Chirag Vasavda, MD, PhD

Dermatology Resident
Harvard University

Biography

Dr. Vasavda is a physician-scientist and dermatology resident at Harvard University. He earned his undergraduate degree in chemical biology at Duke University followed by his MD and PhD at Johns Hopkins University. At Hopkins, trained under Dr. Solomon Snyder to study the neurochemistry of itch and pain. He has discovered novel ligand-receptor interactions that mediate recalcitrant itch in patients with chronic kidney and liver disease and small-molecule therapeutics for trigeminal neuralgia. Dr. Vasavda has since completed his internal medicine internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital prior to beginning dermatology residency. His research interests span neuroimmunology, chemical biology, and translational therapeutic discovery. In parallel with his academic work, he serves in several leadership, editorial, and advisory roles, including with the Massachusetts Medical Society and the American Academy of Dermatology. His career goal is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of neuroimmunology to develop equitable, mechanism-driven therapies to relieve the itch, pain, and discomfort that so often accompany disease.