Carleigh Gabryel on Why Now is a Critical Moment for Research Communications

Takeaways

• Effective research communications translate complex discoveries into stories that people can understand and connect with.
• Humanizing researchers is often just as important as explaining the research itself because audiences connect with people before they connect with science.
• Curiosity is one of the most valuable skills for communicators because it drives better questions, stronger stories, and deeper understanding.
• Short-form video provides a powerful way to demonstrate the real-world impact of research through authentic patient and researcher stories.
• Communications teams must continuously evaluate content performance and adapt strategies as audience behaviors evolve.
• Strong research communications require close collaboration across universities, healthcare systems, and academic medical centers.
• Demonstrating research impact and return on investment has become increasingly important for research institutions and their stakeholders.
• The best communicators combine data, storytelling, and human emotion to help audiences understand why research matters.