Rachel Cassidy

Rachel Cassidy serves as Vice Chair of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences (Research) at Brown University's Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Her work focuses on tobacco regulatory science, behavioral economics, and nicotine addiction treatment, with a particular emphasis on reducing youth and young adult smoking.

Her research program includes a K01 award (2014) and R01 grants investigating nicotine reduction standards (NRS) and alternative tobacco products like e-cigarettes and cigarillos. She has conducted groundbreaking clinical trials, including the first study of very low nicotine content cigarettes in 15-20 year olds, demonstrating NRS efficacy in reducing cigarette abuse liability.

Key research areas include: behavioral economic frameworks for substance use analysis, policy impacts of nicotine reduction, and dual use of cannabis-tobacco products. She developed a behavioral economic measure for e-cigarette reinforcement (R03DA041820) and explored racial/ethnic disparities in nicotine sensitivity.

Grant-funded work spans NRS effects across populations (including young adults and those with mental illness), alternative product use dynamics, and the role of financial strain in smoking cessation. Over 150 peer-reviewed publications document her contributions to tobacco control policy and addiction science.

• Key Grants: R01 DA047356 (2019-2024), R03DA041820 (2017-2019)
• Lab Focus: Behavioral Economic Assessment, Clinical Trials, Policy Impact Analysis
• Collaborations: FDA regulatory science initiatives, National Institutes of Health-funded studies