Director's Voice Blog

In the monthly Director’s Voice Blog, OBSSR leadership discusses timely topics related to behavioral and social sciences research (BSSR). Subscribe to receive updates.

Archived Director’s Blogs by Year

2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017
This report, which was developed in consultation with leading experts in social and behavioral sciences and public health, outlines evidence-informed communication strategies in support of national COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts across federal agencies and their state and local partners. The report builds on four foundational principles (coordinated and consistent messaging, building trust, consideration of health literacy, and prioritizing equity) to offer concrete recommendations for targeted and tailored communication.
As we celebrate 25 years of the OBSSR, we have asked the former Directors to reflect on their time at the OBSSR. This guest blog was authored by the OBSSR’s fourth Director, Robert Kaplan, Ph.D.
NIH funded behavioral and social sciences-related COVID-19 research including survey item repositories DR2 and PhenX, supplemental funding to the NIH ICOs, SBE health impacts research, and the development of RADx-UP.
As we celebrate 25 years of the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), we have asked the former Directors to reflect on their time at the OBSSR. This guest blog was authored by OBSSR’s third Director, David Abrams, Ph.D.
OBSSR awarded grants for its 5-year data science T32 training program.
As we celebrate 25 years of the OBSSR, we have asked James M. Anderson, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, to provide a perspective of the OBSSR from NIH leadership.
As we celebrate 25 years of the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), we have asked the former Directors to reflect on their time at the OBSSR. This guest blog was authored by OBSSR’s second Director, Raynard Kington, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.
This year marks OBSSR’s 25th anniversary and also the first year that we will conduct the Matilda White Riley Honors virtually due to the social distancing necessities of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As we celebrate 25 years of the OBSSR, we have asked the former Directors to reflect on their time at the OBSSR. This guest blog was authored by OBSSR’s first Director, Norman B. Anderson, Ph.D.
“You tell me what you need people to do, and I’ll tell you how to help them do it.” Although a simplification, this statement by social and behavioral scientists to our infectious disease colleagues illustrates the nature of our collaboration during an infectious disease outbreak like the current COVID-19 outbreak. Without this collaboration, we risk that people will not do what we are telling them to do.