bims-evares Biomed News
on Evaluation of research
Issue of 2026–05–03
nineteen papers selected by
Thomas Krichel, Open Library Society
  1. Authorship and citation inequities in high-impact emergency medicine journals: a bibliometric analysis.
  2. Bibliometric analysis of randomized controlled trials in oral submucous fibrosis.
  3. Emerging patterns, impact, and collaborative networks of global scientific output on carrageenan and digestive problems: A bibliometric analysis.
  4. Progress and Gaps: Two Decades of Female Authorship in High-Impact Otolaryngology Journals.
  5. Gender- and Sex-equitable Submission Guidelines in Emergency Medicine Journals Are Associated with Enhanced Publication Metrics.
  6. Brazilian science through the looking glass: a scientometric perspective from within and beyond.
  7. Institutional Research Stratification in Global Dental Schools: A 10-Year Bibliometric Comparison Across QS Ranking Tiers.
  8. The Gender and Geographic Location of Authors Impact Citation Rates of GBE Papers.
  9. Historical Roots of Research in Nanotechnology Application in Dental Composites: A Bibliometric Analysis : Historical Roots of Research in Nanotechnology Application in Dental Composites.
  10. Publication Speed and Patterns Across Plastic Surgery Journals in 2024: What Influences Timelines in Research?
  11. The field factor: Industry publishing contribution and novelty in science.
  12. National-, institutional-, and individual-level determinants of dermatologic research excellence: an analysis of Stanford-Elsevier Lists of the top 2% scholars worldwide (2017-2023).
  13. Beyond genuine collaboration: the rise of strategic co-authorship in contemporary academic publishing.
  14. Gender representation in international cancer research funding.
  15. Impact of the Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation skull base course on academic and career outcomes.
  16. Informal connections outweigh coauthorship ties in academic impact.
  17. Comment on "International medical graduate orthopaedic residents show higher research productivity than United States graduate peers before and during residency".
  18. General trends in research using impact evaluation methods on the effectiveness of terrestrial protected areas in reducing biodiversity loss.
  19. Enhancing, Understanding and Adoption of the Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT).
  1. Afr J Emerg Med. 2026 Jun;16(2): 100973
    Authorship and citation inequities in high-impact emergency medicine journals: a bibliometric analysis.
    Sumeyye Cakmak, Ibrahim Sarbay.
       Introduction: Emergency medicine (EM) is a global discipline; however, marked inequities in authorship representation persist. Disparities between high-income countries (HICs) and lower-and middle-income countries (LMICs) may influence research visibility, access to funding, and scholarly impact. Using recent data, we examined authorship leadership, funding, and citation patterns across national income groups in high-impact EM journals.
    Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional bibliometric analysis of articles published between 2020 and 2024 in the 20 highest-ranked EM journals according to Google Scholar Metrics. Bibliographic records were retrieved from PubMed and Web of Science, excluding publication types not considered citable scholarly outputs. Country income classification followed the World Bank 2025 schema based on first-author affiliation. Descriptive statistics and χ² tests assessed distributions across income groups. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of LMIC first authorship and funding, while linear regression assessed annual citation counts adjusted for study characteristics.
    Results: Among 23,379 eligible articles, first authors were predominantly affiliated with HICs (81.6%), followed by upper-middle-income (10.8%), lower-middle-income (7.3%), and low-income (0.3%) countries. LMIC representation did not increase over time. Larger author teams were inversely associated with LMIC first authorship (p < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, LMIC-affiliated first authors accrued fewer annual citations than HIC counterparts (β = -0.79; p < 0.001), whereas funded studies were associated with higher citation rates (p < 0.001). Africa accounted for 0.6% of publications and did not demonstrate lower citation rates once published.
    Discussion: High-impact EM research remains dominated by HIC institutions, with persistent inequities in authorship leadership, funding, and citation visibility. These findings suggest that structural barriers to research leadership and publication may contribute to the observed disparities, rather than differences in scholarly relevance once studies are published. Strengthening LMIC research capacity and promoting equitable collaborations and inclusive publishing policies are essential for a more representative global EM research ecosystem.
