Researching the Fruit Fly Genome

The fruit fly might just hold the key to life.

If you're a biomedical scientist who studies fruit flies' genetic make-up, this much is clear. You know that the fruit fly genome has implications for human life -- and that continued research might just benefit humankind one day in the future.

But how do you explain this to non-scientists and others who think of the insect merely as a pest? How do you educate public audiences to be as passionate about the importance of fruit flies as you are? How do you excite a high school student enough about fruit flies that she considers a scientific career? How do you help funders see the value of supporting fruit fly research? How do you persuade Congress to support continued research?  And, as a busy scientist with limited time, why should you even try? 

Burness Communications has developed a unique, tailored training program to help scientists and health experts answer questions like these. In this case, we were honored to assist fruit fly researcher Susan Parkhurst, Ph.D., at Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. The training was part of the Science and Society Institute funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

With our help, researchers or experts are introduced to the political process and hone their communication and leadership skills. They also learn to apply their research and clinical expertise to public discourse -- and engage journalists and policymakers in the process. 

We provide extensive on-camera training, message development, advice from some of the nation's top journalists and policymakers, and editorial writing practice. Burness supports each expert for several months after the training to ensure that continued coaching, as needed, enables us to reach the goals we've developed together.

In addition to fruit fly researchers like Susan Parkhurst, we've trained virologists, infectious disease experts, pain management doctors and nurses, and health care quality experts. Since we began working with Parkhurst, she has become a recognized player in her own institution, developed a fruit fly exhibition at the university to encourage potential funders to support basic science research and coaxed science journalists to write features on research involving the use of animal models. We feel fortunate to have been able to help her and many other talented people influence the world around them.  

To learn more about Burness’ training programs, please visit the Burness Health and Science Advocacy Institute.