Professional Biography

Dr. Nada Tawfig Hashim Ahmed is an Assistant Professor of Periodontology at RAK College of Dental Sciences, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University, with more than 25 years of academic dentistry experience across Sudan and the United Arab Emirates. Her teaching and research focus on periodontology, oral–systemic health, periodontal biomarkers and regeneration, and artificial intelligence in dentistry. Her research examines the molecular and microbiological basis of periodontal disease, including inflammatory mediators, inflammasome biology, oxidative stress, salivary and gingival crevicular fluid biomarkers, host modulation, and emerging therapeutic approaches. She is also active in dental education, interprofessional learning, research supervision and scholarly publishing.

Qualifications

• PhD in Dentistry (Periodontology), University of Khartoum in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast, Sudan / UK (2014)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Laser Application in Medicine (Dentistry), Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan (2007)
• MSc in Periodontology, University of Khartoum, Sudan (2006)
• BDS, University of Khartoum, Sudan (1999)

Experience

• Assistant Professor of Periodontology /RAK College of Dental Sciences/ from August 2021till now.
• Assistant Professor of Periodontology / Faculty of Dentistry, University of Khartoum/2015- till August 2021.
• Head department of the Department of Oral Rehabilitation/ Faculty of Dentistry University of Khartoum/ March 2017-August 2021
• Head of the Periodontology Division Faculty of Dentistry University of Khartoum/ 2015- 2017.
• Specialist of Periodontics/ Khartoum North Teaching Hospital/July 2006- December 2014.
• Registrar at the Department of Periodontology, University of Khartoum/2003-2006.
• A medical officer at the Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Khartoum/2002-2003.
• Medical officer/ Khartoum Teaching Hospital/2001-2002
• National Service/ Khartoum Teaching Hospital/2000-2001
• Internship Program/ Khartoum Teaching Hospital/1999-2000

Courses Taught

• Course 1: Clinical Periodontics (DPR 326)
• Course 2 Pre-Clinical Periodontics (DPR 213)
• Course 3 comprehensive Dentistry (DCC5016)

Achievements & Honours

• Senior Collaborator, Global Burden of Disease (GBD) (2025)
• First Sudanese woman appointed Head of the Department of Oral Rehabilitation, University of Khartoum (2020)
• Founder, Dental Assistants and Hygienists Programmes, College of Technical and Developmental Studies, University of Khartoum (2018)

Areas of Teaching & Research Interests

• Periodontology
• Implant Dentistry
• Oral–Systemic Health
• Periodontal Biomarkers
• Periodontal Regeneration and Biomaterials
• Molecular Pathogenesis of Periodontal Disease
• Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry
• Dental Education and Interprofessional Learning