    Keywords:  Authorship equity; Bibliometrics; Emergency medicine; Funding disparities; Global health
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afjem.2026.100973
  2. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2026 Jan-Mar;30(1):30(1): 22-29
    Bibliometric analysis of randomized controlled trials in oral submucous fibrosis.
    Rajlakshmi Gaikwad, Gargi Sarode, Sachin Sarode.
      Bibliometric analysis uses citation analysis to assess the impact of the research publications. This analysis investigated the most cited articles that are exclusively on the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) to help get an overview of the clinical research published to date. Articles were searched on the Scopus database with the terms 'oral submucous fibrosis' and 'randomized controlled trial' till March 2025. The Web of Science was used for citation cross-validation with Scopus. The number of citations, journals, authors, and country of origin were all reviewed. Co-occurrence analysis was carried out with the help of VOSviewer software. The data was collected from 2006 to 2024, with the maximum research papers published in 2015. A highest citation of 129 was recorded with a mean citation of 22 (standard deviation = 30.4627). The 25 articles were published in 16 different journals with the highest impact factor of 3.4, and the majority of which (n = 20) were published by Indian authors. Co-occurrence analysis was carried out for all keywords, and 27 keywords of the total 329 keywords met the threshold. Cooccurrence of author keywords suggested 4 keywords out of a total of 58 keywords that met the need with the minimum number of occurrences of 4. Co-occurrence for index keywords showed 25 keywords meeting the threshold. This analysis shows a paucity of RCTs conducted within the field and will facilitate interpretation of the clinical data and assist researchers in conducting more clinical research in the field.
    Keywords:  Bibliometric analysis; oral submucous fibrosis; randomized controlled trial
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_218_25
  3. Indian J Pharmacol. 2026 May 01. 58(3): 205-214
    Emerging patterns, impact, and collaborative networks of global scientific output on carrageenan and digestive problems: A bibliometric analysis.
    Fran Espinoza-Carhuancho, Miguel Cabanillas-Lazo, Lucia Quispe-Tasayco, Cesar Mauricio-Vilchez, Arnaldo Munive Degregori, Frank Mayta-Tovalino.
       BACKGROUND: The study aimed to analyze the current trends and spatiotemporal dynamics of research on carrageenan and digestive problems through a bibliometric study from 2019 to 2024.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The literature published on carrageenan and digestive issues from the period of January 2019 until July 2024 was examined using an observational and descriptive approach. The use of a quantitative approach was made in relation to authorship distribution and collaboration, country collaboration, and the evolution of themes. A search of the Scopus database was conducted with different keywords of "Carrageenan" and "Digestive problems." Analysis and visualization of the data were done with the use of SciVal and RStudio software.
    RESULTS: Between 2019 and 2024, a significant increase in publication activity occurred, with associated variations in publication types and pronounced growth in international collaboration. In regard to scientific production, there was an average year-on-year increase of 18.98%, with an average age of the papers of 3.2 years and an average of 15.72 citations per article. A total of 889 authors produced the articles, with an average of 6.71 co-authors per paper and 21.33% international collaborations. Notable institutions producing articles include the Ocean University of China, which produced seven articles, and Jimei University, which produced five articles. The scientific production was highest in China (40), followed by Brazil and Japan, and while most authors contributed a single article, there was a lack of equal scientific productivity accumulated in the articles.
    CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight both the importance and the need to investigate carrageenan and its impact on digestive issues that might yield exciting avenues of research. The number of publications being produced regarding this foundational aspect of research continues to be relevant. The examination of literature also illustrated the key role of international collaborations and changing research agendas in dealing with the challenges related to digestive problems.
    Keywords:  Bibliometrics; carrageenan; digestive problems
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.4103/ijp.ijp_457_25
  4. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2026 Apr 30.
    Progress and Gaps: Two Decades of Female Authorship in High-Impact Otolaryngology Journals.
