Renowned microbiology researcher has advanced the field of oral biology, performing groundbreaking work in uncovering “microbial dark matter” and mechanistic insight into the oral microbiome
Somerville, Mass., 03/26/2026 – Professor Xuesong He, D.D.S., Ph.D., of the ADA Forsyth Institute has been named a Distinguished Scientist in Research in Oral Biology by the International Association of Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR).
“It is truly an honor to be named a Distinguished Scientist in Research in Oral Biology, and I am proud of the impact my research has made on oral biology,” said Dr. He, who has served as a Professor at ADA Forsyth since 2018. “I share this award with the dedicated scientists in my lab and the oral microbiology research community.”
Dr. He has delivered field-defining contributions that have reshaped the oral biology field. His work has focused on understanding microbial ecology and linking molecular mechanisms to emergent community behavior. His work has provided invaluable evidence that the oral microbiome’s function, not merely its composition, is the appropriate lens for understanding disease-associated shifts.
“I congratulate Dr. He on the deserved Distinguished Scientist honor and recognize how lucky we are to have his influence at ADA Forsyth,” said ADA Forsyth CEO Wenyuan Shi, Ph.D. “His research has shaped our understanding of oral microbial ecology, opening entirely new avenues and systems for exploration.”
In one of his landmark achievements, Dr. He pioneered the cultivation of “microbial dark matter” in 2015, culturing the bacterial type TM7, later named Saccharibacteria, in a lab for the first time. Saccharibacteria, a group of parasitic microbes which attach to other bacteria to form an episymbiotic relationship, were found to potentially play a role in periodontitis. At the time, Dr. He had worked alongside renowned microbiologists Dr. Shi and Floyd Dewhirst, D.D.S., Ph.D., to isolate and culture multiple previously unstudied bacterial types.
What started as a “side project” in which Dr. He sourced bacteria from his own saliva evolved into a new scientific frontier with potential for therapeutic development.
The initial discovery of Saccharibacteria led Dr. He to develop a robust experimental model for studying episymbiotic microbial interactions and the broad Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) group, which represents about 25% of all bacterial diversity. The He lab continues to explore Saccharibacteria’s unique biology, host interaction, and therapeutic potential.
In addition to studying Saccharibacteria, Dr. He’s lab leads groundbreaking research on host-microbe communication mediated by human tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs). Researchers have described how host tsRNAs can selectively inhibit oral pathogens such as Fusobacterium nucleatum and chemically modified them to increase potency while maintaining selectivity, opening a new avenue for targeted modulation of the oral microbiome in managing oral diseases.
Dr. He contributes strongly to the research community, organizing scientific forums and symposia to catalyze new collaborations. He is a frequently invited speaker to high-profile scientific conferences including the Mark Wilson Conference and IADR/AADOCR events.
Dr. He continues a strong tradition of outstanding contributions to the study of oral microbiology at ADA Forsyth as the third researcher from the institution to be named Distinguished Scientist in Research in Oral Biology. Martin Taubman, Ph.D., (1991) and Dewhirst (2014) also won the award for their immense contributions to oral immunology and defining the diversity of the oral microbiome, respectively.
###
About the ADA Forsyth Institute
The ADA Forsyth Institute is a top-tier, NIH-funded nonprofit research institute focusing on dental and craniofacial exploration, the connection between oral and overall health, and playing a convening role in oral health innovation. Founded in 1910 as the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children and later known as the Forsyth Dental Center and then The Forsyth Institute, the organization has played a key role in advancing dental care. In October 2023, Forsyth integrated with the American Dental Association. ADA Forsyth powers the dental profession through cutting-edge basic research, creative translational science, and development of new technology. Consistent with ADA Forsyth’s founding mission, the ForsythKids mobile dental program continues to serve children in need.
About IADR
The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research for health and well-being worldwide. IADR represents the individual scientists, clinician-scientists, dental professionals, and students based in academic, government, non-profit, and private-sector institutions who share our mission. Learn more at www.iadr.org.
