Dr. George Hajishengallis stands as a preeminent immunologist whose pioneering work has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of host-microbe interactions and inflammatory processes. He currently serves as the Thomas W. Evans Centennial Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, holding one of the institution's most distinguished academic positions. Dr. Hajishengallis earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Athens in 1989 followed by a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1994, establishing the foundation for his groundbreaking interdisciplinary research. His academic trajectory has positioned him at the forefront of oral immunology, where he has developed novel conceptual frameworks that bridge dental medicine and systemic health research.
Dr. Hajishengallis revolutionized the field by identifying Porphyromonas gingivalis as a keystone pathogen, challenging traditional infection paradigms and transforming our understanding of periodontal disease mechanisms. His laboratory's seminal work established periodontitis as a polymicrobial dysbiotic disease through the polymicrobial synergy and dysbiosis model, fundamentally reshaping clinical approaches to inflammatory oral conditions worldwide. The discovery of DEL-1 as a novel homeostatic factor with anti-inflammatory, pro-resolving, and pro-regenerative properties across multiple tissue systems represents another landmark contribution with significant therapeutic implications for various inflammatory disorders. His current research on immunometabolic regulation of trained myelopoiesis has opened new avenues for understanding how inflammatory responses influence systemic health beyond the oral cavity, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of his scientific vision.
As a highly influential figure in biomedical research, Dr. Hajishengallis has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have established successful independent research careers in academia and industry. He has delivered countless invited lectures at major international conferences and organized scientific gatherings worldwide while serving on editorial boards of leading journals and advisory committees including the NIDCR Board of Scientific Counselors. His exceptional research impact is evidenced by his recognition as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, reflecting the extraordinary influence of his work across the scientific community. Dr. Hajishengallis continues to advance immunological frontiers through innovative research on trained immunity mechanisms, with his recent investigations exploring connections between chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer holding significant promise for future therapeutic breakthroughs.
