Scientometrics

, Volume 110, Issue 1, pp 321–333 | Cite as

Disease burden and the advancement of biomedical knowledge

  • David Hsiehchen
  • Magdalena Espinoza
  • Antony Hsieh
Article
First Online:
Received:

Abstract

Despite the importance and magnitude of biomedical research, little is known about its development and responsiveness to current health needs. Herein, we characterized the evolution of disease specific biomedical research and assess the alignment of research and translational efforts with disease burden. Publication patterns for approximately 2700 diseases indicated a fluid landscape of modern biomedical interests. In studying a subset of diseases with available data, overall measures of disease burden explained a large fraction of publication variance but only a small portion of NIH funding variance. In addition, discrete measures of mortality and morbidity differentially impacted NIH funding levels, research efforts, and the number of clinical trials in the US. Our findings not only scrutinize the relevance of our current biomedical enterprise, but may also serve as a resource for fostering strategies that adequately prepare the scientific community to address future health needs and promote accountability in the allocation of resources.

Keywords

Disease burden Medical research Clinical trials NIH funding Disability 

Abbreviations

NIH

National Institute of Health

MeSH

Medical Subject Heading

DALY

Disability-adjusted life year

YLL

Years of life lost

YLD

Years lived with disability

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Notes

Author contributions

D.H., M.E. and A.H. collected data, analyzed data, and wrote the paper. D.H. designed the study.

Supplementary material

11192_2016_2169_MOESM1_ESM.docx (1.2 mb)
Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 1252 kb)

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Copyright information

© Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  • David Hsiehchen
    • 1
  • Magdalena Espinoza
    • 2
  • Antony Hsieh
    • 3
  1. 1.University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUSA
  2. 2.Banner University Medical Center PhoenixPhoenixUSA
  3. 3.Northwestern Memorial HospitalNorthwestern UniversityChicagoUSA

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