Type 1 Diabetes

Australian Research Impact Analysis

Type 1 Diabetes Australian Research Impact Analysis Executive Summary

Type 1 Diabetes Australian Research Impact Analysis Overview

Australia is making a signifi cant contribution to the quantity and quality of the global scientifi c literature

in type 1 diabetes. Its growing presence in shaping the body of knowledge that is improving the lives of

people with type 1 diabetes is internationally recognised and held in high esteem by the research community.

Type 1 diabetes research in Australia

Australia’s contribution to the volume of global scientifi c literature in type 1 diabetes has almost doubled between 2003 and 2012 from 2.4 to 4.4%

Australia has the 6th largest proportion of type 1 diabetes publications focused on clinical researchAustralia ranks in the

top ten countries in the quality of type 1 diabetes research published in the world

JDRF funds 15% of type 1 diabetes publications in Australia

JDRF-funded publications in Australia are cited almost twice as many times as other publications

Type 1 Diabetes Australian Research Impact Analysis Introduction

Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong autoimmune disease

that destroys the body’s ability to produce insulin.

Six new cases of type 1 diabetes are diagnosed

in Australia every day. Only through advancements

in medical research is there a hope for better

treatments and a cure for this lifelong disease.

Measuring the impact of research can be achieved

by evaluating the volume and quality of scientifi c

literature published in Australia.

By analysing the impact of over 22,000 publications in type 1

diabetes publications between 2008 and 2012, the Type 1

Diabetes Global Research Impact Analysis identifi ed leading

and emerging contributors who are shaping the global

landscape of type 1 diabetes research.

Australia’s role in advancing the scientifi c literature in type 1

diabetes was apparent – its contribution to the global volume

of literature almost doubled between 2003 and 2012. More

importantly, these publications were of a superior quality

and regarded in high esteem by the research community.

Australia is growing as the global epicentre for breakthrough

medical research in type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes Research Impact Analysis

“The Type 1 Diabetes Research Impact Analysis helps increase our understanding of current and emerging leaders in the fi eld. I am delighted to see the exceptional quality of Australian research and the increasing impact of our researchers on the global research landscape.”

Professor Warwick Anderson,

Chief Executive Offi cer,

National Health and Medical Research Council

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.

Type 1 Diabetes Australian Research Impact Analysis Performance measures

Performance measures

Australia’s contribution to the volume of global scientifi c literature has almost doubled between 2003 and 2012 Between 2008 and 2012, Australia produced 884 publications relevant to type 1 diabetes. Australia’s share of the volume

of global scientifi c literature in type 1 diabetes grew from 2.4 to 4.4% between 2003 and 2012, almost doubling within

this period. The total number of publications was also nearly two-thirds higher in 2012 with 220 publications compared

to 136 publications in 2008 (Figure 1).

Australia has the sixth largest proportion of type 1 diabetes publications focused on clinical research39% of all publications in Australia were focused on clinical research, compared to a world average of 29% (Figure 2).

Australia is a major global player in translating therapies from the laboratory to the clinic.

Figure 1

Australia has shown a 60%

increase in the number of

type 1 diabetes publications

between 2008 and 2012

Figure 2

Australia ranks in the

top ten countries in the

volume of published

clinical research

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Percentage of clinical research publications (%)

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Number of type 1 diabetes publications

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Type 1 Diabetes Australian Research Impact Analysis

Australia ranks in the top ten countries in the quality of type 1 diabetes research published in the worldThe quality of publications can be measured by the number of times a publication is cited by other researchers, the esteem

with which other researchers hold a publication and the quality of the peer-reviewed journal that the research was published

in. These measures are defi ned by the number of citations, relative citation impact and relative journal impact, respectively.

Australian publications rank in the top ten countries relative to the world average in these measures. A high proportion of

Australian publications are in the top 10% of cited publications (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Australia ranks in the top ten countries in the quality of type 1 diabetes publications in the world

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).

This analysis was commissioned by JDRF to Prof. Linda Butler, an independent expert in the fi eld of bibliometrics. Details about the methodology used in this analysis can be obtained by contacting JDRF.

Relative journal impact

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0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75

Poland

China

Japan

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BelgiumDenmark

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Italy

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Relative citation impact

Norway

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Type 1 Diabetes Australian Research Impact Analysis JDRF’s contribution

JDRF’s contribution

JDRF funds 15% of type 1 diabetes publications in AustraliaOver 8% of type 1 diabetes publications in the world acknowledged JDRF as a funder. The distribution of publications

arising due to JDRF funding varies between countries that have a physical JDRF presence. In Australia, 15% of the type 1

diabetes publications acknowledged JDRF as a funder.

JDRF-funded publications in Australia are cited almost twice as many times as other publicationsStrikingly, almost double the proportion of JDRF-funded publications were in the top 10% of highly cited publications

across the research discipline globally compared to publications not funded by JDRF. This shows that JDRF-funded

publications are highly recognised by researchers across the world and are making a strong mark in developing the

global understanding of type 1 diabetes (Figure 4).

About JDRF JDRF is the leading not-for-profi t supporter of type 1 diabetes research globally, investing over $1.7 billion in the world’s

best diabetes research since 1970 with over $100 million invested in Australia.

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. Through guiding the scientifi c 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 value of the research dollar, provide a tangible return on

investment and deliver real results that transform the lives of people with type 1 diabetes.

Figure 4

Australian type 1

diabetes publications

are published in the

top-tier of cited articles

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Proportion of publications in the top 10% of all global research publications

JDRF-funded publications

Non JDRF-funded publications