Dr. Masino is the Vernon D. Roosa Professor of Applied Science at Trinity College and a joint appointment in Neuroscience and Psychology. Her research focuses on promoting and restoring brain health, with a particular interest in adenosine, and on the relationship among metabolism, brain activity and behavior. For nearly 100 years a metabolic therapy called a “ketogenic diet” has been used to treat seizures, and recent mechanistic insights - including the role of adenosine – hold translational implications for brain health and diverse disorders.
In addition to her laboratory research Dr. Masino is interested in how public polices can improve brain health - with a special focus on New England’s amazing forests - and involved in local educational and environmental issues. During 2018-2019 she was a Charles Bullard Fellow in Forest Research at Harvard and published the seminal paper on the benefits of proforestation (linked below) for climate change mitigation, biodiversity, and public health.
"At its best, a liberal arts environment is where students and faculty alike achieve their full potential. Trinity understands that students learn more and retain more when they interact with scholars and teachers who are passionate about what they do and can help students find their own passion.
At Trinity I have opportunities to collaborate with students and share ideas, share my enthusiasm for research, and facilitate students moving on from Trinity feeling self-empowered to have a positive impact on their health and on local and global issues facing us today."
Check out her latest book for the 100th Anniversary of the Ketogenic Diet, and her
Inaugural Lecture as the Vernon D. Roosa Professor of Applied Science.
Here is a link to the seminal paper on proforestation and a ~3 min audio interview on NEPR.
Here is a 2 minute forest piece on "The Academic Minute"
Here is a link to a summary of Professor Masino's research.