Prof. at National Cancer Institute, Cairo Univ.

Professor Zakhary received her Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry from the Faculty of Science, at Ain Shams University, and her Masters of Science and doctoral degree in Medical Biochemistry from the Faculty of Medicine at Cairo University. She joined the National Cancer Institute at Cairo University in 1975 as a faculty member. She was also named Head of the Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department for two successive periods (2001 to 2007), and has been a visiting professor at New York University.

Dr. Zakhary has supervised over 60 graduate students and has published over 50 manuscripts in different biochemical and oncological topics concerning the etiological and protective agents against cancer, as well as tumor markers and molecular changes related to cancer. She has served on the editorial board and as a reviewer for many national and international scientific journals, as well as serving as an external auditor for scientific programs and projects. She is also a member of various national and international scientific organizations, such as the New York Academy of Science, as a Board member of the National Council for Women, the National Cancer Institute, and the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology. Dr. Zakhary is also on the Board of Trustees for the British University in Egypt.

Dr. Zakhary was appointed as Minister of Scientific Research in two successive governments, from December 2011 until July 2013. In her tenure, some of her ministerial achievements, to name a few, include the application of scientific research to achieve a knowledge based economy, increasing the budget allocated for the scientific research from the national GDP, and increasing the collaboration between the Ministry with other ministries, governors, businessmen, and other organizations.

Dr. Zakhary has received several awards for her contributions, including the Offred Prize of Environmental Studies in 1996 from Cairo University and was ranked by Forbes magazine in 2013, as one of the first woman in Egypt and the 16th in the Arab world, who had a positive influence and impact in the government. She was also named by Scopus as among the best of 909 scientists worldwide.