COLLEGE PARK, Md. – America’s population is the oldest it has ever been. And though older people are more independent than ever, they face a huge care gap, one that challenges families, communities and healthcare systems. 

Enter the Center for Seniors Uniting Nationwide to Support Health, INtegrated care, and Economics, known as the Center for SUNSHINE, an interdisciplinary collaboration funded by a $901,000 grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) for the first two years to establish the center, with the potential for up to six years of support.

BUFFALO, NY — September 9, 2025 — A new research paper was published in Volume 17, Issue 8 of Aging-US on August 1, 2025, titled “Causal relationships between gut microbiome and hundreds of age-related traits: evidence of a replicable effect on ApoM protein levels.”

New research reveals that people who eat the most ultra-processed foods show significantly elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) – a key marker of inflammation and a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease. The risk is particularly pronounced among adults aged 50 to 59, smokers, and individuals with unhealthy body weights. Surprisingly, physical activity didn’t appear to offset this effect: researchers found no significant difference in hs-CRP levels between sedentary individuals and those meeting exercise guidelines.

Beginning January 2026, the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) will offer a new master of public health (MPH) concentration in sexual and reproductive justice and health (SRJH). Building on the school’s longstanding commitment to equity, the concentration expands and deepens opportunities for students to engage with sexual and reproductive health through a justice-centered, interdisciplinary lens.