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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