research line builds on my expertise in cardiometabolic nutrition and integrates nutritional science, microbiology, and clinical practice. Its main objectives are:

  1. To elucidate the mechanisms by which dietary components (e.g., nitrate, polyphenols) modulate oral health, particulary the oral microbiome, and influence systemic vascular function;

  2. To develop and clinically test dietary and oral interventions that promote cardiometabolic and oral health; and

  3. To advance integrated care models involving nutrition professionals within dental settings.

Additionally, I collaborate on various projects, including research into the health impacts of sustainable diets.

Member of the Dietetics, Human Nutrition and Health Research Group, and the Oral Microbiome Research Group.

Supervised Research Degrees

Current students:

Lauren Hallewell (PhD in Nutrition and Health), Integrating the dietitian into the dental practice to address childhood body weight and oral health (with Raul Bescos, Zoe Brookes and Robert Witton)

Trudy Accorley (PhD in Biomedical Sciences). The impact of objectively measured sleep patterns, and eating-fasting patterns on continuously monitored plasma glucose levels (with Kathy Redfern and Gail Rees)

Marta Ros (PhD in Health and Psychology). Effect of insect protein consumption as a protein alternative to contribute to health and sustainability (with Anna Bach-Faig)

Teaching

Currently, I lead the following modules:

  • Pharmacology and Metabolism (DIET508), BSc (Hons) Dietetics
  • Immunology and Metabolism (DIET509), BSc (Hons) Dietetics
  • Nutrition sciences (HNUT708), MSc in Human Nutrition

I also support teaching and marking in the following modules:

  • Human Nutrition, Food studies and the Lifecycle (DIET409), BSc (Hons) Dietetics
  • Leadership Roles for Sustainability (DIET611), BSc (Hons) Dietetics
  • Placement B (DIET510), BSc (Hons) Dietetics
  • Dietetics in Practice 1 (DIET511), BSc (Hons) Dietetics
  • Research design (DIET605), BSc (Hons) Dietetics
  • Dissertation (DIET609), BSc (Hons) Dietetics
  • Introduction to Human Nutrition (BHCS1011), BSc (Hons) Nutrition, Exercise and Health
  • Nutritional Science 1 (BHCS2022), BSc (Hons) Nutrition, Exercise and Health
  • Nutritional Science 2 (BHCS2025), BSc (Hons) Nutrition, Exercise and Health
  • Contemporary Issues in Human Health (BHCS3022), BSc (Hons) Nutrition, Exercise and Health and BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science
  • Diet, Exercise and Chronic Disease (BHCS3024), BSc (Hons) Nutrition, Exercise and Health
  • Current Developments in Human Biology and Biomedical Sciences (BHCS3024), BSc Biomedical Sciences with Foundation Year
  • Applied Nutrition (HNUT702), MSc Human Nutrition
  • Protocol (ADV715), MSc Human Nutrition
  • Dissertation (ADV716), MSc Human Nutrition

I have previously been module lead of:

  • Introduction to Nutritional Epidemiology & Public Health Nutrition (DIET412) during 2023-24, BSc (Hons) Dietetics
  • Business and Leadership (SOHP603) during 2021-22, BSc (Hons) Dietetics

Contact Patricia

InterCity Place, Plymouth Railway Station, North Road East,, Plymouth, PL4 6AB
+44 1752 588892