CAFT seeks to initiate an endowment to assist the Rutgers food initiative to maintain its worldwide leadership position. One of the ongoing CAFT's projects is capitalizing on the Federally funded Human Genome Project , which is identifying all of the structure of all human genes. Some of these genes have been identified as having health related jobs. The genes produce or suppress production of important proteins which keep cells healthy or which cause cells to function irregularly an thus become the source of ill health. Much of the food that we eat is processed so that it is readily available and easy to use in meal preparation.
Many processes are important converters of food substances from one form into another.
The post-processing form of food substance may have beneficial effects. A CAFT research project is developing test tube type systems which can screen a food substance and determine whether it affects a specific gene's ability to produce an important protein. The CAFT screening system shows which foods have effects. Once a food is identified in the test tube screen, the CAFT project takes the food substance to animal testing and if the animal studies are positive, to human clinical studies. With this approach, we will be able to tell you what foods are good for healthier living.