Eishun Tsuchida (Professor Emeritus, Waseda University) passed away at 6:40 P.M. on Sunday, April 25, 2010. He was 79 years old. Funeral services were performed by close relatives in accordance with the bereaved family's wishes. On June 27, “a get-together in memory of Professor Eishun Tsuchida”, hosted by the Polymer Chemistry Laboratory (Professor H. Nishide) of Waseda University, was held at the Rihga Royal Hotel, Tokyo, and attended by more than 230 people, who shared their sorrow at his passing and recalled him nostalgically while talking of remembrances of his activities and unforgettable smiles.
In 1963, Professor Tsuchida received his Ph.D. (Doctor of Engineering) from the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, and was appointed to a professorship in 1973 after serving as an assistant, a lecturer, and as an assistant professor. Until March 2001, when he retired, he engaged in education and research in applied chemistry (polymer chemistry) and fostered many young leaders at Waseda University. Professor Tsuchida worked consistently on “macromolecular complexes as functional material systems” as a research target and for the development of its molecular science and molecular function. He established a new field, “macromolecular complexes”, as the forerunner in the world. He held important positions in The Chemistry Society of Japan and The Society of Polymer Science, Japan, for long periods of time, established The Society of Blood Substitutes, Japan, as the founder, and devoted his last years to the research of “artificial blood”. He acted as chairman of the editorial committees of many academic journals and as chairman of the organizing committees of international conferences contributing to the chemical industry at home and abroad, in addition to acting as a member of many government-related conferences such as the Central Education Council. He received many prizes from various academic societies, including the Purple Ribbon Medal in 1998 and the Grand Cordon of the Sacred Treasure in 2004 for these accomplishments.
As for artificial blood, one of Professor Tsuchida's life works, he reported in 1983 that, based on “electronic process control of macromolecular complex” and “molecular assembly science”, which he had pursued for long years, electronic movement of the complex could be suppressed if a hydrophobic atmosphere composed of macromolecules was regulated deliberately. He succeeded in producing a reversible oxygen complex (lipid-heme) under physiological conditions for the first time in the world. An aqueous solution containing these complexes at high concentration is able to concentrate oxygen only from the air. Therefore, this discovery caused the birth of an aqueous solution that is capable of dissolving oxygen in a similar manner to that of blood. He was awarded academic prizes by the Chemical Society of Japan (1986), Ohkuma Memorial Academic Award (1987), Fat and Oil Excellent Technology Prize (1989), Macromolecular Science Achievement Prize (1991), and the Avogadro–Minakata prize (1995). He started research into artificial oxygen carriers using human-derived hemoglobin from the viewpoints of effective utilization of expired red blood cells jointly with the late S. Sekiguchi (former head of the Hokkaido Red Cross Blood Center) and Professor K. Kobayashi (General Thoracic Surgery, Medical School, Keio University), in addition to the development of a so-called complete synthesis system. Becoming acutely aware of the necessity of further development and promotion of this study in Japan, they established The Society of Blood Substitutes, Japan, in 1993 to mobilize people of the same mind. He acted as its first chairman. He built a close relationship with Prof. Thomas M.S. Chang (Honarary President, International Symposium on Blood Substitutes, ISBS) and researchers in the same field in Europe, North America, and China and maintained it for a long time. He acted as the chairman of the 7th International Symposium on Blood Substitutes (7-ISBS) held in 1997 and the 9th International Symposium on Blood Substitutes (9-ISBS) held in 2003. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (current Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) recognized the necessity of studies of artificial blood, and therefore promoted studies of safety and efficacy as a representative project of health science research (Advanced Medical Technology Research Project) for 6 years from fiscal 1997. It has continued promoting studies of artificial blood as a national policy to the present day. During these periods, Japan experienced AIDS caused by contaminated blood products and the aftermath of the Kobe earthquake. The Pharmaceutical Affairs Act (revised) therefore specified that studies for safe and useful artificial blood should be promoted. In 2001, after resigning his professorship, he launched the “Oxygen Infusion Project” as an Emeritus Professor and the consultant research fellow of the Advanced Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University. He tried to develop new artificial red cells and discovered new efficacies together with young researchers. Not limited to the mere pursuit of academic interests, he sought cooperation with business enterprises to return the benefits thus obtained and aimed for development of an artificial oxygen carrier that is applicable to clinical practice. Unfortunately, however, Professor Tsuchida passed away halfway to the realization of his dream.
Joint research with Professor Tsuchida's group for development of artificial oxygen carrier has continued for as long as 25 years. We were always encouraged by Professor Tsuchida's serious attitude in relation to learning, and his gracious and affectionate mentorship. The development of artificial oxygen carriers served as the precedent for so-called translational research from the basic medicine to clinical practice. Regrettably, that development was not realized during the professor's lifetime. Fully using the academic society and research system that Professor Tsuchida established, we who survive him will aim at realization of the artificial red cells according to our beloved professor's wishes. Professor Tsuchida, please rest peacefully.
I hereby wish to offer my heartfelt condolences, show sincere respect to the numerous accomplishments he achieved during his life, and express my appreciation for the supervision and kindness he gave to all of us.