Department of
Cancer Prevention and Control

Communicating for Health in Appalachia by Translating Science - New

Research driving community health impact

At the Communicating for Health in Appalachia by Translating Science (CHATS) Lab, we believe that research should go beyond discovery—it should drive real-world change. Our innovative, applied research focuses on translating scientific findings into practical strategies that reach and benefit the communities we serve. From early exploratory surveys that help us understand individual experiences, to ongoing conversations with community members, we work to create meaningful interventions that empower people to get screened, adopt healthier behaviors, and live their healthiest lives.

Play Introducing the CHATS Lab Dr. Dannell Boatman. WVU Cancer Institute
Introducing the CHATS Lab Dr. Dannell Boatman. WVU Cancer Institute

Vision

Creating shared knowledge about the most effective ways to communicate science to support positive health behaviors

Merging Research and Practice

The CHATS Core supports the implementation and real-world application of evidence-based practices through a focus on dissemination science, applied communication, and knowledge translation. Together, our Lab and Core blend expertise in communication science and health behavior theory to transform research into actionable communication strategies tailored to diverse community settings.

Our integrated model is novel because it bridges research and practical application.

The CHATS Lab focuses on:

  • Generating actionable evidence
  • Designing theory-informed strategies
  • Testing communication interventions
  • Driving communication research

The CHATS Core builds on this foundation by applying and sharing what is learned. It centers on:

  • Translating research into practice
  • Designing for audiences
  • Delivering creative solutions
  • Accelerating research impact

Together, our Lab and Core create a continuous cycle where community-informed research drives practical solutions, and those solutions, once implemented, inform and improve future research. The goal is to close the gap between discovery and delivery—empowering individuals and systems to support better health outcomes across Appalachia and beyond.

CHATS Lab and CHATS Core complicated diagram explaining the relationship and separation of the two things.

For questions or more information, please contact our team

Abby Starkey, MA
CHATS Lab Manager

Dannell Boatman, EdD, MS
Principal Investigator for CHATS Lab

Amy Allen, MA MS
Director of Research Integration, Department of Cancer Prevention & Control