Office of Science Policy, Engagement, Education, and Communications

The Engagement and Media Relations (EMR) Branch implements and maintains communications between the NHLBI and the general public and internal and external audiences to ensure broad dissemination of NHLBI messages. The Branch engages and fosters relationships with key audiences in general and journalists in particular; maintains content on key media platforms like the NHLBI Newsroom and enterprise social media; acts as special initiative strategists; oversees media relations; and advances the public face of the NHLBI.

The Health Education and Digital Information Dissemination (HEDID) Branch utilizes the latest health and consumer communications, behavioral, and social marketing research in planning health education and outreach strategies and programming. It also develops consumer messages and content for heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders; provides consulting services for digital outreach, printing, graphic design, and publication layout; provides oversight of digital platforms including governance and management of the NHLBI public website, applications, and social media; provides support for NHLBI exhibits, product marketing, and printed media; and provides clearance support for the NHLBI’s print and Web-based content, ensuring the Institute’s disseminations meet NIH and HHS clearance requirements. The Branch also engages and fosters relationships with public health interest organizations and groups representing audiences who stand to benefit from NHLBI’s information.

The Science Policy, Outreach, and Reporting (SPOR) Branch works to ensure that NHLBI’s scientific research is accurately and clearly communicated to stakeholders and policymakers, so that scientific advances are used to inform policy decisions. The SPOR Branch also acts as a liaison to Congress, which helps the Institute remain accountable and responsive to the public. The Branch engages with government agencies and non-government organizations that share in NHLBI’s mission to improve heart, lung, blood, and sleep health – working collaboratively to help set national policies toward common goals. As part of its accountability and collaboration functions, the SPOR Branch works closely with the NHLBI’s scientific divisions to conduct scientific program analyses, evaluate progress toward program goals, develop technical reports on Institute activities, and respond to scientifically complex inquiries and data calls.