Sinem Esra Sahingur, DDS, MS, PhD

Professional Biography

Dr. Esra Sahingur serves as the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Student Research at Penn Dental Medicine. She is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Periodontics and a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. Dr. Sahingur obtained her DDS from Istanbul University in 1994 and then continued her postgraduate training in State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo. She received her MS in Oral Sciences/Microbiology (1999) and PhD in Oral Biology/Immunology (2004) and clinical certificate in periodontology (2004) from SUNY Buffalo. Prior to joining Penn Dental Medicine in 2019, Dr. Sahingur served as a faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) for 13 years. During her time at VCU, she was recognized for her outstanding achievements in research and teaching and received multiple awards including Dean’s Award for Excellence and Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award. In addition, Dr. Sahingur was also honored with the Women in Science, Dentistry and Medicine (WSDM) Award which is presented to distinguished female leaders in their respective fields. Dr. Sahingur’s research program has been continuously funded by federal and non-federal grants and focuses on defining 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. Sahingur and her 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. Dr. Sahingur actively serves academia and scientific community in many capacities where she participates as a standing member in NIH study sections and in editorial boards of journals including Journal of Dental Research and Molecular Oral Microbiology.

Honors / Credentials

• Member, Center for Scientific Review (CSR), Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences (ODCS) Study Section, NIH/NIDCR, USA 2019-present
• Professor with tenure, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Dentistry, Department of Periodontics, 2018 – 2019
• Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Dentistry, 2018
• Women in Science, Dentistry and Medicine (WSDM) Award, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018
• Chairperson for ZRG1 MOSS-C(57) Special Emphasis Panel, NIH/NIDCR, USA, 2018
• Ad hoc reviewer for National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Microphysiological Systems (MPS) for Disease Modeling & Efficacy Testing (Tissue Chips)- UG3/UH3, NIH/NCATS, USA 2017
• President, Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Society, Virginia, 2016 – 2017
• Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology, 2016
• Councilor, American Association for Dental Research (AADR) – Richmond Section, 2014 – 2019
• Associate Professor with Tenure, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Dentistry, Department of Periodontics, 2014 – 2017
• President, American Association for Dental Research (AADR) – Richmond Section, 2013 – 2019
• Awarded membership in Omicron Kappa Upsilon, Kappa Chapter, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2013
• Assistant Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Dentistry, Department of Periodontics, 2007 – 2013
• Recipient of Dr. William Feagans Postgraduate Scholarship for Excellence in Clinics and Academics, SUNY at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, 2002
• Clinical Instructor, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, 2000 – 2003
• First Place, Graduate Student Research Award, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, 1999
• Research Assistant, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, Department of Oral Biology, 1997 – 2004

News / Media

School Launches Dual Tracks of Master of Oral Health Sciences Program »

Dr. Esra Sahingur Eagerly Taking up the Task to Help Support Students’ Research Interests, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine, 2020 »

Dr. Esra Sahingur – Q&A, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine, 2019 »

Clinician-Scientist Finds a Balance Between Career and Family, VCU News, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2019 »

Selected Publications

Education

• Ph.D., Oral Biology/Immunology, State University of New York at Buffalo, 2004
• Certificate in Periodontics, State University of New York at Buffalo, 2004
• M.S., Oral Sciences/Microbiology, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1999
• D.D.S, Istanbul University, School of Dentistry, Turkey, 1994