Physician-Scientist Couple Pursues Dual-Doctorate Research at VCU, Targeting Liver Cancer and Chronic Skin Diseases

Shady Azzam and Nada Nassif, a married couple from Egypt who each hold Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBCh) degrees — the Egyptian equivalent of an M.D. — left their home country last year to begin Ph.D. programs at the Virginia Commonwealth University查看公司主页 School of Medicine in Richmond. Their shared goal: to become physician-scientists capable of bridging the gap between clinical care and molecular research.

The couple enrolled through the Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Portal (BSDP), an entry point for students pursuing a Ph.D. in one of six graduate programs at the School of Medicine. In their first year, BSDP students take courses and rotate through different research laboratories before selecting a dissertation lab and program. "The BSDP fosters a cohesive and supportive peer network for incoming graduate students, regardless of their eventual choice of program," said Keith Shelton, Ph.D., assistant dean for doctoral recruitment and admissions.

A Genetic Target for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (搜索)搜索该疾病

Azzam's research is rooted in personal tragedy. He was in high school when his father died of liver cancer, and years later, during medical school in Cairo, his mother died of gastric cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病. These losses drove him to medicine and now propel his doctoral work in the lab of Devanand Sarkar, MBBS, Ph.D., where he will earn a Ph.D. in pharmacology and toxicology.

Azzam is investigating a genetic target that could inhibit the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (搜索)搜索该疾病, the most common form of liver cancer and the disease that claimed his father's life. Having completed medical school in 2021 and worked as a physician, Azzam said his clinical experience helps him identify gaps in patient care that he hopes to address at the molecular level. "This is what motivates me to both treat patients and find new treatments," Azzam said. "I saw how much patients can decline and aren't able to do the same things, so finding better treatments is the mission that drives me every single day."

3D Skin Barrier Models for Dermatological Disease

Nassif, an aspiring dermatologist, joined the lab of Brian Wattenberg, Ph.D., to pursue her doctorate in immunology and microbiology. Her research focuses on investigating better treatments for common chronic skin conditions, including dermatitis (搜索)搜索该疾病 and psoriasis (搜索)搜索该疾病, using a 3D-reconstruction of the skin barrier.

Like her husband, Nassif's research carries personal significance. She has atopic dermatitis (搜索)搜索该疾病, also known as eczema, and described feeling frustrated when months-long courses of treatment did little to alleviate her symptoms. "I suffered a lot when my skin flared up," Nassif said. "There are a lot of diseases in dermatology that are not as well understood as other conditions. Learning more about how the skin barrier is structured in patients with these conditions can help us find better treatments."

A Global Perspective on Physician-Scientist Training

VCU hosts more than 1,100 undergraduate and graduate international students and holds an R1 university designation, offering funding, mentorship, and research opportunities for doctoral students. Azzam noted that a mentor in Egypt who had trained at VCU recommended the program. "Everyone, from the PIs to other students, has been so nice and welcoming. We feel very supported," he said.

The couple welcomed their son, Yahia, in 2024, and finding an inviting community to raise him was a top priority. They have embraced Richmond's slower pace of life compared to Cairo, enjoying its green spaces and walkable streets.

As they prepare for their second year in the BSDP program, Azzam and Nassif remain focused on using their dual-doctoral training to make lasting contributions. "With research, you can make discoveries that can change the lives of so many people," Nassif said. "It lives beyond you."