Wednesday, March 18: NYC Campus Reopens / 1855 Broadway Remains Closed

Due to infrastructure work, 1855 Broadway will remain closed on Wednesday, March 18. Employees at 1855 Broadway should continue to work remotely. All other buildings on the New York City campus will be open with full services. We will update information as soon as it becomes available.

Varghese: Forever Chemicals Aren’t Easily Identified

January 12, 2026

Associate Professor of Nursing Jessica Varghese, Ph.D., is featured in an MDLinx article discussing the prevalence of chemicals in human-consumed food and water and how it affects the gut microbiome. As crop pesticides and industrial facilities leach pollutants into neighboring farmlands, the microbiome’s ability to support the immune system, fight pathogens, and aid digestion may be impacted as grown foods become contaminated.

“This is significant because we are at a higher risk of developing infections as well as more chronic diseases,” says Varghese, who notes that “forever chemicals,” such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are not easily detected in foods or identifiable in everyday products.