Researching the Health Effects of Mindfulness Training in Children

Following the 5-Day The Buddha The Scientist Retreat at Deer Park Monastery, we held a 1-day symposium for scientists to present research and findings. The date of the symposium was Monday, September 5, 2022.

Here we have a presentation by Professor Diane Gilbert-Diamond and Reina K. Lansigan.

Professor Diane Gilbert-Diamond received her AB from Dartmouth College with a focus in Biology in 1998 and her ScD from Harvard School of Public Health with a focus in Nutritional Epidemiology in 2010. She then completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Geisel School of Medicine in Bioinformatics and was appointed to the faculty at the Geisel School of Medicine in 2012. Her research lab focuses on gene-environment interactions related to child health. She is currently conducting an NIH-funded study that explores the relationships between specific obesity related genotypes, brain responses (measured via fMRI) and eating behaviors.

Reina K. Lansigan received her MSSW from Columbia University School of Social Work and BA in Psychology with a minor in Music from New York University. Over the years, she has investigated the influence of stereotypes on information search patterns, Head Start policy and child outcome, and efficacy of housing programs for homeless individuals with dual diagnosis. She is particularly interested in the intersection of environmental health, behavioral health, and social justice. Outside of academia, she formerly practiced as a psychotherapist and a clinical consultant to Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families, and is also a professional dancer.