Research Interests

Food Allergy Research

Immune mechanisms of desensitization and tolerance through oral immunotherapy (OIT). We are investigating potential role of diverse immune cell subsets, which are important in achieving desensitization and eventual tolerance (sustained unresponsiveness) to food allergens. This is being studied using the blood and tissue samples from food allergic study participants undergoing distinct modes of immunotherapy.

Development of better and safer tools for food allergy diagnosis. Oral food challenge (OFC), the current gold standard for clinical diagnosis of food allergy, poses challenges to patient safety and requires extensive clinical oversight. We are collaborating with colleagues from the department of bioengineering at Stanford University to develop novel methods and tools, employing microfluidics and proteomics. We hope that these techniques and tools would eventually replace oral food challenge as safer, simpler, and more accurate alternatives.

Epigenetic factors in food allergic twins. We are examining immune cells of twins concordant and discordant for food allergy in order to better understand epigenetic factors responsible for the development and progression of food allergy.