Type 1 Diabetes
Global Research Impact Analysis
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Executive Summary
Contents 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11
Executive summary Introduction About type 1 diabetes About JDRF Publication volume Major and emerging contributors to the volume of type 1 diabetes publications Global shares of type 1 diabetes publications over time Proportion of publications focused on clinical research Major and emerging contributors creating impact in type 1 diabetes research JDRF’s contribution Quality of JDRF-funded publications
The Type 1 Diabetes Global Research Impact Analysis was conducted as a part of the Global Diabetes Research Innovation Partnership between the Macquarie Group Foundation and JDRF Australia.
Executive summary
Type 1 Diabetes Global Research Impact Analysis
The volume of scientific literature in type 1 diabetes has risen by 30% over the past five years Over 22,000 publications were added to the scientific literature in type 1 diabetes over the short span of five years. The total number of type 1 diabetes publications is also on the rise with 30% more journal articles published in 2012 compared to 2008.
The EU and USA are the largest contributors to type 1 diabetes research, with China growing rapidly The EU and USA were identified as the largest contributors, contributing over one-third of total type 1 diabetes publications. The UK, China, Germany, Canada, and Australia are also active contributors, with a four-fold increase in the output from China in the past ten years.
One-third of all type 1 diabetes publications are focused on clinical research For the first time, this analysis examined the proportion of literature in type 1 diabetes that is relevant to clinical research. With one-third of the global type 1 diabetes scientific literature being pertinent to clinical research, this analysis showed that there is a substantial global focus in translating findings from the laboratory to the clinic.
Belgium and Finland produce highly-cited research; USA, UK, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland and Israel also produce high impact research In addition to research volume, the measures used in this analysis identified countries of particularly high research quality and impact, as measured by the number of times research publications were cited by other researchers and the quality of the journals involved.
JDRF funds over 8% of global type 1 diabetes research, and JDRF-funded research is of a higher average impact JDRF is a prominent not-for-profit supporter of type 1 diabetes research globally. For the first time, this analysis investigated the volume and impact of scientific literature that acknowledged JDRF as a funder. More than 8% of all type 1 diabetes publications recognised JDRF as a funder of the published work. JDRF-funded publications were making on average a bigger impact and were cited more often than other publications.
Executive summary The Type 1 Diabetes Global Research Impact Analysis is a systematic assessment of the volume and impact of publications relevant to type 1 diabetes between 2008 and 2012. It identifies countries that are key contributors as well as those that show an emerging influence in the scientific literature in type 1 diabetes.
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Executive Introduction Summary
Introduction The global pool of research that contributes to medical advancements in type 1 diabetes is growing People living with type 1 diabetes experience significant medical, financial and emotional burdens every single day. While there is still no cure for type 1 diabetes, advancements in medical research have led to the development of therapies and technologies that are improving the day-to-day management and quality of life of those living with the disease. The Type 1 Diabetes Global Research Impact Analysis provides a systematic assessment of the quantity and quality of type 1 diabetes publications between 2008 and 2012. In doing so, this analysis provides an understanding of geographical trends in shaping the global landscape of type 1 diabetes research. Successful research can be measured by the number and quality of peer-reviewed journal articles that capture the methodology and outcomes of the project, with a discussion of the implications of the results across the broader scientific field. The volume of publications from a country is a representative measure of the productivity of the research community from that country. Subsequently, measuring the recognition of published literature by peers of the scientific community indicates the impact the publications in influencing the global understanding of type 1 diabetes.
The Type 1 Diabetes Global Research Impact Analysis was commissioned by JDRF Australia to Prof. Linda Butler, a leading global expert in the field of bibliometrics. The rigorous methodology used in this report for the systematic assessment of publication counts and impact has previously been used to advise the Australian Government in analysing Australia’s standing in research. Internationally, Prof. Butler’s work has also been used to advise the UK Government and European Science Foundation in policies for research assessment1. Her work in type 1 diabetes previously contributed towards the Australian Type 1 Diabetes Research Agenda. Using Prof. Butler’s expertise, the analysis of this report takes into account all the countries in the world that shape the scientific literature in type 1 diabetes. In doing so, this analysis recognises the contributions of countries that have been long-standing players and identifies those with a growing presence in influencing type 1 diabetes research that is globally acclaimed by the scientific community.
1. University of Newcastle (2013 http://www.newcastle.edu.au/institute/research-institute-for-social-inclusion-and-wellbeing/risiw-team/conjoints/professor-linda-butler.html)
Type 1 Diabetes Global Research Impact Analysis
About type1 diabetes Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong autoimmune disease that destroys the body’s ability to produce insulin. It arises when the immune system mistakenly turns on itself, and it is not currently preventable. The causes of the disease are not fully understood, but scientists believe that a person’s genes play a role, as well as a variety of environmental factors. People with type 1 diabetes typically must test their blood sugars regularly with a finger prick test, and inject or infuse insulin every single day, just to stay alive.
