I guess medical (surgical) research in my life could be divided into 2 phases. Initially it was part of my progress in my career, especially I have been part of academic departments for a long time. I needed this to get my MS, my MD and to get my consultant job and eventually a professorship at Ain Shams University. I am really indebted to the time I spent at the Royal London Hospital, as it has left a strong imprint on my thinking. In phase two, I no longer needed research, but I still wanted to contribute to the specialty in a very small way and also help the career of the young surgeons who worked for me over the years. Needless to say that the lack of funding for high powered research in Egypt and over here in a District General Hospital meant that I became involved in clinical research more or less.