Beyond human relationships, I am driven by an insatiable desire to learn as much as I can about the things that interest me, and research is a great way to do that. I am eternally grateful for having the opportunity to do so.

I think that the combination of medicine and science is an excellent pairing, and our civilization probably would not be at this level without science. Every one of us who is trying to better ourselves needs science and scientific research, and I think that's the answer for all professions in humanity, especially in medicine.

If you do research, you have to do it honestly and you have to be sure of what you are doing. You have to be convinced that what you are doing is important for everything and everybody.

It's a great honor to be a finalist, and it confirms that all that I do every day in my clinic and also in my research is worthwhile. It's also a great motivation to continue with further research and ideas.

The only way to make progress is through science, if you find out something, if you develop, for example new medications or find how things work in the body or what's the process behind it.

Research, including ours, is a piece of the puzzle, and over time the pieces fit together to directly benefit my patients.