After finishing medical school at the Medical University of Sofia in Bulgaria, Dr. Bankova conducted research at the Department of Dermatology at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany and at the Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center.
Dr. Bankova then completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She is currently a faculty member in the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Bankova’s clinical interests include chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis, seasonal and perennial allergies, asthma, anaphylaxis, adverse drug reactions, desensitizations and allergic contact dermatitis.
Dr. Bankova conducts research to improve our understanding of why allergens cause inflammation. Most allergens are not harmful but are recognized as dangerous by protective mechanisms designed to expel bacteria and viruses. Understanding the pathways used by allergens to cause inflammation could allow for new interventions to interfere with the development of allergies.