The constant vigilance required to manage childhood food allergies, and their impact on family life and mental health, are areas of growing focus for researchers at Stanford University. Sayantani “Tina” Sindher, a clinical associate professor of pediatrics and allergy/immunology at Stanford Health Care, joined the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy & Asthma Research in January 2017 to expand clinical research in this field.
Dr. Sindher’s work builds on research into both common and less common food allergies. She previously participated in clinical trials utilizing epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) – delivering allergens via the skin – for children with IgE-mediated milk and peanut allergies, during her fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Her research also encompasses food protein-induced enterocolitis (FPIES), which primarily affects infants and young children, causing gastrointestinal distress, and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a recently recognized condition where eosinophils accumulate in the esophagus, leading to inflammation and difficulty swallowing. Both FPIES and EoE are considered relatively rare and can be challenging to diagnose.
According to Stanford Children’s Health, Dr. Sindher prioritizes written exposure action plans, clear communication between patients and caregivers, and the prevention of severe allergic reactions in her approach to managing patients with food allergies. She also considers the severity of the allergy and any co-existing allergic conditions.
Dr. Sindher received her medical degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, completed her pediatric residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx, New York, and her fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is board certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, having received certification in 2016, and by the American Board of Pediatrics in 2014.
Dr. Sindher’s decision to join the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy & Asthma Research was motivated by the opportunity to participate in clinical trials focused on childhood food allergies, and to work alongside Dr. Kari Nadeau, a leading physician and researcher in the field.
The allergists at Stanford Children’s Health are currently involved in research to improve the management of food allergies, with a focus on written action plans and caregiver communication.