    Robin Powszok, Rachel Haji, Joyce Jeong, Grant Primer, Dina Simon, Krupa R Patel, Vanessa C Stubbs.
       OBJECTIVE: To evaluate longitudinal trends in female authorship in high-impact otolaryngology journals and assess changes in representation across first and last author positions over a 20-year period.
    STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional bibliometric analysis.
    SETTING: Three high-impact otolaryngology journals: JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Laryngoscope, and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
    METHODS: Research articles published in 2004 and 2024 were identified. First and last author genders were determined using publicly available sources. Descriptive statistics and proportional comparisons were performed to compare gender distribution across authorship positions and time points.
    RESULTS: A total of 3733 authors across 1948 original articles were analyzed. Overall female authorship increased from 15.5% in 2004 to 33.5% in 2024 (P < .001). Female first authorship more than doubled from 15.9% to 39.9% (P < .001), while female last authorship rose more modestly from 15.6% to 26.4% (P < .001).
    CONCLUSION: Female authorship in otolaryngology has grown substantially over the past 2 decades, reflecting progress in early-career scholarly participation. However, persistent underrepresentation in senior authorship positions highlights enduring barriers to academic advancement. Continued efforts to improve mentorship, sponsorship, and equitable promotion practices are essential to achieving gender equity in otolaryngology scholarship.
    Keywords:  academic surgery; collaboration; diversity; equity; female; mentorship; scholarship; women in otolaryngology
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/ohn.70258
  5. West J Emerg Med. 2025 Jun 10. 27(2): 465-470
    Gender- and Sex-equitable Submission Guidelines in Emergency Medicine Journals Are Associated with Enhanced Publication Metrics.
    Akash Manes, Michelle D Lall, Starr Knight, Ali S Raja, Faisal Khosa.
       INTRODUCTION: Gender and sex equity-promoting (GSEP) clinical research is essential to improving diversity and inclusivity in medicine. In this study we aimed to compare journal impact metrics in emergency medicine (EM) between journals that integrated gender- and sex-based considerations and those that did not.
    METHODS: We searched the 2023 Journal Citations Report (Clarivate Analytics) for EM journals. Submission guidelines of each EM journal were examined according to the SAGER (Sex and Gender Equity in Research) guidelines and stratified as conforming or non-conforming depending on whether at least one SAGER criterion was met. Our primary outcome measure was the journal impact factor. Secondary outcome measures included other citation and influence metrics: total citations; 5-year journal impact factor; journal citation indicator; article influence score, normalized Eigenfactor score; citable items; total articles; and immediacy index.
    RESULTS: Based on our classification system informed by the SAGER criteria, most journals (66%, 31/47) were classified as non-compliant. The EM journals that conformed to the sex and gender equity guidelines were rated higher than non-conforming journals across all studied journal metrics. We found that conforming journals had a significantly higher median difference (MD) than non-conforming EM journals in total citations (MD 1,586; GSEP: 3,599 vs non-GSEP: 901); 2023 2-year journal impact factor (MD 0.8; 2.3 vs 1.4); 5-year journal impact factor (MD 0.7; 2.5 vs 1.9); article influence score (MD 0.26; 0.76 vs 0.47); normalized Eigenfactor score (MD 0.79; 1.06 vs 0.26); citable items (MD 37; 103 vs 56), and total articles (MD 41; 87 vs 42). All differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).
    CONCLUSION: Using criteria informed by the Sex and Gender Equity in Research guidelines, most EM journals (66%) were classified as non-conforming to these guidelines. This indicates a significant gap in the integration of gender- and sex-based considerations in EM research publication practices.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.48527
  6. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2026 ;pii: S0100-879X2026000103832. [Epub ahead of print]59 e15002
    Brazilian science through the looking glass: a scientometric perspective from within and beyond.
    A Sá-Nunes, Y M Pessoa-Gonçalves, C J F Oliveira.
