Skip to content

Search

Generic filters

Search

Advocacy
Topics
Events
News
Resources
Membership
About
Donate

Mary Woolley's Weekly Letter

Public Engagement Cannot be Optional

I am truly humbled by the response I’ve received in the two weeks since I delivered remarks while accepting the John Edward Porter Legacy Award at Research!America’s 2026 Advocacy Awards […]

More: Public Engagement Cannot be Optional

2026

March

Zooming In
Celebration, Inspiration, Call to Action
AI, Appropriations, Awards, and More

February

Taking Medical Progress to the Polls
Going for Gold
America Speaks
Honoring Capitol Hill Champions

January

Defining Moment
An Important Step Forward
New Year, New Momentum
The Future We Build Together

2025

December

Captured in Quotes
‘Tis the Season… to Champion Medical Research
Muddy Waters

November

Gratitude
A Striking Resemblance
Back to Business
A Light at the End of a Very Long Tunnel

October

Haunted by Gridlock
Time Lost Is Progress Lost
Stalemate
More than One Kind of Hero
Federal Shutdown and More

September

A Fast-Approaching Deadline
Medical Research Week
Recognizing Research
Advocacy Works

August

Back to School, Back to Congress
Policy Decisions, Research Impacts
A Troubling Development in Federal Grantmaking
Take the August Challenge

July

Roller Coaster of a Week
As American as Science
The Advocacy Imperative
Increasing the Visibility of Science
American Curiosity, Ingenuity, and Leadership

June

What’s at Risk
On The Hill and On The Road
Changing Hearts and Minds
The Results Are In

May

Who Will Step Up?
Community and Advocacy
‘Tis the Season of the Colleague Letter
Calling All Advocates
Compelling Testimony

April

Consequential Advocacy
Make Your Voice Heard Now
Navigate and Advocate
Advocacy Now

March

Disturbing News
Certainty, Uncertainty, Advocacy
Honoring Research Advocates
Advocacy at the Forefront

February

Research Advocates Unite in Force
The Time For Advocacy Is Now
Americans Want Medical Progress
We All Must Engage

January

America Speaks
The First 100 Hours
Anticipating Changes
Connections
New Year, New Opportunities

2024

December

Clock is Ticking
Looking Forward
Energy Not Inertia

November

Gratitude
Communicating
Transition

October

Trick or Treat
Talk of the Town
Remarkable Leaders
Staying Safe
Reinvigorating Medical Research

September

In the Nick of Time
Straight Talk
Many Clocks are Ticking
Another Continuing Resolution

August

Emerging Threats
Inspiration in Challenging Times
Make Your Voice Heard
Engage and Inform
Taking the Leap

July

Bold Leadership
What Is Possible
Make Sure to Be Heard
Fireworks and More Fireworks

June

Time to Engage
Portrait of a Leader
America Speaks on Food and Nutrition
Oversight and Progress Too

May

Next Gen Researchers
Leading the Conversation
Alarming News
Nominate a Star Today
Champions for Research

April

From Public Sentiment to Public Policy
A Warm Welcome
Award Winners In the Public Eye
A Big Moment in the Sun for Science

March

March Madness
A Step Backward
Celebration and Inspiration
Setting Priorities

February

Of Three Minds
Science Without Walls
The Heart of the Matter
America Speaks
A Call to Action

January

Meeting the Moment
The Budget Roller Coaster
The Potholed Path Forward
Tackling Threats to Progress

2023

December

Contributing to Our World through Scientific Progress
Great Messaging, Great Advocacy
Americans Are Worried

November

Making Changes not Excuses
The Power of Gratitude and Giving
Running Up That Hill
Labor Neither Lost nor Unappreciated

October

Eye-Popping Statistics
Setting Silence Aside
America Needs Cures, Not Cuts
What Would Lincoln Do?

September

We Have Seen This Movie Before
Celebration and Consternation
The Good, the Bad, and the Indefensible
What’s At Stake

August

Advocacy Happened in August
Silence and Shutdowns
Scientific Collaboration in Contentious Times
CHIPS and CHiMPS
Losing Confidence

July

Priceless Advice, Precarious Times
Heating Up!!
At Odds
Changes, Challenges, Champions

June

“The Power of One”
Mapping a Science Strong Future
Invest in the NIH
Fast and Furious
Refocusing on the Future

May

Don’t Remove the Engine
A new prize, new nominee, and potential new agreement
The Incredible, Incomparable ROI of R&D
The $130 Billion Mistake

April

Let’s Talk About Vax, Baby.
Elect To Advocate
Alarm Bells Are Ringing
If You Think Research is Expensive, Try Disease

March

Big Ideas Bring Better Health
Go Bold
Dazzled!
The Risk is Real; The Time Is Now
Champions, Challenges, Change

February

Public Perspectives, Public Policy
Spotlight on Equity
Facing Down Existential Threats
Public Sentiment is Everything

January

Earworms and Outreach
Devil in the Details
Common Ground, Common Good
Optimism?

