Familial colorectal cancer, omics and all that jazz....
Mendes Cardoso Vaz, J.R.
Citation
Mendes Cardoso Vaz, J. R. (2007, February 14). Familial colorectal cancer,
omics and all that jazz.. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1887/9922
Version: Corrected Publisher’s Version
License: Licence agreement concerning inclusion of doctoral
thesis in the Institutional Repository of the University
of Leiden
Downloaded from: https://hdl.handle.net/1887/9922
Note: To cite this publication please use the final published version (if
applicable).
Acknowledgments
I never know how to start when it comes to acknowledge someone...
To start with, from the first moment I have stepped into The Netherlands I felt at home, a feeling that for some of you may sound weird given my Mediterranean origin. Secondly, my PhD research project was not only made of Lab work but also of networks of relationships and friendships that somehow facilitated the work. Thirdly, many of you readers contributed somehow to this “welcome in The Netherlands“ feeling, so forgive me if you are not mentioned along this text.
Martin Wapenaar, you were the first soul that welcomed me in Leiden.
Your kindness and sympathy seeded in me the will to return to Holland.
When I finally started my PhD, the Leiden Lab group (Cor, Ada, Shanti, Heleen, Juul, Peter, Els, Ron) awarded me with care, attention and patience. Then I moved to Rotterdam and yet a new group of people did the same (Jos, Ingrid, Petra, Merhnaz, Marieke, Ron again). The Leiden- Rotterdam moving was shared by several friends that also shared my research work. Patrick, with you I also shared Prince music, the office and the joy of having constantly each other as the favourite teasing targets in the Lab. Paola, we mutually shared many good and bad moments, parties, Portuguese and Italian recipes, our mutual interest for trendy shoes...
Then Claudia and Lia, my fulltime helpers... Lia not only was my key working partner but also the “Mevrow“ with who I sympathized from the first moment we came across and became one of my best friends.
Claudia... our strong personalities gave sometimes a shaky start. However I could never dream that we would overcame all issues and that you would end in the delivery room holding my hand when David was born: how could I think of sharing such a moment if you were not a best friend? To you and to Lia I express my gratitude for all and much more. Finally Renee, another “made in Holland“ friendship for life who, with a touch of magic, awaked me to the wonders of statistics. I could never imagine that statistics could be so fun without you!
I also want to say I am a lucky PhD student. Why? Because as in the fairy tales, I had 3 fairies (my 3 supervisors) to guide my work: Hans Morreau, my “pathology fairy who introduced me to the pathology world; Judith Boer, my “microarray technology fairy“, who enthusiastically introduced and helped me with the microarray techniques and analysis; and finally my third PhD fairy Riccardo (my “bozz“): you have been (and still is) a fusion of boss, friend, scientist, father, sentimental counsellor, psychologist, etc (you should consider to open a psychological support room because you have the grip for it :). To meet you and to work with you made me a better scientist and person.
Daniel and David: you are the family I wished for all my life!
A big “Thank you“ to you all and an advice: always believe in a bit of magic... J