      Citation analysis has emerged as a key area in scientometrics. However, the global movement toward open science, alongside the pervasive "publish or perish" culture, underscores the need to reevaluate the paradigm of citations as a measure of impact and quality. Brazil, a top 15 producer of scientific articles, has established the Lattes Platform, a comprehensive resource data on virtually active researchers in the country. Herein, the Brazilian scientific landscape was analyzed by integrating a widely used global ranking based on large-scale citation metrics with individual-level data from the Lattes Platform. The analysis assessed the impact, distribution, and disparities of Brazilian science across disciplines, geographic regions, and institutional affiliations from 2019-2023. Results showed that Brazilian researchers account for approximately 0.43% of the world's most cited scientists, a significant underrepresentation relative to Brazil's population share and scientific potential. Most highly cited scientists are concentrated in three states within the Southeast region, reflecting longstanding economic and infrastructural advantages. The majority of top Brazilian scientists work in Life Sciences, with particular representation in the subfields Zoology, Tropical Medicine, and Mycology & Parasitology. While Brazil's scientific output compares favorably with other South American and African countries, it remains behind nations with higher gross domestic products per capita and Human Development Index. Nonetheless, 73% of the most cited researchers receive national Research Productivity Grants, indicating a positive correlation between citation and qualified scientific excellence. These findings offer a deeper understanding of Brazilian scientific production from a citation perspective and advocate for strategic policy shifts.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431X2026e15002
  7. Int Dent J. 2026 Apr 27. pii: S0020-6539(26)00185-1. [Epub ahead of print]76(4): 109591
    Institutional Research Stratification in Global Dental Schools: A 10-Year Bibliometric Comparison Across QS Ranking Tiers.
    Andy Wai Kan Yeung, James Kit Hon Tsoi.
       OBJECTIVE: To compare the research performance and publishing practices of the Top 50 and Next 50 dental schools ranked by the QS World University Rankings by Subject: Dentistry, and to identify institution‑level bibliometric characteristics associated with higher ranking performance.
    METHODS: QS Dentistry subject ranking data (2023-2025) were used to identify 100 dental schools, stratified into Top 50 and Next 50 groups based on multi‑year ranking stability. Institution‑level bibliometric indicators for 2016-2025 were retrieved from SciVal, using Dentistry (ASJC) as the subject filter to define the literature set. Twenty indicators capturing research productivity, citation impact, collaboration patterns, policy influence and journal quartile distribution were analysed. Group comparisons used Welch's t‑tests for individual indicators and χ2 tests for distributional comparisons (collaborative mode; journal quartiles). False discovery rate correction was applied within each analytic family.
    RESULTS: Across 2016-2025, the Top 50 schools outperformed the Next 50 in 10 indicators, including scholarly output, citation count, citations per publication, policy‑document citations and multiple collaboration‑impact metrics (all FDR‑adjusted P < .05). The Top 50 schools published a significantly higher proportion of their output in Q1 journals (58.0% versus 52.6%) and engaged more frequently in international collaboration (47.0% versus 44.3%). Correlation analysis showed that citations per publication positively correlated with international collaboration, Q1 publishing and top‑percentile citation indicators. Exploratory analyses showed that the ratio of scholarly output in Q1 journals declined stepwise from the Top 10 to ranks 12-20, 21-50 and 51-100.
    CONCLUSION: Top‑ranked dental schools are distinguished by greater publication volume, higher citation impact, stronger international collaboration and more frequent publishing in Q1 dental journals. These research findings offer directions for dental schools aiming to enhance their research performance and competitiveness within the QS ranking framework.
    Keywords:  Academic performance; Citation analysis; Dentistry; International collaboration; QS World University Ranking; SciVal
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2026.109591
  8. Genome Biol Evol. 2026 Apr 01. pii: evag090. [Epub ahead of print]18(4):
    The Gender and Geographic Location of Authors Impact Citation Rates of GBE Papers.
    David Alvarez-Ponce.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag090
  9. Galen Med J. 2024 ;13(S Pt 1): e3725
    Historical Roots of Research in Nanotechnology Application in Dental Composites: A Bibliometric Analysis : Historical Roots of Research in Nanotechnology Application in Dental Composites.
