Operational Priority 1: Collaborative Partnerships
OBSSR is committed to building mutually beneficial collaborations with NIH staff, federal agencies, and external partners to accelerate translation of BSSR evidence into programs, practice, and policies. To foster team science and enhance multidisciplinary research, OBSSR strategically provides co-funding support for NIH-wide initiatives that encompass OBSSR priorities and intersect with the interests of multiple NIH ICOs.
OBSSR has a long-standing BSSR-CC with representatives from the NIH ICOs. The BSSR-CC also holds open sessions designed to enhance communication with other federal agencies and BSSR scientists via professional scientific organizations or coalitions. Work of the BSSR-CC is facilitated by the assignment of OBSSR liaisons to each of the ICOs to further strengthen collaborations across NIH.
OBSSR also seeks and maintains cross-agency partnerships to ensure that accurate and up-to-date research findings are widely available and included in federal initiatives. For example, the OBSSR Director serves as co-chair of the Subcommittee on Social and Behavioral Sciences of the White House National Science and Technology Council.
Operational Priority 2: Communication and Outreach
Effective communication and outreach are essential for facilitating knowledge exchange, enhancing research capacity, and maximizing the real-world impact of research findings. Clear and targeted communication bridges scientific advancements with practical applications, promoting well-being, and health for all.
OBSSR shares the latest BSSR findings with the broader research community and enhances the visibility of behavioral and social sciences within NIH. We use a variety of channels to disseminate our messages, including webinars, conferences, social media, and our website. These activities help keep researchers, partners, and the public informed about the latest BSSR research findings and OBSSR initiatives and opportunities. They strengthen our relationships with the scientific community and establish our office as a credible source of information, a crucial activity for advancing progress in BSSR.
Communication and outreach have always been an important part of our success in promoting BSSR and reaching new audiences. During our previous strategic planning period, OBSSR focused on strengthening our partnerships with NIH ICOs to better integrate BSSR within NIH. These partnerships enhanced OBSSR’s promotion of BSSR through such events as our annual Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Festival, periodic Director’s Webinars, and the annual NIH Matilda White Riley Behavioral and Social Sciences Honors.
OBSSR has increased the visibility of BSSR activities by partnering with several NIH ICOs to co-author Director’s Spotlights, which generated significant attention from intended audiences. In response to feedback from the research community, we also have worked closely with our partner, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, to update the Good Clinical Practice for Social and Behavioral Research eLearning Course. Updates included improved accessibility and a new module on community and stakeholder engagement.
OBSSR also revamped our website content to enhance accessibility and improve navigation of OBSSR and BSSR activities, events, and research. Furthermore, we expanded our outreach efforts by growing our email listserv and increasing our social media following.
During the next five years, we will build on these successes by reaching out to new audiences. This includes refining existing content for accessibility and plain language while creating new, impactful, and innovative materials that underscore the significance of BSSR and communicate timely findings to the research community and the public.
Recognizing the evolving landscape of our partnerships, OBSSR will strengthen these relationships and expand our outreach to nontraditional partners. This effort will involve refining communication strategies tailored to the specific needs and preferences of our audiences, aligning with our overarching goal of promoting health for all.
OBSSR will continue to advance its mission through strategic communication and outreach. By refining our methods and broadening engagement with our stakeholders, including nontraditional partners, we aim to enhance the impact of BSSR on public health. Through ongoing collaboration and innovation, OBSSR will continue to improve research dissemination and foster meaningful connections within NIH and the broader research community.
Read More About Operational Priorities
