mRNA analysis, Yasuhiro Furuichi died, applied to corona vaccine
https://nordot.app/951806356661305344 2022/10/9
Yasuhiro Furuichi, a visiting professor at Niigata University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, who analyzed the structure of messenger RNA (mRNA), the genetic material used in the new coronavirus vaccine, died at 8:48 a.m. on August 8 at his home. 81 years old. He was born in Toyama Prefecture. The funeral will be held with his next of kin. His wife Ikuko will serve as pallbearer. A farewell party will be held at a later date.
In the 1970s, he discovered the "cap" structure at the end of mRNA. He was considered by some to be a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
The new corona vaccine manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna in the U.S. also incorporates the cap structure.
After working at the National Institute of Genetics, Dr. Furuichi has been a visiting professor at Niigata University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences since 2007.
https://japan-forward.com/decades-ago-this-japanese-discovered-what-would-become-essential-to-mrna-vaccines/ 2021/11/4
Decades Ago, This Japanese Discovered What Would Become Essential to mRNA Vaccines
Dr. Yasuhiro Furuichi’s mRNA research going back as far as 45 years ago was a key for today’s scientists to break through the challenges for a COVID-19 vaccine.
The cap structure discovered by Furuichi and the ideas of Karikó and her colleagues came together in the development of mRNA vaccines, which were first commercialized in the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was able to help the world in an unexpected way. It’s been a wonderful experience,” Furuichi remarked.
COVID-19 vaccines are now being used all over the world. Furuichi himself received his vaccination in June of this year at a group vaccination site in the city of Kamakura, in Kanagawa Prefecture, where he currently resides.
https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/132383/bio
Brief Bio
1940 Born in N. Korea (occupied by Japan), brought up in Toyama, Japan.
1964 Graduated Univ. of Toyama, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
1969 Graduated the graduate school of Univ. of Tokyo, Pharmaceutical Sciences (Ph.D).
1969 ~1976 Researcher, National Institute of Genetics.
1974 Discovery of mRNA 5’-cap structure, m7GpppNm-, published in Nature, co-authoredwith the late Dr. K-I. Miura).
1974~1985 Roche Inst. of Mol. Biol. N.J. USA., investigating biological functions of mRNA cap structure with Dr. A. Shatkin. Collaboration with world-famous scientists including Dr. J. Darnell and involved in various important findings in Biology.
1975 Nominated as “The most cited author in 1975”.
1976 Award from the Japanese Biochemical Society.
1985~1993: Head, Biotech. division at the Roche Research Center at Kamakura in Japan
1993~2000: Director, AGENE Research Institute (a consortium sponsored by Japanese government).
2001~present: Chairman of GeneCare Research Institute, aiming at innovative drugs such as siRNA drug from the frontier of science.
2009~ present: Director, Hokuriku Innovation Cluster for Health Sciences.
Advisor for Japanese Science and Technology foundation.
Member in the ethics meeting in the Univ. of Tokyo Med. Sch.