    Sajad Raeisi Estabragh, Behzad Vosooghinezhad, Nader Ghotbi, Hamideh Soleimannejad, Pouya Sabanik, Ali Hashemzadeh, Zahra Lotfhaghpanah.
       Background: The development of nanotechnology in dental composites has revolutionized the field of restorative dentistry. However, the historical roots of this field are not well understood.
    Materials and Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science database to identify research roots in nanotechnology application in dental composites. A comprehensive search was performed using a specific search syntax, and 863 study data were exported. The data was analyzed using the Bibliometrix R package, and a historical direct citation network was employed to analyze the historical development of the research field.
    Results: The analysis revealed a moderate growth rate of 18.32% and a high degree of international collaboration in the field. The average age of documents was 6.12 years, with an average of 28.83 citations per document. The study identified key publications and authors that have shaped the development of the research field over time. The analysis highlighted the importance of concepts such as silanization, dual silanization, and interfacial phase reactivity in the development of dental nanocomposites. Additionally, the study found that the development of antimicrobial dental materials has been a significant area of research, with a focus on the use of quaternary ammonium polyethylenimine nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles to inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation.
    Conclusion: This study identified key publications and authors that have shaped the field and highlights the importance of concepts that have driven the development of dental nanocomposites, including antimicrobial properties. The findings of this study can inform future research and development in the field of dental nanocomposites.
    Keywords:  Antimicrobial Agents; Composite Resins; Dental Materials; Nanotechnology; Restorative Dentistry
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.31661/gmj.v13iSP1.3725
  10. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2026 Apr;14(4): e7644
    Publication Speed and Patterns Across Plastic Surgery Journals in 2024: What Influences Timelines in Research?
    Abdulaziz M Alghamdi, Ali M Alkhathami, Abdullah Khaled Almarri, Mohammed Essam Kattan, Ammar Alsayegh, Fai Yahya Arif, Suha Alzubaidy, Manar Betar, Abdulaziz K Alhujayri.
       Background: Publication timelines in plastic surgery vary across journals and study types, impacting the timely dissemination of research. This study aimed to evaluate the publication timelines and patterns of plastic surgery journals.
    Methods: A bibliometric analysis of all original articles published in the 7 plastic surgery journals with the highest impact factors in 2024 was conducted.
    Results: A total of 2033 plastic surgery articles were analyzed. The median total time to publication (TT) was 8.0 months, with significant variation across journals (P < 0.001). Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) had the longest TT (20.1 mo), whereas Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open had the shortest (5.2 mo). Regarding study category, hand and peripheral nerve surgery had the longest TT (12.9 mo), and cosmetic surgery had the shortest (7.6 mo) (P < 0.001). North American articles had the longest TT (8.7 mo), whereas African articles had the shortest (6.5 mo) (P < 0.001). Studies by nonplastic surgeons, from multiple institutions, or with medical student coauthors had longer TTs (all P < 0.05). Multivariable analysis identified journal, study category, and author continent as independent predictors of a shorter TT (≤8 mo). Articles in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open (odds ratio = 5.7) or Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery (odds ratio = 4.5) were more likely to be published quickly, whereas those on breast surgery or from Africa or Asia were less likely to be published quickly.
    Conclusions: Publication timelines in plastic surgery journals improved overall from 2018 to 2024, but unevenly across journals. Study category, author continent, and affiliation significantly influenced publication speed.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000007644
  11. PLoS One. 2026 ;21(4): e0346227
    The field factor: Industry publishing contribution and novelty in science.
    Anubha Shokhand, Nilam Kaushik, Satyam Mukherjee.