Selected Publications

• Hashim NT, Rahman MM, Hossain SJ, et al. Perceptions of interprofessional education among medical and dental students in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional study. Scientific Reports. 2026.
• Hashim NT, Babiker R, Padmanabhan V, Islam MS, Chaitanya NC, Mohammed R, Priya SP, Ahmed A, Mahmoud G, Gismalla B, Rahman MM. Oxidative stress and antioxidant pathways in the pathogenesis of periodontitis and peri-implantitis: mechanistic insights and therapeutic potentials. Frontiers in Oral Health. 2026;7:1814823.
• Hashim NT, Babiker R, Rahman MM, Mohammed R, Padmanabhan V, Islam MS, Elsheikh M, Abduljalil SM, Mahmoud G, Chaitanya NC, Siriwardena BS, Ahmed A, Gismalla BG. Targeting bacterial infections in periodontal disease: from conventional antibiotics to next-generation therapeutics. Antibiotics. 2026;15(4):397.
• Hashim NT, Chaitanya NC, Babiker R, Ahmed A, Rahman MM, Mohammed R, Padmanabhan V, Islam MS, Elsheikh M, Abduljalil SM, Gismalla BG, El Bahra S. Antibiotic exposure and periodontal susceptibility: a risk-modifying hypothesis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026;27(12):5150.
• Hashim NT, Babiker R, Padmanabhan V, Islam MS, Mohammed R, Priya SP, Chaitanya NC, Parveen S, Ahmed A, Gismalla BG, Rahman MM. Polyphenolic compounds in combating MDR periodontal pathogens: current research and future directions. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2025;16:1678979.
• Hashim NT, Babiker R, Padmanabhan V, Islam MS, Priya SP, Chaitanya NCSK, Mohammed R, Dasnadi SP, Ahmed A, Gismalla BG, et al. Challenges of ozone therapy in periodontal regeneration: a narrative review and possible therapeutic improvements. Current Issues in Molecular Biology. 2025;47(10):811.
• Hashim NT, Babiker R, Chaitanya NC, Mohammed R, Priya SP, Padmanabhan V, Ahmed A, Dasnadi SP, Islam MS, Gismalla BG, Rahman MM. New insights in natural bioactive compounds for periodontal disease: advanced molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Molecules. 2025;30(4):807.
• Hashim NT, Dasnadi SP, Ziada H, Rahman MM, Ahmed A, Mohammed R, Islam MS, Mascarenhas R, Gismalla BG, Abubakr NH. Orthodontic management of different stages and grades of periodontitis according to the 2017 classification of periodontal diseases. Dentistry Journal. 2025;13(2):59.
• Hashim NT, Babiker R, Padmanabhan V, Ahmed AT, Chaitanya NCSK, Mohammed R, Priya SP, Ahmed A, El Bahra S, Islam MS, et al. The global burden of periodontal disease: a narrative review on unveiling socioeconomic and health challenges. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2025;22(4):624.
• Hashim NT, Babiker R, Rahman MM, Islam MS, Gobara B. Natural bioactive compounds in the management of periodontal diseases: a comprehensive review. Molecules. 2024;29(13):3044.
• Hashim NT, Fathima S, Hisham NM, Shivappa P, Magaogao MV, Islam MS, Ahmed SF, Babiker R, Rahman MM. Exploring salivary alpha-amylase as a biomarker in periodontitis: a comparative analysis of disease stages and clinical correlations. Current Issues in Molecular Biology. 2024;46(11):12230–12243.
• Hashim NT, Babiker R, Priya SP, Mohammed R, Chaitanya NC, Padmanabhan V, El Bahra S, Rahman MM, Gismalla BG. Microbial dynamics in periodontal regeneration: understanding microbiome shifts and the role of antifouling and bactericidal materials — a narrative review. Current Issues in Molecular Biology. 2024;46(11):12196–12213.
• Hashim N, Babiker R, Mohammed R, Rahman MM, Gismalla B. Highlighting the effect of pro-inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases and Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences. 2024;16(Suppl 2):S1120–S1128.
• Hashim N, Babiker R, Mohammed R, Rahman MM, Gismalla B. NLRP3 inflammasome in autoinflammatory diseases and periodontitis: advances in the management. Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences. 2024;16(Suppl 2):S1110–S1119.

