IMO


Interview with Professor Orii

How does one introduce two men with such integrity and such prominence that they’ve made everything else possible? What do I say about two men who have devoted their lives to help the patients and families of this rare disease as well as other MPS diseases? All I know to say is to thank God for such wonderful men. Without their dedication to so many Morquio families, like so many other rare diseases, we too would be waiting on the sidelines for someone to make that difference by initiating research in hopes of a treatment for a better quality of life for our children.

It is Professor Orii who mentored and encouraged Dr. Tomatsu to take up Morquio research. It is Professor Orii and Gifu University that sponsored Dr. Tomatsu to come to the United States. It is Dr. Tomatsu under the direction and leadership of Professor Orii that allowed him to accomplish the purification of the missing enzyme, cloning of the Morquio gene, and genetic diagnosis along with other collaborators that enabled Dr.Tomatsu to make such great strides in enzyme replacement therapy research. It is Dr.Tomatsu, under Professor Orii’s tutelage that made the Morquio Registry a meaningful reality. Professor Orii and Dr.Tomatsu with their diligence and drive are the root of a tree that is just now beginning to bear so much wonderful fruit.

It is this and all these exceptional accomplishments that make these men so very special to the entire Morquio community, and yet there is so much more to admire about these men. They’re intelligent and focused, yet humble. Professor Orii and Dr. Tomatsu are of course men of the highest integrity, and yet always have time to listen. I always know that what ever these men say, they will follow through with more than I could possibly expect. There are no words to describe how I feel about such amazing men. It is just very important to me that everyone recognizes these giants in our world for their many amazing contributions to Morquio, as well as other MPS diseases, and how much they have inspired me to do what I do a little better everyday.


Young Tadao Orii in his Medical School days.


Mrs. Yoko and Dr.Tadao Orii April1999


MS: What first sparked your interest in Medicine?

PO: I read an impassioned "Uncle Tom's Cabin: for children to read when I was in earlier generations.(3-4 years old). I was a frail child and took off school for a year in the 1 year of elementary school because of Tubercular pleurisy. As my older attending physician was a responsible person I was favorably impressed by him.

MS: Are you involved with research as well as being a physician in Japan?

PO: To become an excellent physician, I thought that it was very important to be involved with research as well as being a physician.

MS: How many MPS patients do you see each day?

PO: As I am an emeritus professor of Gifu University for 7 years since, I see clients about 30 patients/year) only.

MS: How many patients have Morquio in Japan?

PO: We (Department of Pediatrics Gifu University School of Medicine) diagnosed 44 Morquio patients enzymatically. I think that these numbers cover about 95% of Morquio patients in Japan.


My school boys. Professor Kondo, the director
of the Department of Pediatrics at Gifu University
School of Medicine. Professor Yamaguchi, director
of the Department of Pediatrics
at Shimane Medical College. May 1995

MS: How did you become involved with rare diseases?

PO: I worked for 2 years (1966-1968) as an Assistant in Institute for Humangenetik at Bonn University (Director Professor Heinz Weicker). My first theme was erythrocyte enzymopathies, but after arrival at the institute, my boss changed my theme to mucopoysacchridoses, because participation of the specialist did not achieve.

MS: How many hours do you work on average?

PO: I work 10 hours on average.

MS: Is the Japanese government involved with funding your work?

PO: Our research is supported in part by Grants in Aid from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Ministry of Education.

MS: Are you planning on retiring anytime soon and who would take over in your place?

PO: I took mandatory retirement at 63 years old (1965) Gifu University. Now, I am professor of Chubu Gakuin University. Aftertime I can work for 4 years in this University. In 1995 my associate Professor Kondo became Director. He is a specialist of immunologist.

MS: In your experience is it common for many patients with Morquio to develop respiratory failure in their 20's?

PO: It is common for many patients with Morquio severe form to develop respiratory failure in their 20's in Japan also.

MS: Does Japan have a similar organization such as the National Institute of Health like here in the United States?

PO: Japan does have a similar organization such as the National Institute of Health, that is, Ministry of Health, labor and Welfare, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

MS: How many are on staff with you that are working on MPS Diseases?

PO: Now, the Director of Department of Pediatrics Gifu University School of Medicine is Professor Kondo (Specialties of Immunology and Allergy). My co-workers who are working on MPS diseases, three are at Gifu, two are in Osaka and two are in St. Louis.

MS: I appreciate you taking the time to do this interview Professor
Orii. Thank you so very much.

PO: I am very happy to be of any service to you. Therefore, I deem it a great honor to accept your interview for The Morquio Newsletter and to be on the board as a Medical Advisor to your International Morquio Organization, as well as co-author the Monograph on Morquio.


The 98th Japanese Society of Pediatrics was held by us at Gifu
University on March 22-24th, 1995