Makoto Kuro-O
The information listed below is current as of the date the transcript was finalized.
Interview Details
Interview Sessions
Abstract of Interview
Makoto Kuro-O grew up in Tokyo, the younger of two children. His father was an engineer, providing air conditioning systems for large structures like the Tokyo train stations. His mother went to college but did not work after she married. At an early age Kuro-O decided he liked science. He attended the local elementary and junior high schools, but a national high school. His high school chemistry and physics teachers were enthusiastic about their subjects and helpful to Kuro-O. At this point he contemplated becoming a doctor; he talks about the higher education system in Japan, his experience getting into medical school, his parents' expectations. He entered medical school at University of Tokyo. Because his father had a heart attack during Kuro-O's second year in medical school, Kuro-O became interested in cardiology and describes his first basic laboratory experience. He did his PhD while spending at least half of his time seeing patients. He met Ryozo Nagai and joined his lab at Tokyo University. Here he discusses his funding; Nagai's research interests; publishing articles; and his postdoctoral work in genetics at the National Institute of Neuroscience of Japan on the age-suppressor gene in mice. During his last year of internship Kuro-O met and married his wife. Kuro-O then accepted a position at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He talks about his move to the United States; setting up his laboratory; funding in general and specifically the impact of the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences on his work; his lab management style; his teaching responsibilities; and his research on the age-suppressor gene. Next Kuro-O discusses a little more of his research on the age-suppressor gene, his current research on the anti-aging protein and renal disease, and practical applications of his research. Kuro-O then moves on to talk about his future research on the functions of the Klotho protein and about his collaborations, tenure at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, his administrative duties, his role in the lab, the running of his laboratory, the process of writing journal articles, and patents. He also describes a typical work day. The interview concludes with Kuro-O's comments on collaborations in science, serendipity in his work, gender and ethnic issues in science, his first impressions of the United States, and a comparison of science in Japan and the United States.
Education
Year | Institution | Degree | Discipline |
---|---|---|---|
1985 | University of Tokyo | MD | |
1991 | University of Tokyo | PhD |
Professional Experience
Tokyo University Hospital
Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital
University of Tokyo
National Institute of Neuroscience (NCNP)
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Honors
Year(s) | Award |
---|---|
1992 | Young Investigator's Award, Japanese Circulation Society |
1997 | Irvine H. Page Arteriosclerosis Research Awards for Young Investigators(Finalist), American Heart Association |
1998 | Erwin von Bälz Preis, Boehringer Ingelheim |
1999 | President's Research Council Distinguished Young Researcher Award,UT Southwestern |
1999 to 2003 | Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences |
2000 | Ornish Award in Alzheimer's Disease Research, UT Southwestern |
Table of Contents
Family background. Early schooling. Growing up in Tokyo, Japan. Father'soccupation. Influential teachers. Decision to pursue science. Attends a nationalhigh school. Parental expectations. Higher education system in Japan. Attendsmedical school at University of Tokyo. Sister. First basic laboratory experience. Summer research experience at University of Vermont. Joins Dr. Ryozo Nagai'slab at Tokyo University. Funding. Dr. Nagai's research interests. Postdoctoralwork in genetics at the National Institute of Neuroscience of Japan on theage-suppressor gene in mice. Meets and marries wife. Receives doctorate. Writing journal articles.
Reasons for accepting a position at the University of Texas Southwestern MedicalCenter. Move to the United States. Setting up laboratory. Funding history. PewScholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences. Grant-writing process. Labmanagement style. Teaching responsibilities. Research on the age-suppressorgene Current research on the anti-aging protein and renal disease. Practicalapplications of research.
Future research on the functions of the Klotho protein. Collaborations. Tenure atUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Administrative duties. Rolein the lab. Writing journal articles. Typical workday. Patents. Gender. Underrepresented minorities in science. First impressions of the United States. Science in Japan. Professional and personal goals.