Rutgers Scientists Sequence Genome Of Biofuel Crop Sorghum

Researchers at Rutgers University have deciphered the genetic make-up of sorghum, a drought-tolerant crop and important food and biofuel source. Scientists believe such a breakthrough could eventually help produce better food crops for arid regions with rapidly expanding human populations, such as West Africa. Capable of thriving in hot and dry conditions, sorghum is one of the world's leading cereals, along with corn, wheat, oats and barley. The plant’s genome, which includes about 30,000 genes, was mapped entirely by an international scientific team that published the finding in the journal Nature on Wednesday.

Full Story: Scientists Sequence Genome Of Biofuel Crop Sorghum

TIME Interviews Rutgers' Alan Robock about Regional Nuclear War and the Environment

See Time Magazine: Why Nuclear Weapons Are (Still) Bad for the Planet

New Jersey-Based Biotech Start-Up Nexomics Biosciences Gets Off the Ground

Nexomics Biosciences Inc., a recently-formed, New Jersey-based biotechnology company, applies cutting edge platform technologies based on large scale protein production, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and X-ray crystallography for use in drug discovery efforts. Nexomics Biosciences has signed a comprehensive license agreement with Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, that provides Nexomics rights to a portfolio of intellectual property. An additional agreement has been announced with the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine that provides Nexomics access to laboratory space and equipment.

"Together with Prof. Gaetano Monteleone and co-founder Dr. Michael Baran, Rutgers is very excited to create Nexomics as a tool for commercializing promising technologies out of Prof. Monteleone's lab" said Dr. Michael Pazzani, Rutgers' V.P. of Research and Graduate and Professional Education. Dr. Pazzani further added "The unique and highly-regarded expertise of Nexomics' founders, as well as the company's strategy of providing drug discovery services to biotech and pharma companies while developing its own IP and drug candidates, bode well for a successful commercial effort."

Full Story: New Jersey-Based Biotech Start-Up Nexomics Biosciences Gets Off the Ground

Nexomics website

Rachel Jones of Rutgers College of Nursing Receives $2 million NIH Grant to Reduce HIV Risk

Rachel Jones, Rutgers College of Nursing Faculty Member, Receives $2 million Grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research to Study Soap Opera Videos Delivered on Cell Phones to Reduce HIV Risk in Urban Women

The Associated Press: Cell phone soap operas deliver safe-sex message

Rutgers Press Release