Dr. Ilya Raskin

Contact Information

Mailing Address

Rutgers University
Department of Plant Biology & Pathology
226B Foran Hall/ Cook Campus
59 Dudley Rd.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
raskin@sebs.rutgers.edu

Campus Location

Office: Room 226B Foran Hall, 848-932-6267
Lab: Room 226 and 228 Foran Hall, 848-932-6266

Research Interests

Botanical therapeutics: discovery, characterization and development

Botanical therapeutics are defined as health and wellness products derived from plants and delivered in the form of drugs, dietary supplements (nutraceuticals), functional foods or cosmetic ingredients. We rely on ethnobotanical knowledge and modern research to identify plant compounds that improve human health and well-being. We use cellular and in vivo assays, spectrometry, bioinformatics and molecular biology to identify pharmacologically active phytochemicals and to study their effects in animals and people. Our work primarily targets metabolic syndrome, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and focuses on plant-derived therapeutics composed of mixtures of synergistically active molecules that simultaneously affect several disease-related therapeutic targets. Our work on botanical therapeutics is facilitated by partnerships with five foreign Universities, US government and several pharmaceutical, consumer products, cosmetics and food compan ies. We are a part of the NIH-funded Botanical Center for Plants for Metabolic Syndrome.

Novel functional foods and botanical food ingredients

This is the most rapidly growing research area in our laboratory. We are developing technologies that naturally concentrate and stabilize beneficial phytonutrients from fruits and vegetables in amounts sufficient to promote health and wellness . One application of this technology allows the production of functional foods that deliver an effective daily dose of beneficial phytonutrients in one serving, while reducing calories and unhealthy compounds, such as sugars and oils. Our research in the functional food area became a foundation of Nutrasorb, LLC recently spun-off by Rutgers University. Technologies and products developed in collaboration with Nutrasorb are being adopted by leading food, co smetics and consumer health companies.

International BioExploration

Our laboratory serves as the headquarters of the Global Institute for BioExploration. GIBEX is a global research and development network that promotes ethical, natural product-based pharmacological bioexploration to benefit human health and the environment in developing countries. Nine African countries, four American countries, five Asian countries and two Europea n countries are current GIBEX members. GIBEX also works with the Native American communities in Alaska and North Dakota. GIBEX is guided by the pioneering "Reversing the Flow" paradigm intended to bring pharmacological screens (Screens-to-Nature technology) to developing countries and indigenous communities. GIBEX does not remove any natural resources from partnering countries. Instead, it trains and equips local scientists and students with innovative, cost-effective, and portable drug-discovery tools and technologies that can be directly deployed into forests, savannas, deserts, and marshes. In addition to adapting the process of drug discovery and commercialization to the needs of partnering countries and communities, GIBEX promotes sustainable infrastructure and capacity improvements, local intellectual property ownership, conservation, educational opportunities, and entrepreneurship.

Biomedical Agriculture

Helped by recent advances in biotechnology, we are developing novel plant varieties and agricultural system suitable for the large-scale, standardized production of botanical therapeutics. Today's agriculture mainly supplies people with calories and basic nutrients. However, in the near future, agriculture will start growing crops that improve human health, longevity, productivity, and quality of life. We hope that our work will enable farmers to move to the forefront of health product manufacturing. We are actively collaborating with New Jersey growers with a goal t o develop new "pharming" technologies and products.

Publications

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Rutgers Affiliations

1. Rutgers Plant Biology Graduate Program
2. Global Institute for BioExploration
3. Raskin Laboratory Website

Other Affiliations

1. Botanical Center for Plants for Metabolic Syndrome
2. Nutrasorb, LLC

Dr. Raskin joined the department in 1989 and was promoted to Professor II in 2000.