Even though insulin is a life saver, there is currently no cure for type 1 diabetes. The complications of diabetes can be severe and include kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, amputation, heart attack, and stroke. Research into type 1 diabetes spans a broad range of topics from understanding the causes of the disease to improving daily and longterm treatment regimens and preventing the disease in future generations. The methodology used in this analysis reflects the broad reach of focus areas in type 1 diabetes research.
About JDRF JDRF is the leading not-for-profit supporter of type 1 diabetes research globally, investing over $1.7 billion in the world’s best diabetes research since 1970. Our support has been behind nearly every major advance in type 1 diabetes research in the last 40 years, resulting in increased quality of life and strong progress towards a cure. Our strong local relationships and global knowledge allow us to help translate research into locally accessible new technologies and management techniques for people with type 1 diabetes.
Through guiding the scientific agenda, accelerating the pace of research, and engaging with our key stakeholders like government agencies, we can deliver research progress directly to people with type 1 diabetes. The international structure of JDRF, with links to governments, research institutes and regulatory agencies, allows us to increase the impact of every research dollar, provide a tangible return on investment and deliver results that transform the lives of people with type 1 diabetes.
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Executive Results Summary
Publication volume During the period of 2008 to 2012, there were 22,675 publications relevant to type 1 diabetes, growing from 3,998 in 2008 to 5,028 publications in 2012. This shows a growing body of evidence that is shaping our understanding of type 1 diabetes. These publications were identified by keywords specific to the disease (Figure 1).
The volume of scientific literature in type 1 diabetes has risen by 30% over five years
Figure 1 The annual number of type 1 diabetes publications over time Number of publications 5,500
5,000
4,500
4,000
2012
2011
2010
Year
2009
3,500 2008
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Type 1 Diabetes Global Research Impact Analysis
Major and emerging contributors to the volume of type 1 diabetes publications The EU and USA were significant contributors to this world total, with authors from the EU listed on 40% of all publications and authors from the USA listed on 34% of all publications. Other major contributors were the UK, Japan, Germany, China, Italy, Canada, Sweden, France and Australia, whose contributions ranged from 4 to 10% (Figure 2).
The EU and USA are key contributors to the volume of scientific literature in type 1 diabetes
Figure 2 Top twenty contributors to publications in type 1 diabetes between 2008 and 2012 Share of world output (%)
1.2
1.8
2.0 Belgium
2.3 Netherlands
2.1
2.4 Switzerland
Poland
2.5 South Korea
2.9 Spain
3.7 Australia
2.9
3.9 France
Denmark
4.1 Sweden
5.4 Canada
6.4 China
5.7
6.5 Germany
Italy
6.8 40
10
Japan
9.9
33.8
40.4
50
Israel
Finland
UK
USA
EU
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Results
Global shares of type 1 diabetes publications over time A deeper look into how each country’s share of publications has changed over time revealed that China made the biggest change in its contribution with 1.9% of publications in 2003 with Chinese authors to 7.3% in 2012 (Figure 3). Australia’s contribution to the global scientific literature in type 1 diabetes also rose from 2.4% in 2003 to 4.4% in 2012. Despite some minor fluctuations, the overall proportions of the global pool of research articles of countries such as the USA, UK, Japan and Germany remained fairly constant over time.
With a four-fold increase over the past ten years, China is emerging as a major contributor to the volume of publications in type 1 diabetes Figure 3 The changing landscape of a country’s share of type 1 diabetes publications over time Share of world output (%) 50
EU USA
30
10
UK China Germany Canada Australia Sweden France Denmark Netherlands Finland Israel
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
Year
2004
1 2003
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Type 1 Diabetes Global Research Impact Analysis
Proportion of publications focused on clinical research The translation of discoveries from the laboratory to clinical care requires a rigorous process of clinical trials that test the safety and effectiveness of emerging therapies. 29% of publications in the field of type 1 diabetes between 2008 and 2012 focused on clinical research. Finland and Norway led the world with the highest proportion of their publications focused on clinical research. Poland, Hungary, Russia, Australia, Denmark and Singapore also had relatively high proportions of publications classified as clinical research compared to the world average (Figure 4). The large proportion of publications in clinical research demonstrates a growing global focus in the pipeline of translating results from the laboratory to clinical care.
One-third of the publications in type 1 diabetes in the world are focused on clinical research
Figure 4 Proportion of clinical research in all type 1 diabetes publications between 2008 and 2012 Proportion of clinical research publications (%) 60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
World average
Belgium
France
Canada
Spain
USA
Germany
Israel
EU
UK
Italy
Netherlands
Sweden
Denmark
Singapore
Australia
Russia
Hungary
Poland
Finland
Norway
0%
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Results
Major and emerging contributors creating impact in type 1 diabetes research While the volume of publications provide a measure of a country’s productivity in type 1 diabetes research, it is also important to measure the quality or impact of these publications in shaping the global understanding of the disease. Impact can be estimated by evaluating the number of times a publication is cited and the quality of the journal where it is published. Analysing citation indices measures the number of times a publication is cited by its scientific peers. A further understanding of where these indices fit relative to the world can be measured by the relative citation impact. This measure is an indication of the esteem with which the research community holds the value of the publication. An additional measure is also the quality of the journal in which articles are published. Each journal article goes through a rigorous process of peer-review. More prestigious journals are known to only accept publications that are of highest quality. The relative journal impact is a measure of this factor.