      Firms frequently publish scientific articles as part of their R&D initiatives, motivated by commercial objectives. However, the extent of industry involvement in publishing varies across different scientific fields and can have implications for research within those fields. Novelty in science is associated with scientific and technological breakthroughs. In this paper, we examine a field-level antecedent of novelty-the extent of industry publishing contribution to a field-and its association with two key aspects of recombinant novelty of publications: the occurrence of a novel recombination (novelty occurrence), and the degree of novelty, captured through novelty breadth, reflecting the scope of novel integration of knowledge elements, and novelty distance, reflecting the extremity of conceptual divergence among novel knowledge recombinations. Drawing on a longitudinal dataset of 11.1 million publications across 1639 STEM fields from 2000 to 2014, we find that greater industry publishing contribution within a scientific field is associated with higher odds of novelty occurrence and greater novelty breadth, but lower novelty distance. Notably, university is an important driver of our results across the three dimensions of novelty highlighting the importance of industry publishing contribution in shaping the novelty of entire fields. In addition, we find that top-ranked research institutions appear better able to manage the trade-off between novelty distance and other forms of novelty as industry publishing contribution increases. Our findings emphasize the need for policymakers in encouraging and preserving more exploratory forms of novelty in fields with substantial industry publishing, where such exploration is particularly valuable.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0346227
  12. Front Med (Lausanne). 2026 ;13 1728400
    National-, institutional-, and individual-level determinants of dermatologic research excellence: an analysis of Stanford-Elsevier Lists of the top 2% scholars worldwide (2017-2023).
    Abanoub Riad, Michal Koščík.
       Background: Skin diseases contribute to a massive and often overlooked component of the global disease burden, highlighting the need for a better understanding of the dermatologic research landscape and its key drivers of excellence.
    Aim: To explore the national, institutional, and individual-level determinants that shape dermatologic research excellence worldwide.
    Methods: We analyzed the publicly available Stanford-Elsevier Lists of the top 2% most-cited scientists (2017-2023), extracting scholars classified in Dermatology & Venereal Diseases to identify excellent dermatologic scholars (EDS). EDS records were then linked, based on affiliation data, to country-level indicators (Universal Health Coverage [UHC], Human Development Index [HDI], Gender Inequality Index [GII], national budgets, and disease burden), institutional rankings (Quacquarelli Symonds [QS], Times Higher Education [THE], and Academic Ranking of World Universities [ARWU]), and individual attributes (gender and academic age). Outcomes were EDS counts by country/institution and scholar-level bibliometrics (citations excluding self-citations, modified H-index, and composite score).
    Results: EDS were overwhelmingly based in high-income countries (97.9% career-long; 94.5% single-year) with the EURO region contributing ~48% of EDS and exhibiting highest densities (0.585 and 0.482 per 100,000), while low-income settings had ~0.002. The top 20 institutions hosted ~21% of all EDS. Women comprised 22.9% (career-long) and 28.6% (single-year) of EDS; men had higher median citations and modified H-indices. Academic age correlated positively with modified H-index (ρ = 0.312 career-long) and C-score (ρ = 0.145 single-year), and each additional year predicted higher citations (β = 84.1 career-long; β = 2.6 single-year). In adjusted models, higher HDI and UHC aligned with higher citation counts.
    Conclusion: Dermatologic research excellence remains concentrated in high-income, predominantly European and Anglophone ecosystems, within a small cadre of elite institutions and among older, male scholars. Policymakers should focus on targeted funding for under-represented regions and institutional reforms to ensure equitable career advancement for women in academic dermatology.
    Keywords:  bibliometrics; dermatology; global health; research institutions; research personnel
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1728400
  13. Res Integr Peer Rev. 2026 Apr 28. pii: 12. [Epub ahead of print]11(1):
    Beyond genuine collaboration: the rise of strategic co-authorship in contemporary academic publishing.
    Rui Marcelino.
      The near-disappearance of single-author publications in scientific literature represents one of the most dramatic shifts in academic publishing over the past two decades. While this trend is often attributed to increased scientific collaboration and research complexity, substantial evidence suggests that systemic publication pressures and metric-based evaluation systems have created incentives for "strategic co-authorship"-practices including honorary authorship, gift authorship, and publication cartels that violate established authorship criteria. This article synthesizes empirical evidence documenting the decline of single-author publications, the prevalence of authorship misconduct, and the systemic drivers underlying these practices. Drawing on bibliometric analyses, prevalence surveys, and studies of academic culture, evidence-based synthesis indicates that addressing authorship requires fundamental reforms to institutional assessment systems, enhanced editorial vigilance, and cultural change in how the academic community values research contributions. The integrity of the scientific record depends on honest attribution of intellectual work, yet current incentive structures systematically undermine this foundational principle.