2022

December

Advocacy Works!
It’s A Wrap
Let’s Talk
Act to Reverse Declining Life Expectancy
It’s Never Over

November

A Time to Say Thank You
The Clock is Ticking
Vote! And Keep Engaging

October

What Does $10.6 Billion Buy?
Show Your Work
10,000 Lives Each Week
Many to Honor, Much to Celebrate

September

Saying Thank You — and Seeing Parallels
A Revealing Map
The Countdown is On
Inaction is a Terrible Decision
Advocacy, Curiosity, Trust

August

Seizing Opportunity
10 Minutes to Impact
Joining and Cultivating R&D Champions
Then. Now. Imagine.

July

YOU DID IT!
Advocacy Works! U.S. Innovation Bill Making Progress
The Future is On the Line
The Clock is Ticking on U.S. Competitiveness

June

Strong Support for Federal Research
A Busy Week in Washington
Discipline and Staying Power
You can change the image of things to come…
With Research, There is Hope

May

Preparation and Innovation
Double Down on Innovation
Covid Deaths Be Not Proud
Public Perspectives, Policy Imperatives

April

Transformative Innovation Creates Jobs
Making the Most of the Moment
Safe Passage
Representation and Inclusion

March

We’ve Got Work to Do
America Speaks for Science
Heroes Among Us
Progress is a Process
R&D Drives Jobs, Competitiveness

February

Will We Meet the Moment?
Leadership Requires Investment
Progress on the Hill
Not Normal

January

Build Trust, Build Preparedness
Clarion Call for R&D Investment
The Case for Course Correction
More Unites Than Divides Us

2021

December

Progress, Challenges, Opportunity
Delays Cost Lives
Honoring Leaders, Encouraging Action
Urgency of Meeting the Moment

November

An Abundance of Thanks
This Isn’t a Drill
Public Health is All of Us, Everywhere
Heroes Act When the Stakes Are High

October

Research is a Bargain
Speak Now for Research
Focus on the Future
Champions and Challenges

September

These Times Call for Action
See Clearly, Act Boldly, Embrace Change
Live from the 2021 National Forum!
First Lady Jill Biden
Stepping Up Investments in Science

August

Clarity
Skepticism In and About Science
Competition, Communication, Candor
Building Out Progress

July

Leadership, Stewardship, Bipartisanship
Nudging the Nudge-able
Misinformation is Deadly
Start by Asking
Global challenge, global opportunity

June

Championing Science
Communication, Innovation, Advocacy
Data for Insight and Action
Plenty That’s New

May

Advocacy Works
All In for Science
Special Gratitude Edition
Praise, Engage, Advocate

April

00 Days Today
Stewardship and Leadership
Collaboration, Coordination, Innovation
Focus on the Future
Big Plans

March

Then and Now
Keys to the Path Forward
One Year Later
Innovation Requires Investment

February

Perseverance and Resilience
Research Relief is COVID Relief
RISE to the Challenge
Recognizing, Reconciling, and Revitalizing

January

Full Speed Ahead
Science Is America’s Best Ally
Stimulating Progress
Aftershock

2020

December

Moving Forward to 2021
Bringing Science Home
Transitions and Trust
Deadlines Drive Action

November

Spotlight on Public Health
Trust and Tribute
With the Election Behind: Science Full-Steam Ahead
Let’s Get To Work

October

Setting Unwelcome Records
Trust in Science; Support Science
Will Science Be the Winner?
Solving Problems to Benefit Us All
Put Science to Work

September

Vote Science Strong
The Clock is Winding Down
Live from the 2020 National Health Research Forum
Securing a Science-Strong Future

August

Fogging the Lens
Now or Never
Inaction is the Wrong Choice
A Now Situation

July

Meeting the Moment
The Courage to Act
Serving the Public Interest
What Future are We Building?
Daunting Challenges, Core Strengths

June

The Solutions Will Come From Science
Partnership and Progress
Yesterday, Tomorrow, and Every Day
Assuring a Fair and Just Society

May

Building Back Better
Public Sentiment
Point to the Victories
Now is the time

April

Without research, there is no hope
Strength together
Time To Think Big
For the health of the public
Reliance on science

March

Science, Science, Science
Science: Front and Center
High alert
Meeting Americans’ Expectations

February

Vote to #FundScience
Building trust, driving progress
We can’t ignore the President’s budget
State of the Union: Key Takeaways

January

A long week
Meet the Honoree: Mary Fogarty McAndrew, Recipient of the Gordon and Llura Gund Leadership Award
A Call to Action
Troubling trends
Resolutions
The future is us

2019

December

Advocacy works
Do we have a deal?
Cross sector civic engagement

November

With gratitude for all
Let’s take time to say thank you
Gratitude and Vigilance
Don’t Settle for Stasis

