1. Analysis of Global Pediatric Cancer Research and Publications
- Author
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Richard Sullivan, Pamela Kearns, Eleni Syrimi, and Grant Lewison
- Subjects
China ,Cancer Research ,Biomedical Research ,Palliative care ,Annual growth rate ,MEDLINE ,Proxy (climate) ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Neoplasms ,030225 pediatrics ,Environmental health ,Original Reports ,Global policy ,Humans ,Child ,health care economics and organizations ,Netherlands ,Pediatric research ,Pediatric cancer ,United Kingdom ,United States ,3. Good health ,Geography ,Oncology ,Bibliometrics ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis - Abstract
This study sought to investigate the amount of global research activity and investment in pediatric cancerresearch, using publications as a proxy measure, and to understand geographical differences in researchactivity. To do this, we used a quantitative method—bibliometrics—to analyze Web of Science publications inthe 10 years from 2007 to 2016. We found that global pediatric cancer research outputs have increased from2,937 in 2007 to 4,513 in 2016, at an annual growth rate of 4.3%. This rate is slower than for both cancerresearch as a whole and general pediatric research. The increase in output was due almost entirely to China.International collaboration was similar to that in cancer research overall, with the highest levels among countriesin close geographical proximity. Hematological and CNS childhood cancers are the main areas for research.Genetics and prognosis were the main research domains, and there was little work on radiotherapy or palliativecare. In terms of citations, the best-performing countries were the Netherlands, the United States, and theUnited Kingdom. On the basis of estimates of the cost of research papers in different countries, the total worldpediatric cancer research expenditure is estimated to have been 1.54 billion US dollars (USD) in 2013, and 1.79billion USD in 2016. Our data suggest that current global policy toward pediatric cancer needs significant reviewand change to increase investments, balance research portfolios, and improve research that is relevant to lowand middle-income countries.
- Published
- 2020