Managing Principal Min Yang Coauthors Article on Evolving HEOR Requirements
August 31, 2026
Health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) has long drawn credibility from its methodological strength and the scientific value associated with it. However, in this contemporary era, expectations for HEOR professionals are becoming more demanding and are increasingly requiring skillsets that expand beyond technical grounding. Effective researchers are those with strong technical abilities along with strategic minds, cross-audience communication abilities, and policy awareness as they are asked to translate technical outcomes into easily understood value messages to inform leadership and, potentially, influence policy decisions.
To examine this evolution, Analysis Group Managing Principal Min Yang joined a Partnership Group forum during ISPOR 2026, “Building Your HEOR Skillset: Core Skills for Advancing Your Career.” Participants, including professionals from Otsuka, OPEN Health, Eli Lilly, and Novartis, discussed how the role of individual HEOR contributors has shifted and the resulting industry demand for soft skills.
In summary of this and two other sessions, forum participants coauthored a Value and Outcomes Spotlight article. In their discussion, the authors note that decision makers respond better to clearly communicated key takeaways based on HEOR evidence, rather than recitations of methodological details. The article also touches on tightening international policies raising the evidentiary bar for HEOR studies, along with recommendations for embedding such research strategies earlier in product development.