Leadership

Dr. Taher Sathaliya, MD, PhD, is an immunologist and drug development scientist whose passion for food and community inspired him to found SciCook. Born in India, Dr. Sathaliya grew up immersed in a culture of communal cooking — his grandmother's kitchen was his first science lab, where he discovered the transformative power of nourishment.

After years working in drug development, Dr. Sathaliya began volunteering at a local soup kitchen and witnessed firsthand the intersection of food insecurity, poor nutrition, and chronic illness in underserved communities. This experience sparked a conviction: that access to healthy, dignified, science-informed meals could change lives just as profoundly as medicine.

He founded SciCook with a vision to create an equitable eatery model where everyone — regardless of income — could share a wholesome, culturally inspired meal. His background in immunology informs SciCook's evidence-based approach to nutrition, seasonal menus, and community health education.