Research Interests
Focus areas: Chemistry of biologically active natural products from plants, role of cranberry in colon health including the prevention of colon inflammation and cancer; mechanisms of anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of flavonoids and triterpenoids from cranberry and other fruits; modulation of gut microbiome, oral and skin bacteria by cranberry; functional food factors and nutrition; isolation and structure elucidation of natural products; impact of environmental and horticultural factors on development of secondary metabolites in Vaccinium macrocarpon, NMR-based metabolomics.
The Neto research group currently collaborates with researchers at Â鶹¹ÙÍø Medical School, Â鶹¹ÙÍø Amherst and Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth as part of the Cranberry Colon Health Initiative, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., University of Rhode Island, and the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Cranberry Station in Wareham, MA. Previous research collaborations on cranberries, phytochemistry and health include the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada, Tel Aviv University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Bruker-Biospin.
In 2011, Dr. Neto and Dr. Maolin Guo received a grant from the Â鶹¹ÙÍø President's Office to establish the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Cranberry Health Research Center, a research collaborative dedicated to advancing the science behind the health benefits of cranberries. Dr. Neto serves as Â鶹¹ÙÍø CHRC Director and PI of the Colon Health Initiative.