The US has an aging population, as the number of US adults aged 65 and older is set to increase from 58 million to 82 million by 2050, according to the Census Bureau. With aging comes many challenges, including cognitive decline. For example, as you age, your mind may take longer to recall names or words. Sometimes certain parts of the brain shrink, affecting memory and overall function. That’s one of the reasons that the Demography & Economics of Aging Coordinating Center (DECC) was created by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The DECC is headquarters for 16 centers, including the San Antonio CAPAS Program at UT Health San Antonio, to help advance research on aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Let’s meet the centers and how they are working ...
Hey San Antonio, ready to quit smoking?! Join the Quitxt Study in English or Spanish to take a powerful step toward quitting smoking. The study features Quitxt, a free bilingual text messaging program that helps Latino young adults in South Texas to quit smoking. Quitting smoking can help you save money and help with more independence, better fitness, better breath, and better health. "No matter where you are on your quitting journey, our Quitxt Study is here to help you every step of the way," said Dr. Patricia Chalela, study leader and tobacco researcher at UT Health San Antonio. QUIT SMOKING WITH QUITXT!
What Is the Quitxt Study?
The Quitxt Study aims to understand the impact of Quitxt, UT Health San Antonio's bilingual, evidence-based text messaging smoking ...
From acute bronchitis to car accidents to overdoses, you never know what is going to come through the doors of an emergency room. However, the ER isn’t only for severe situations – some use it for primary care. This is because the ER has an obligation to treat patients despite someone’s insurance or lack of insurance. That’s why it tends to expose cracks in the health care system. The flaws of health care are mirrored in the HBO TV series The Pitt. The fictional series, set inside a Pittsburg teaching hospital, primarily caters to low-income individuals, celebrates differences, brings awareness to relevant issues, and provides commentary on the US healthcare crisis. Here are some of the ways The Pitt shows how to address the Latino health care crisis. ...
In 2024, 15 Latina cancer survivors from across the US and beyond met for the first-ever Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program to become cancer patient leaders.
Since then, the survivors-turned-patient leaders, like Marielle Santos McLeod and Andrea Suarez Vargas have been sharing their stories to help cancer patients, elevate their voices among decision-makers, and create new research opportunities for Latinos and all people.
However, there is still more work to do.
On the heels of the first training, program creators Dr. Barbara Segarra-Vázquez of the University of Puerto Rico and Sandi Stanford of the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation turned around to do it again.
This time the pair welcomed 16 new Latino cancer survivors to participate in the second cohort of Latino Cancer ...
Starting April 1, 2026, Texas recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will have new food purchase restrictions, including no candy and sugary drinks. These changes were made to comply with Senate Bull 379, which passed in June 2025 and is one of three bills under Texas’ “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, prohibiting the use of SNAP benefits to purchase less healthy foods and encouraging the purchase of more nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables. “In August 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service approved a healthy foods waiver that was submitted by Texas and allows the state to implement the SNAP limitations,” according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. With this in mind, let’s dive ...
Dr. Rebecca Jones, assistant director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, shared important community engagement strategies at the 2026 AACI Catchment Area Data Excellence (CADEx) Conference on March 9, 2026, in Atlanta. The event brought together National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center data experts, geospatial statisticians, and representatives from government and industry to address emerging topics in cancer prevention and control analytics. Jones was part of a panel that explored how to use catchment-area data to improve access and outcomes. "Panelists discussed how data inform their choices, focusing on the importance of community engagement for understanding where barriers exist and how access can be improved. Listening sessions ...
Durante los últimos años, Los Hispanos/Latinos que viven en el Sur de Texas han compartido sus historias de cáncer con el equipo del estudio de cohorte de supervivencia al Cáncer Hispano/Latino Avanzando Caminos Hispanic en UT Health San Antonio. Pero hasta ahora esas historias se limitaban a sobrevivientes de cáncer de próstata, colorrectal, pulmón, estómago, hígado, endometrio, mama, cuello uterino y riñón. Ahora es el momento de que los sobrevivientes de cáncer de vejiga, melanoma, ovario, tiroides y linfoma también compartan sus experiencias. El estudio Avanzando Caminos ahora está inscribiendo a participantes que hayan completado sus tratamientos primarios contra el cáncer para uno de los tipos de cáncer designados en los últimos 10 ...
The Institute for Integration of Medicine & Science (IIMS) at UT Health San Antonio is announcing its 16th Annual Frontiers of Translational Science Research Day on Monday April 27, 2026. In celebration, the institute is calling for abstracts for posters from researchers that demonstrate the power of translational science, which is the process of using research to develop interventions. Translational science aims to improve health and improve disease outcomes. Abstracts can highlight translational research projects that are complete or ongoing. Selected projects will join a poster session on the day of the event. submit an abstract HERE!
Participant Guidelines for Translational Science Research
The deadline for abstract submissions is Monday, April 6, 2026. If ...
The Institute for Integration of Medicine & Science (IIMS) and the College for Health, Community, and Policy (HCaP) at UT San Antonio wants to fund a new batch of one-year Community Engagement Small Project Grants. The grants aim to help promote, develop, and expand community- academic research partnerships for the translation of science from basic discovery to clinical practice, to that benefit public health, according to the 2026 funding announcement. Last year’s grants enabled seven teams of researchers to translate scientific findings to benefit public health in San Antonio. These projects covered topics such as gun violence prevention, neurofeedback and childhood creativity, environmental lead hazards, and more. Now your team could be the next ones to ...
