Tatiana Coelho de Sampaio, a biologist from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, has recently garnered extensive attention online, accumulating 16 million interactions across major social media platforms following the release of her research on polylaminin. This protein is designed to facilitate the regeneration of spinal cord injuries and has resonated with many users, reflecting a growing interest in scientific advancements. According to a survey conducted by Nexus Research and Data Intelligence, this volume of interaction encompasses likes, comments, and shares across platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.

On February 18, Tatiana Sampaio's name reached the 26th position in Brazil's Trending Topics on X, indicating her rising prominence amid discussions surrounding Carnival festivities and football matches. However, in the same trending environment, influencer Virginia Fonseca dominated the attention, ranking first. The Nexus survey analyzed 200,000 mentions related to polylaminin or Sampaio from around 79,000 unique users during the week of February 13 to 20, leading to an estimated reach of 46 million impressions, highlighting the vast impact of social media engagement in popularizing scientific research.

This phenomenon illustrates a crucial intersection of science and social media, showcasing how researchers can utilize these platforms to amplify their work and engage with the public. Despite falling behind popular influencers like Virginia, Sampaio's significant social media presence underscores a shift toward valuing scientific discourse in public forums, which can facilitate greater awareness of critical health-related discoveries and innovations in biomedical research.