Tristan Timothy Sands MD PhD

Child Neurology•New York, NY

Epilepsy, Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

Assistant Professor, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

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180 Fort Washington AvenueNew York, NY 10032
Book by Phone+1(336) 571-6828

Overview of Dr. Sands

• Assistant Professor, Division of Child Neurology, Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons (VP&S)

• Neonatal and pediatric epileptologist and neurologist with clinical and research experience in seizures, epilepsies, and epileptic encephalopathies resulting from genetic etiologies

Education & Training

New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia Campus)Fellowship, Epilepsy, 2016 - 2017
New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia Campus)Fellowship, Clinical Neurophysiology, 2015 - 2016
University of California (San Francisco)Residency, Child Neurology, 2010 - 2015
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsClass of 2010

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Certifications & Licensure

FL State Medical License 2021 - Present
CT State Medical License 2020 - 2027
NJ State Medical License 2020 - 2027
NY State Medical License 2015 - 2026
CA State Medical License 2012 - 2016
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Clinical Neurophysiology
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Epilepsy

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Electrophysiologically Targeted Biopsies Reveal the Transcriptional Landscape of Focal Epilepsy.
Ashwin Viswanathan, Molly Murch, Abby Brand, Julia L Furnari, Nathaniel W Rolfe
Biorxiv. 2026-03-10
Clinically Silent Seizures in Neonates with Tuberous Sclerosis: An International Case Series.
Angela M Curcio, Romina Moavero, Jose Luis Boada Cuellar, Thomas J Starc, Maria Roberta Cilio
Neonatology. 2026-02-19
Early Detection of Cerebral Palsy Using Standardized Screening Assessments in Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Pilot Case Series.
Mallory Kerner-Rossi, William Gomes, Tristan Sands, Jennifer M Bain, Faith Kim
Journal of Child Neurology. 2026-02-13

Journal Articles

Long-Term Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Cannabidiol in Children with Refractory Epilepsy: Results from an Expanded Access Program in the US
Shahryar Rahdari, Nicole Tilton, Tristan T Sands, Cns Drugs
The ClinGen Epilepsy Gene Curation Expert Panel—Bridging the Divide Between Clinical Domain Knowledge and Formal Gene Curation Criteria
Ghayda Mirzaa, Kristen Park, Tristan T Sands, Erika Axeen, Tanya M Bardakjian, Annapurna Poduri, Katherine L Helbig, Heather C Mefford, Human Mutation
NBEA: Developmental Disease Gene with Early Generalized Epilepsy Phenotypes
Mary K Kukolich, Danielle McBrian, Heather C Mefford, Elaine Pereira, Tristan T Sands, James Riviello, Annals of Neurology

Books/Book Chapters

Merritt’s Neurology
Chapter: Seizures and Epilepsies in Neonates and Children
Sands TT & Cilio MREdition 14,
Swaiman's Pediatric Neurology
Chapter: Genetics of Epilepsy
Cilio MR & Sands TTEdition 6,2017
Workbook in Practical Neonatology
Chapter: Neonatal Seizures
Sands TT & Akman CIEdition 6,2019

Grant Support

Therapeutic Targeting of KCNQ3 in KCNQ3 Gain-of-Function DisorderCOLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES2024–2027
Genetic Determinants of Epilepsy in Murine SystemsCOLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES1993–2026
Therapeutic Targeting of KCNQ3 in KCNQ3 Gain-of-Function DisorderCOLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES2024–2025