    Keywords:  Authorship ethics; Honorary authorship; Publication pressure; Research assessment; Research integrity
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s41073-026-00197-z
  14. J Cancer Policy. 2026 Apr 28. pii: S2213-5383(26)00046-9. [Epub ahead of print] 100745
    Gender representation in international cancer research funding.
    Elise M Garton, Constance Burgod, Tosca Le, Emily Herzstein, Sofia Cabezudo Violero, Estela Cepeda Cores, Amy M Dworkin, Carla Estaquio, Laura Galbiati, Marc S Hurlbert, Andrew Knowles, Katherine McKenzie, Isabelle Nguyen, Julia Panina, Rupesh Robinson-Vyas, Patricia Servais, Jana Sremanakova, Richard Sullivan, Ophira Ginsburg.
       BACKGROUND: The Lancet Commission on women, power, and cancer recommends that women have equitable access to cancer research resources, leadership, and funding opportunities. To measure progress towards this recommendation, the International Cancer Research Partnership (ICRP) reviewed the proportion of funding in its database for oncology research allocated to female principal investigators (PIs).
    METHODS: The gender of PIs reported on over 120,000 projects in the ICRP database funded between 2006 - 2022 was estimated using a name-based algorithm. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to identify differences in research projects led by male and female PIs, including stratifications by start year, funder organization country, PI country, cancer scientific outline code, cancer site, total funding amount, and career mechanism.
    RESULTS: Over 63% of funded cancer research in the ICRP database was led by a male PI, with 36% led by a female PI and the remaining 1% led by PIs reported as unknown or unreported gender. While there is evidence of modest growth of the percentage of female PIs over time, women lead fewer than 50% of grants across nearly all domains of research.
    CONCLUSION: These results align with findings from other scientific fields and bibliometric analyses of cancer research publications and demonstrate substantial opportunity for improvement in gender equity in cancer research funding.
    POLICY SUMMARY: We recommend funders focus on publicly reporting and analyzing PI gender of funded research projects, reducing the "leaky pipeline" of female investigators in cancer research, and developing strategies to increase equity in review and evaluation processes.
    Keywords:  Cancer research; gender equity; research funding; sex and gender
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpo.2026.100745
  15. J Neurosurg. 2026 May 01. 1-7
    Impact of the Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation skull base course on academic and career outcomes.
    Kara A Parikh, Mustafa Motiwala, Emal Lesha, John E Dugan, Sean M Himel, L Madison Michael, Jacques J Morcos, Nickalus R Khan.
       OBJECTIVE: Since 2010, the Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation (NREF) has offered a Skull Base for Senior Residents course, using didactic sessions and cadaveric dissections to teach senior neurosurgery residents the basics of skull base surgery. In this paper, the impact of this course on the careers of previous attendees was evaluated.
    METHODS: A list of attendees between 2010 and 2023 from the NREF Skull Base for Senior Residents course was obtained and data were collected for each attendee, including demographic information, career advancement, and academic productivity. Outcomes included advancing into a skull base neurosurgery fellowship and career, clinical practice setting, academic professorship appointment, and academic productivity as measured by publication count and the h-index. A survey of participants was also collected to assess the perceived individual benefit of participation in the course.
    RESULTS: From 2010 to 2023, 203 US neurosurgery residents attended the NREF Skull Base for Senior Residents course. Of all attendees, 174 have graduated from residency, with 95 (54.6%) of these graduates pursuing careers in complex cranial surgery. Of the 174 graduates, 94 (54.0%) practice in an academic neurosurgery setting and 83 (88.3%) of the 94 have academic appointments. More past participants completed skull base fellowships (n = 59) and practice skull base neurosurgery (n = 73) than any other single neurosurgical subspecialty. The mean (± SD) number of publications after the course and total h-index by the participants were 29.4 ± 56.1 and 10.8 ± 9.4, respectively. The mean number of literature citations after the course was 434.5 ± 929.8.