Belgium, Finland, France, Denmark and Switzerland have the highest proportion of articles published in the top 10% of cited publications Figure 5 Percentage of publications in the top 10% of cited articles Publications in top 10% (%) 25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
Poland
China
Japan
South Korea
EU
Spain
Sweden
Germany
Italy
UK
Australia
USA
Canada
Netherlands
Israel
Switzerland
Denmark
France
Finland
0% Belgium
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Type 1 Diabetes Global Research Impact Analysis
By analysing the citations for all type 1 diabetes publications, they can be classified into thresholds that define the top-tier of publications. Belgium, Finland, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Israel, Netherlands, Canada, USA and Australia led the world in the proportion of articles that were published in the top 10% of cited publications (Figure 5). This shows that a majority of research from these countries is being well cited by researchers across the world – a sign that their work is having an impact in adding to the global understanding of type 1 diabetes. A comparison of the relative citation impact and relative journal impact of the scientific literature in type 1 diabetes revealed the countries that contribute not just to the quantity, but also the quality of research in the field. Finland, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, France, Israel, Canada and the USA fared significantly above the world average in these measures with major contributions from the UK, EU, Sweden, Norway, Germany and Italy (Figure 6). Taken together, these results identify the countries that are producing globally significant research contributing not just to the volume, but also the quality of publications in type 1 diabetes.
USA, UK, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland and Israel produce high impact research Figure 6 Overall impact of type 1 diabetes publications in shaping the global understanding of type 1 diabetes Impact is measured by how well the publication is cited by the research community (relative citation impact) and the quality of the journal where the research was published (relative journal impact).
Relative journal impact 1.75
Finland
1.50
Norway
1.25
Canada France USA Sweden
Italy Israel
Belgium Denmark Australia
Germany
▲
1.00
UK
EU
World
Netherlands Switzerland
Spain Japan
0.75 China
0.50 Poland
0.25 0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00 Relative citation impact
1.25
1.50
1.75
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Results
JDRF’s contribution Since its founding in 1970, JDRF has invested in diabetes research that has globally advanced the type 1 diabetes scientific frontier and the management of this disease. Over 8% of publications in the world acknowledged JDRF as a funder of its research. While JDRF funds research in type 1 diabetes globally, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Netherlands, the UK and USA have a physical JDRF presence. In these countries, between 7% and 20% of the publications acknowledged JDRF funding (Figure 7). Canada had the highest proportion of publications acknowledging JDRF funding, followed by USA, Australia and Israel, the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Over 8% of publications in the world acknowledged JDRF as a funder
Figure 7 JDRF’s contribution to type 1 diabetes publication volume between 2008 and 2012 Percentage of JDRF-funded publications of total country output (%) 20%
15%
10%
5%
China
Netherlands
EU
World
Denmark
UK
Australia
Israel
USA
0% Canada
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Type 1 Diabetes Global Research Impact Analysis
Quality of JDRF-funded publications Further analyses of this subset of publications showed that across the world, publications that acknowledged JDRF had a higher relative citation impact of 1.77 compared to non JDRF-funded publications (0.94). The publications that acknowledged JDRF were also published in highly regarded journals with a relative journal impact of 1.44 compared to 0.96 for publications funded by other bodies (Figure 8).
JDRF-funded publications have a higher average impact than other publications
Figure 8 JDRF’s contribution to type 1 diabetes publication impact Relative journal impact 1.75
1.50 JDRF-funded publications
1.25
▲
1.00 Non JDRF-funded publications 0.75
0.50
0.25 0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00 Relative citation impact
1.25
1.50
1.75
2.00
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Executive Results Summary
Further analyses of the publications recognising JDRF as a funder showed that almost double the proportion of these publications were in the top 10% of cited journal articles compared to those not funded by JDRF. The impact of JDRF funding was most striking in China, where JDRF-funded publications outperformed other publications by a four-fold margin (Figure 9).
JDRF-funded publications are cited more often by researchers across the world than other publications Figure 9 JDRF’s contribution to the top-tier of cited publications Proportion of publications in the top 10% (%) JDRF-funded publications Non JDRF-funded publications 30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
World
EU
USA
UK
Netherlands
Israel
Denmark
China
Canada
0% Australia
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PO Box 183 St Leonards NSW 1590 Telephone +61 2 9020 6100 www.jdrf.org.au ABN 40 002 286 553
This analysis was commissioned by JDRF Australia to Prof. Linda Butler, an independent expert in the field of bibliometrics. Details about the methodology used in this analysis can be obtained by contacting JDRF.
