Tuesday, January 12, 2016

22nd Century Announces Hiring of Key Executive; Dr. Paul J. Rushton Will Spearhead Growth and Commercialization of 22nd Century’s Plant Biotechnology Portfolio

Source:  22nd Century Group, Inc.

22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE MKT: XXII), a leader in tobacco harm reduction, announced today the appointment of Paul J. Rushton, Ph.D. as the Company’s Vice President of Plant Biotechnology. Dr. Rushton is uniquely qualified to grow and commercialize the Company’s impressive patent portfolio relating to both tobacco and cannabis. He has extensive experience in tobacco biotechnology, including work at the University of Virginia on 22nd Century sponsored research projects, as well as nearly a decade working at the world-renowned Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding in Germany. 

Dr. Rushton has published over fifty scientific articles in the United States and abroad. He serves on the editorial boards of a number of scientific journals. While at the Max Planck Institute, Dr. Rushton provided the first evidence that WRKY transcription factors play crucial roles in plants’ responses to stress. Dr. Rushton’s research resulted in him personally defining and naming the important WRKY family of plant transcription factors.

While at the University of Virginia, Dr. Rushton designed and published the tobacco transcription factors database (TOBFAC). This database is possibly the largest collection of transcription factor sequences (genes which turn on or off particular plant responses) from a single tobacco species (over 2,500 genes) and is the world’s most extensive database for tobacco genomic research.
http://compsysbio.achs.virginia.edu/tobfac/ Dr. Rushton is also co-inventor of several patents related to nicotine production in tobacco. Dr. Rushton was part of the team of scientists lead by Michael P. Timko, Ph.D, at the University of Virginia who worked on sponsored tobacco research projects for the Company. Thus, Dr. Rushton already has very strong and important experience in working with 22nd Century’s unique tobacco technology.

“Hiring a scientist of Paul Rushton’s caliber – especially given his extensive work in tobacco plant biotechnology – is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. He will be invaluable to 22nd Century,” explained Henry Sicignano, III, CEO and President. “Paul’s experience will enable him to contribute immediately to the Company’s Modified Risk Tobacco Products in development and to spearhead our cannabis technology initiatives.”

For more information about Dr. Paul Rushton and his research, visit: https://therushtonlab.wordpress.com/

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