October

Delivering Halloween treats
Honoring Advocacy
#CRsStopProgress
Nobel Laureates of today and tomorrow
Not a moment too soon

September

Great expectations
The future of research
Words and Deeds
A Pivotal Month

August

If we don’t speak up…
Don’t wait to advocate
Scientists as messengers
Evidence, Advocacy, Impact
Your advocacy made a difference

July

Trains, planes, and a budget deal
Are We There Yet?
Could this be a summer of progress?
Raising Awareness; Raising the Caps

June

June Gloom
Trust in science
The value of innovation
A research setback and research accelerators

May

Kudos to young scientists
The public context of research
We are all Patients
The research environment
Leadership matters

April

Opportunities and Imperatives
Public Health at the Forefront
Then and Now
Taking Action is the Right Answer

March

Keeping a finger on the public pulse
Spring deadlines
Grateful for research and our advocates
Hearings and being heard

February

Science Budgets in Jeopardy
Focus on the Future
Countering threats to science and to health
Getting to goal

January

Delays Hurt Us All
Walking the priority talk
Keep moving
Positioning the US for success
Advocacy works in the new year!

2018

December

Charting a Better Course
A Difficult Day
Down to the wire — again
Touching Hearts and Minds

November

Global Health Security
Changing the Lexicon
Energizing Advocacy
First Thoughts on Science and the New Congress
Vote (early or not) and advocate often

October

News you can use, for your health and for your advocacy
Public Health Demands Advocacy
Election Countdown Begins
Bipartisanship matters

September

Major kudos and prestigious awards
Inspiration and reasons for hope
Optimism in the air
Cutting through the Noise

August

Empowering students to engage the public
The Senate is busy and so are we
Three ways to let the Senate know your views
Summer in the Capital City
High stakes for research and public health

July

Research is a Strategic Asset
Health, Well-being and Prosperity
Welcome News
Big Money and Small, Working for Research

June

Better is Possible
A Bias for Action
Breaking through
No easy answers

May

More advocacy, more science, more solutions to what ails us
Too many epidemics; too little response
Assessing Success
Rescission Decision
It Takes a Continuum

April

Calling All Advocacy Superstars
Rallying for Research
Tweet First, Then March for Science
No Rescission

March

Staying Unstuck
Omnibus Puts More Science to Work
An Indelible Impact
Stepping Up the Pace
Gathering the Will and the Evidence

February

Make Your Priorities Known
Inaction is a Choice
Bipartisanship in Action
Saying no to the status quo

January

Wake-Up Call
Determination in the Face of Uncertainty
Cautious Optimism Is Not a Done Deal
Ironies and Urgencies Frame the New Year

2017

December

The Stage Is Set for Action in 2018
No Time to Stand on the Sidelines
An unacceptable scenario
Prathik’s Future

November

To tax or not to tax, that is the question
Thanks and a Thanksgiving Challenge
Raise the caps, raise awareness, raise your voice
News and Coming Attractions
Context and Content

October

What Money Can Buy
Messages Worth Repeating
Public Engagement Leads to Public Support
It’s time to dig deeper

September

What geese and rats and frogs have in common
If you think research is expensive, try disease
Patients are Waiting
Writing Early for Several Good Reasons

August

Confronting Challenges Together
Advocacy isn’t discretionary
Sound science, smart advocacy
Ending the crippling constraints on research
Laureates and advocates

July

Mixed Signals
Changing the image of things to come
Straight Talk
Power to the Public

June

Before and After the 4th of July
We can’t hope our way out of these challenges
Drumbeats and determination
Leadership matters
Countering societal threats with research and innovation

May

Assuring a nation worth defending
Three Minute Thesis
Knowledge and science in the service of national strength
Saying thank you when it counts

April

A True Celebration
Raise Your Voice for Science
Marching for (More) Science
Things to do while Congress is in recess

March

March Madness
Important Signals Are Emerging amidst the Noise
An Evening of Inspiration and Celebration
Speak up and be Heard
Not Too Much to Hope

February

Science Serves
Advocacy can be the Secret Sauce Empowering Science
Science and fiscal responsibility
Embracing Advocacy and Public Engagement

January

Science not silence
Listening Carefully
Dr. King continues to inspire
2017 is off to a fast start

Research!America

241 18th St South, Ste 501 Arlington, VA 22202

PHONE: 703-739-2577 FAX: 703-739-2372

[email protected]

Contact Us

Directions to Research!America

Stay Informed

Sign up for news, event announcements, advocacy alerts, and more.

Sign Up

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Sitemap

©2026 RESEARCH!AMERICA. All Rights Reserved

Website by Teramark

Search

Generic filters

Close

Advocacy
▼
Topics
▼
Events
▼
News
▼
Resources
▼
Membership
▼
About
▼
Donate