FACULTY Q&A DR. ESRA SAHINGUR Associate Dean of Graduate Studies & Student Research Associate Professor, Dept. of Periodontics Dr. Sahingur joined Penn Dental Medicine in September 2019 as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Student Research, providing leadership, strategic vision, and oversight to support and expand the graduate studies and student research endeavors at the School. She will be overseeing the Summer Student Research Program for the summer of 2020. Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, she received her DDS from Istanbul University, Turkey, in 1994 and then moved to the U.S. for her postgraduate education. She completed all of her postgraduate training at State University of New York at Buffalo, receiving a Master of Science degree in Oral Sciences in 1999 and then a PhD in Oral Biology with a clinical certificate in Periodontics in 2004.
How did you get involved in your current research? I have always been interested in academia since I was a little kid. My parents were my inspiration. After graduating dental school, I got accepted to combined periodontology residency and PhD programs in Istanbul University. After one year in this program, I moved to the U.S. and continued my postgraduate education in SUNY Buffalo. I got to work with some of the best and brightest minds in our field who inspired me even more to be a clinician and researcher. I obtained a MS degree with a concentration in microbiology and PhD with a concentration in immunology. I also completed a clinical certificate program in periodontology. The advanced training I received both in clinical and basic sciences was instrumental for my current research.
What areas do you perform research in? We are interested in understanding the role of immune and inflammatory pathways in periodontal disease pathogenesis, genetic and epigenetic susceptibility to periodontitis, and the link between oral and systemic diseases.
What are the main goals of your research? The ultimate goal of my research is to improve clinical outcomes and patient management. As a clinician, I get to experience the effect of research on daily operations first-hand. I would like for my 2 EXPLORER . WINTER 2020
work to have an impact not only on my patients in the clinic, but also with the wider world. I would like to find something crucial through my research that will help the population and inspire the next generation of scientists and clinicians.
What are some projects that you are currently working on? We are currently working on defining the biological pathways and key regulatory molecules in the initiation and resolution of periodontal inflammation. We are also studying the effect of natural compounds on these key biological pathways and their utilization in the clinics to improve patient management.
What are the findings or results of your studies? Our team initiated the studies that revealed the involvement of nucleic acid sensing and ubiquitination in periodontal disease pathogenesis, and more recently, the link between oral cavity, gut, and liver axis.
How will the results of your research be applied? As a clinician scientist, I am able to focus my research toward projects that will translate to improved clinical care. We always test and validate our results using clinical and preclinical studies. As we enter the new era of precision dentistry, it will be crucial to understand the states of health
and disease in the oral cavity at the cellular and molecular level to develop personalized preventive and treatment options. Our studies focus on addressing all these areas.
What do you enjoy most about doing research? I think research is like a treasure hunt where you follow the clues to get the big prize. In the case of research, the prize is improving the health of your patients and the clues come from clinical observations and previously published data. I always enjoyed playing treasure hunt and solving puzzles when I was a kid and now I get to do it through research at a very high level and for a much bigger cause. In addition, I enjoy interacting with students and watching them develop critical thinking skills to solve problems through their involvement in research.
Do you have any advice for students who are interested in pursuing research? Academia is very rewarding. You help your patients in the clinics, educate and inspire the next generation of clinicians and scientists, and get to be directly involved in shaping the future of our profession through cutting-edge research, innovations, and health-care policies. Research encompasses many fields and I would encourage all students to get involved in something they are interested in, and who knows, the prize at the end may be life-changing.
