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BY: Okay. So then you left Lehigh University, it sounds like it was challenging for you. You went to University of Chicago, so how was Chicago compared, and University of Chicago compared to Lehigh?

SN: Well, University of Chicago, they had the first class, top class professors and faculty. Fortunately, my professor, Charles Huggins, obtained the Nobel Prize, and there were lots of Nobel Prize winners as a professor. And I was lucky to work with the cancer research of the University of Chicago.

BY: So tell us a little about Dr. Huggins. So he was a Nobel Laureate, but he was also your mentor. He was your mentor. So tell us about him. What was he like, do you want to show the letter that he...

[Interruption]

BY: Okay. So you have a couple of items. Can you tell us what they are?

SN: Well, Professor Huggins...

BY: What is this?

TI: Yeah, explain what this letter is.

SN: When I went, I want to come back to the United States, Dr. Huggins gave a letter to the immigration office. He exaggerated, but I am the only person qualified. [Laughs]

TI: I'll read some of this. So this is from Professor Huggins, and he's listed as the Director of the Ben May Laboratory for Cancer Research. And this is a letter to the Immigration and Naturalization Services on July 29, 1958. And Professor Huggins said, "We have an urgent need, in connection with our cancer research program, for the services of Dr. Susumu Nakanishi. Dr. Nakanishi is a brilliant Japanese chemist, who is an expert in the synthesis of steroids, and area which is at the very center of the cancer problem." And then he goes on talking about how he worked with you and how you have a PhD degree at Kyoto University and how he would like to have you join him at the University of Chicago as a permanent member of the staff. And furthermore, he talked about how you won't displace any American citizens since you're a specialist in this field, and no other person in the world is available with your qualifications.

SN: [Laughs] Exaggerations.

TI: So it was a very, very, I think, important letter for the immigration to know that you need to come to the United States.

BY: So, and then what is the other thing that you have?

SN: Well, I have forty-four U.S. patents, and fifty-five publications. But one of my U.S. patents received the "most outstanding" U.S. patent.

BY: Do you want to read it?

TI: Yeah, so this is from the United States Patent Office dated, this one is August 13, 1991. And it's just, this one is just letting the... know that you were granted a patent. But I think you were telling me that this patent was viewed as, what, the most outstanding patent in this area for this year?

SN: Yes.

TI: So it was a very important acknowledgment, recognition.

SN: This is [inaudible] anti-cancer drug.

TI: And you said you have how many patents? You have forty...

SN: I have forty-four.

TI: Forty-four patents.

BY: Wow.

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 2022 Densho. All Rights Reserved.