Further Publications

• Hashim N, Islam M, El Bahra S, Priya S, Shivappa P, Mohammed R, Nayef H, Talib M, Fathima S, Hisham N,Chaik A, Chaitanya N. Systemic Consistency of Uric Acid Levels in Saliva and Gingival Crevicular Fluid Across Periodontal Health Status. Open Dent J, 2025; 19: e18742106387652.
• Alabass, S.O., Elhadi, Y.A.M., Saeed Alhussain, M. et al. Acceptance and readiness for tele-dentistry among dental professionals amidst conflict in Sudan. BMC Oral Health 25, 1123 (2025).
• Padmanabhan, V.Islam, Md.S. Hashim, N.T. Hamodeh, H.M.B. Ahmad, M.H.J.I. Evaluating Dental Students' Patient Safety Knowledge and Readiness: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of International Dental and Medical Research, 2025, 18(2), pp. 763–770.
• Nada Hashim, Rasha Babiker, Vivek Padmanabhan, Riham Mohamed, Ayman Ahmed, Muhammed Mustahsen Rahman. The metaverse: A new frontier for dental education. Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology 2025;9: 1452-1461.
• An editor to a Book Entitled Periodontal Medicine, BIOMARKERS, BIOENGINEERING AND THE PERIODONTAL MICROBIOME/ Edited by DE GRUYTER (Scopus indexed Publisher).
• Islam, M. S., Padmanabhan, V., Koniali, G., Alabdin, M. Z., Aryal Ac, S., Hashim, N. T., Elsayed, M. A., & Rahman, M. M. (2025). Fluoride Release, Recharge, and Mass Stability of Restorative Dental Materials: An In Vitro Study. Dentistry Journal, 13(10), 438.
• Tarig H Merghani, Rasha Babiker, Azza O Alawad, Samah B Hamad, Nada Tawfig Hashim, Malay Jhancy. From Passive to Pleasant: Validation and Application of the Learning Enjoyment Scale in Didactic Teaching. Advances in Medical Education and Practice 2025:16 1939–1949.
• Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risks 2023 Collaborators. Global, Regional, and National Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk Factors in 204 Countries and Territories, 1990-2023. JACC. 24 September 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2025.08.015.
• GBD 2023 Causes of Death Collaborators. Global burden of 292 causes of death in 204 countries and territories and 660 subnational locations, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. Lancet. 2025 Oct 18;406(10513):1811-1872
• Hay SI, Ong KL, Santomauro DF, et al. Burden of 375 diseases and injuries, risk-attributable burden of 88 risk factors, and healthy life expectancy in 204 countries and territories, including 660 subnational locations, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. The Lancet. 12 October 2025.
• Schumacher AE, Zheng P, Barber RM, et al. Global age-sex-specific all-cause mortality and life expectancy estimates for 204 countries and territories and 660 subnational locations, 1950–2023: a demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. The Lancet. 12 October 2025.
• Mohsen N, Kyu HH, Aalipour MA, Aalruz H, Ababneh HS, Abafita BJ, Abaraogu UO, Abbafati C, Abbasi M, Abbaspour F, Abbastabar H. Global burden of 292 causes of death in 204 countries and territories and 660 subnational locations, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.
• Nada Tawfig Hashim, Muhammed Mustahsen Rahman, Md Sofiqul Islam, Aya Chaik. Salivary and GCF Vitamin C Levels: Implications for Local and Systemic Periodontal Defense. International Journal of Dentistry. 2025(1).
• Vivek Padmanabhan, Md Sofiqul Islam, Nada Tawfig Hashim, Sivan Padma Priya, Muhammed Mustahsen Rahman, Zahra Zuhair A. Alkhazaz, Shams Saleh Salem Alshamali Aal Busumait, Hawra Mana. Prevalence and Patterns of Dental Caries in Emirati Schoolchildren in the UAE: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of International Dental and Medical Researc. 2025 (18):1558-1563.
• Hashim, N. T., Ahmed, A., Abushama, A. A., Abduljalil, S. M., Gismalla, B. G., & Rahman, M. M. (2025). Next-Generation S3-Level Clinical Practice Guidelines in Periodontology: Methodology, Current Evidence, and Future Directions. Dentistry Journal, 14(1), 58. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj14010058.

Committees & Institutional Service

• Member, Research Committee (current)

Professional Development & Training

• Item Author Certification, NIHS (June 2025)
• Certified Case Designer, NIHS (June 2025)
• Research Workshop, Fujairah Hospital (March 2023)
• Interprofessional Workshop on Evidence-Based Medicine, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University (November 2022)
• PLO Assessment, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University (October 2022)
• Teaching Techniques — Effective Use of MCQs, PowerPoint and OSCE, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University (June 2022)
• Prevention and Management of Peri-Implant Diseases, webinar (June 2022)