Maximize the commercial impact of your data & research
Research & evidence is fundamental to building a business in digital health.
But aligning Research and Commercial objectives is more complex than it seems.
A few common scenarios:
Early stage companies and leadership teams don’t know where to start to get the data they need to validate their products and services.
The first Research hire or small team is overwhelmed trying to prioritize long-term goals and short-term asks with extremely limited resources.
A company has started to publish results - but is struggling to translate dense findings into digestible and ready to use assets for sales and marketing.
It’s not easy to outsource this. You need someone with subject matter expertise who also understands the nuances of your product, business, and industry and can work effectively with Product and GTM teams.
Build from Scratch
”We don’t know where to start”
I work with company leadership to craft a Research strategy and roadmap that’s clearly tied to overarching company priorities. I can design team and org structure in addition to sourcing and hiring the right team members for companies that want to build out an internal function.
Amplify Existing Teams
“We have a team, but need to move faster”
I work with existing teams to optimize team operations, ensure there is a clear prioritization framework, and support end to end study operations. I bring an existing network of trusted vendors and collaborators to conduct external studies efficiently and cost-effectively.
Translate to Sales & Marketing
“We have data, but it’s not landing”
I work with marketing and commercial enablement teams to make sure data and studies are best positioned at all stages of the sales cycle and tailored to different audiences. I create sales-ready evidence kits including pitch deck slides, one-pagers, RFP language, and white papers.
What I do
How we can work together
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Sales-Ready Evidence Kits
For: Companies that have results but aren’t maximizing their potential. Turn your published or internal data into assets your commercial team will use.
Evidence audit: what you have, what it supports, and where the gaps are
Messaging tailored to each buyer (employer, health plan, provider, consumer)
Pitch deck slides, one-pagers and RFP language
Claims guidance so marketing stays accurate and defensible
Format: Project-based, about 4–6 weeks
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Publication + Evidence Kit
For: Companies sitting on valuable data that hasn’t been analyzed or published. Take your data all the way to a peer-reviewed paper, then turn it into sales assets.
Analysis plan and study design review
Statistical analysis and interpretation
Manuscript writing and journal submission support
Everything in the Sales-Ready Evidence Kit
Format: Project-based, about 6 months
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Research Strategy Sprint
For: Early-stage leaders who know they need evidence but aren’t sure where to start. Build a research function from scratch that’s tied to your business priorities.
Research strategy and 12–18 month roadmap
Prioritized study portfolio (what to run first and why)
Team structure and hiring plan, including job descriptions and help sourcing candidates
Vendor and partner recommendations
Format: Project-based, about 6–12 weeks
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Fractional Research Lead
For: Small or first-time research teams stretched across competing priorities. Get senior research leadership without a full-time hire.
Prioritization framework and team operations
End-to-end study oversight, from design to publication
Access to my network of vendors, academic partners and collaborators
Regular check-ins with leadership on how evidence supports the business
Format: Monthly retainer, set number of hours/days per month
About me
I’ve spent the last 10+ years in digital health (Vitality, Fitbit, 23andMe, Ginger, Headspace). Most recently I led Research, Actuarial, and Clinical Product teams at Headspace.
While my primary expertise is outcomes research and ROI/value communication, I have a wide range of research experience, including product R&D at 23andMe, large-scale academic and government partnerships like the NIH All of Us Research initiative at Fitbit, and consumer insights across D2C and B2B companies.
Prior to my career in digital health, I worked in healthcare analytics consulting and have a masters degree in epidemiology and comparative effectiveness research from Columbia University.
Example Publications
The Real-World Impact of App-Based Mindfulness on Perceived Stress: Observational Study
What it is: a real world study of perceived stress from 20,000+ Headspace members.
Key results: Headspace members experienced 24% stress reduct ion on average
Used for: B2B commercial enablement, corporate comms
Assessment of an App-Based Sleep Program to Improve Outcomes for Clinical Insomnia
What it is: a randomized controlled trial of the Headspace CBT-I based sleep program.
Key results: significant improvements in insomnia, sleep quality, depression & anxiety
Used for: D2C marketing claim validation, B2B sales
The impact of Headspace Care on a large pharmaceutical company’s employee healthcare costs
What it is: an actuarial study of employer healthcare costs from healthcare claims data.
Key result: 15% savings for members meaningfully engaged in team-based care
Used for: client reporting and broader employer / health plan value communication.
Find my full publication history here and get in touch if you’re interested in viewing my broader work portfolio, including marketing assets.
Let's connect.
sarah@sarahkunkle.com