"When I was a child, I went to the aquarium and I thought, wow, these fish are really cool. How do they grow? How do they socialize?" Eugene recalls. That simple moment of curiosity at an early age planted the seed for a career dedicated to unlocking the mysteries of biology and transforming patient lives. After earning his Ph.D., Eugene made a pivotal decision to focus his research where it could have the greatest impact: "Eventually I realized I wanted to take this interest in natural history and biology into an area of science where I could make direct impact on patient models." This realization brought him to Boston and ultimately to Novo Nordisk’s genome editing team, where he is now at the forefront of genetic medicine innovation. 

Eugene's work in genome editing aims to move beyond symptom management to address root causes of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. "Right now, the standard for treating chronic diseases is based on long-term treatment of symptoms. We want patients to have access to a one-time treatment that will provide them with a cure." By potentially rewriting the genetic code, Eugene’s team is exploring transformative solutions that could offer lasting cures. The science behind this approach is both precise and transformative. "Every person has DNA; that's the code for all of our biology. And sometimes in instances of chronic diseases, the code is not working properly. And so, we go in there, we cut, we paste, we change the code ever so slightly so that we can potentially provide that curative aspect to that patient."

Eugene finds inspiration in Novo Nordisk's collaborative approach to innovation – where strategic alliances and academic partnerships are backed by targeted funding, milestone-driven plans, and deep industry expertise to accelerate innovation in drug discovery and development. "Science is built on collaboration. In the Massachusetts area, we're surrounded by some of the best universities, some of the most innovative partners at biotech's and other pharma companies." For Eugene, being a part of this ecosystem fuels his drive to accelerate progress for patients.

As a scientist, no day is ever the same for Eugene, but what does remain constant in his day-to-day is the drive to make a global impact. "For me, coming into work every day knowing that what we're working on is going to make such a difference in patients' lives for so many people across the entire planet, that's what really drives me." This commitment to expanding access – moving from helping few to helping many – embodies Novo Nordisk's mission to reach more patients with life-changing treatments.