Nakanishi, Kōji, 1925-

Born in Hong Kong, China on 11 May 1925. Education: B.Sc., Chemistry, Nagoya University (1947), Ph.D., Chemistry, Nagoya University (1954). Employment: 1950-1952 Harvard University ; 1955-1958 Nagoya University ; 1958-1963 Tokyo Kyoiku University ; 1963-1969 Tohoku University ; 1968-1977 International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya ; 1979- Suntory Institute for Bioorganic Research, Osaka, Japan ; 1969- Columbia University.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Koji Nakanishi is a bioorganic chemist and Columbia University professor emeritus of chemistry.

Nakanishi was born in Hong Kong on May 11, 1925. He attended Nagoya University where he received his bachelor's, and later his PhD in chemistry. Nakanishi did post-graduate work at Harvard University before returning to Japan where he taught chemistry at a number of Universities.

Nakanishi joined the faculty of Columbia University in 1969 where he taught chemistry and established a natural-products research lab. He and remained part of Columbia's chemistry department for the rest of his career. In 1980 he became the Centennial Professor of Chemistry and is currently a professor emeritus.

Nakanishi's career has focused largely on animal and human vision, including studies intended to accelerate the development of a treatment for macular degeneration. With his current group of graduate students, he is also studying the effects of gingko biloba extract on neurological disorders.

He has received numerous awards and prizes for his scientific work, and the Nakanishi Prize awarded jointly by the American Chemical Society and the Chemical Society of Japan is names in his honor.

Koji Nakanishi has two children, three grandchildren, and is an enthusiastic amateur magician.