The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) said that they’re launching a new nutrition program whose goal will be tohelp further the agenda of NIH Secretary RFK Jr. The research initiative “will serve as a key element in fulfilling our commitment to Make America Healthy Again,” the agencies said in a statement.

The initiative will be called The Nutrition Regulatory Science Program and the two agencies involved will carry out research with a goal of answering questions about ultra-processed foods, specifically how and why they harm people’s health.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the NIH, said in a statement: “Nutrition has always been a priority at NIH.” "By teaming up with the FDA, we’re taking a major step toward answering big questions about how food affects health—and turning that science into smarter, more effective policy. It’s time to tackle the chronic disease crisis head-on. That’s why NIH is making this investment alongside the FDA.”