It is well known that public perceptions of risk and vulnerability about cancer and environment are shaped by peoples' exposure to communication messages. Based on this assumption, the Viswanath Lab addressed two main challenges.

Dr. Viswanath and his co-investigators worked with low-income residents of Boston to explore the ways in which individuals made decisions about communication and information services. For example, what technologies did they see as absolutely necessary versus expendable luxuries?

The goal of this project was to understand how parents, journalists, and community leaders thought about sun protection and skin cancer. The Viswanath Lab communication facilities were used to develop and test different communication messages that could increase the appeal of sun protection messages in local media.

Health and medical science journalists play a prominent role in setting the health agenda for the nation, yet little is known about how these reporters’ professional practices influence the way health issues are framed. Researchers in the Viswanath Lab surveyed US health and medical science reporters and editors to illuminate methods used to produce health news.