Hi!

There was a common theme threaded through every conversation at this year’s MassBio State of Possible conference: Communications is the essential bridge between scientific advancement and human impact.

Every session came back to the fact that how we share stories determines whether breakthroughs reach those who need them, and I’ve picked out some moments that really reiterated this message for me.

When science meets storytelling

Brad Loncar, founder of BiotechTV, shared a personal anecdote of a single interaction which highlighted how scientific progress and public awareness often move at different speeds: He'd recently heard about a sickle cell disease patient completely unaware of newly approved gene therapies. "We have a PR problem," Loncar observed, noting how public perception often fails to distinguish the complex ecosystem beneath the "big pharma" umbrella.

The timeline translation challenge

Cigall Kadoch, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigator, Harvard Medical School associate professor, and scientific co-founder of Foghorn Therapeutics, spoke directly to the challenges of explaining the biopharma timeline to the general population.

"Sharing with the public how long it takes" to develop treatments matters deeply, she emphasized, because our field's work is "rooted in complex biological concepts that are not always accessible to the general public." Her insights underscored how transparency about scientific processes builds crucial understanding.

Nello Mainolfi, Kymera Therapeutics CEO, pushed this conversation further: "We have too many people between those who invent medicines and those who need them that obfuscate our message." His observation sparked discussions about rebuilding direct connections between scientific innovation and public understanding. "We cannot cry and complain," he noted. "It's an opportunity to say we want to be at the table explaining what we do."

Community as the catalyst

Throughout the conference, moments of authentic connection became the most memorable catalysts for change.

Bioversity graduate Lazaro Rivera, now at Foundation Medicine, captured this energy when sharing how "stepping outside our comfort zone" creates mind-blowing possibilities. His journey from training program to professional role embodied how community support transforms individual potential.

And, during a Make-A-Wish segment, Brian Lane shared how community sustained his family through his son Mark "Swaggy's" journey: "We're okay because of two things: Mark and community... that feeling that we're part of something bigger than ourselves." His story illuminated how shared purpose gives meaning to both challenge and triumph.

Communicating through change

The most effective communicators at State of Possible demonstrated that connecting benchtop breakthroughs with bedside impact requires both scientific precision and emotional resonance.

Against a backdrop of FDA reform discussions, HHS policy shifts, and market pressures, Governor Maura Healey's call to "continue to speak up, continue to advocate" resonated deeply.

But former MassBio CEO and cystic fibrosis advocate Bob Coughlin, receiving the Henri A. Termeer Innovative Leadership Award, perhaps captured this connection most succinctly. Biotech, he said, “found him” because “this is the place where news is made... cures are found." His words remind everyone in life sciences that communication isn't peripheral to our mission – it's how scientific possibility becomes human reality.

For me, these stories from State of Possible offered more than inspiration.

They provide a blueprint for communicating through complexity, demonstrating how shared narratives move science forward for those waiting on what's next.

If you attended the conference, we’d love to hear your thoughts and key takeaways – just reply to this email and let us know.

Lynnea

PS - This note is an abridged version of a longer blog post that you can read on MassBio's website here, along with more photos!

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