"The notion that science can improve health has been borne out in Islam for many centuries. There is a clear belief that through knowledge you can improve not just medicine, but the lot of man.

"I was born in Algeria, in a small town called Nidroma. I became very interested in medicine because I had an uncle who was a radiologist.

"I came to America in 1975, and everybody said, 'Johns Hopkins is the real Mecca of medicine, if you could go there, you'd do great.' I was totally embraced by the people there, my professors. Everybody told me, 'We're all immigrants here, we're all from different places, and we all meld together.'

"The mission of the National Institutes of Health is to advance knowledge about medical care and diseases that affect mankind. There are 18,000 people working here in Washington, and 45,000 projects that the institute funds throughout the world.

"When we develop a vaccine, it is made available worldwide. When we develop a new treatment, it is available worldwide. So it impacts on the health of everyone on earth.

"I was nominated to this position by President George Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate. What I can tell Muslims around the world is, I don't think there is any other country in the world where different people from different countries are as accepted and welcomed as members of a society and as good citizens."