    CONCLUSIONS: The majority of young neurosurgeons who attend the NREF Skull Base for Senior Residents course pursue academic neurosurgery careers across the US, with more choosing to pursue fellowships and jobs in a skull base subspecialty compared to choosing any other subspecialty. This finding highlights the career trajectory of participants and the utility of relevant subspecialty training to hone skills and foster growth in the careers of young skull base surgeons.
    Keywords:  academic; career; course; microsurgery; oncology; pituitary surgery; skull base; tumor
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3171/2025.12.JNS251234
  16. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2026 May 05. 123(18): e2511050123
    Informal connections outweigh coauthorship ties in academic impact.
    Lluís Danús, William Dinneen, Carolina Torreblanca, Guy Grossman, Sandra González-Bailón.
      Past work has documented the importance of formal collaboration, particularly coauthorship, in increasing research productivity and innovation. However, we know much less about how informal collaboration relates to publication success. Informal ties facilitate the exchange of intangible resources like mentoring, guidance, and feedback. These interactions form a support structure that aims to improve ideas and facilitate the successful development of research projects. However, these informal exchanges are difficult to measure because they do not leave as clear a trail as coauthorship ties. We uncover this layer of informal communication around scholarly outputs by parsing the information contained in the acknowledgment sections of published articles. Our data include [Formula: see text] political science articles authored by [Formula: see text] scholars from 2003 to 2023. We analyze scholars' embeddedness in this informal structure of collaboration and reveal that 1) informal ties create a larger and denser network of support than coauthorship ties; 2) disconnection from informal networks is associated with lower productivity and impact; and 3) informal ties are a more relevant predictor of publication success than formal collaborations (i.e., coauthorship), even after matching for gender, seniority, methodological orientation, geographical location, and institutional prestige. Using coarsened exact matching and random forest regressions, we demonstrate that informal support structures are significantly associated with citation impact, creating gaps in who benefits from these connections.
    Keywords:  computational social science; invisible college; science of science; social networks
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2511050123
  17. Int Orthop. 2026 Apr 29.
    Comment on "International medical graduate orthopaedic residents show higher research productivity than United States graduate peers before and during residency".
    Ankit Kumar Garg, Swasti Keshri.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-026-06822-2
  18. Ambio. 2026 Apr 26.
    General trends in research using impact evaluation methods on the effectiveness of terrestrial protected areas in reducing biodiversity loss.
    Oscar Andrés Martínez, Oscar Melo, Gwendolyn Peyre.
      Protected areas (PAs) are primary biodiversity conservation instruments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Despite a substantial body of research assessing their causal impact, a comprehensive global synthesis remains lacking. This study examines trends in PA effectiveness on biodiversity loss using impact evaluation studies published between 2000 and 2023. From 129 identified studies, matching emerged as the predominant method, with deforestation and forest cover as the most frequently assessed outcomes. Notably, none of the reviewed studies incorporated CBD-approved biodiversity indicators, such as the Red List Index, and only one applied the Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) established by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. These findings underscore the need for future research to integrate standardized biodiversity metrics as outcome variables. Methodological advancements in impact evaluation are equally essential to strengthen conservation policy assessments and support evidence-based decision-making within international biodiversity agreements.
    Keywords:  Biodiversity index; Biodiversity loss; Causal inference; Impact evaluation; Protected areas
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-026-02400-3
  19. Learn Publ. 2026 Apr;pii: e2048. [Epub ahead of print]39(2):
    Enhancing, Understanding and Adoption of the Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT).
    Mohammad Hosseini, Simon Kerridge, Liz Allen, Veronique Kiermer, Kristi Holmes.
      
    Keywords:  CRediT; authorship; contributor roles; publication ethics; research integrity
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.2048
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