Short answer

Designers and researchers should consider the underrepresentation of German contributions in NTD research as an opportunity to initiate or strengthen projects in this area, focusing on building robust international partnerships.

Field: Innovation & Design
Source: PLoS neglected tropical diseases (2015)
Method: Bibliometric analysis and social network analysis
Sample: 26,833 publications globally, with 1,187 (4.4%) having German affiliations; 972 publications were processed for detailed network analysis.
Evidence: Moderate effect

Analysis of co-authorship networks indicates that Germany's contribution to Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) research is proportionally lower than in other medical fields, suggesting a need for strategic expansion. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in PLoS neglected tropical diseases. Using Bibliometric analysis and social network analysis with 26,833 publications globally, with 1,187 (4.4%) having German affiliations; 972 publications were processed for detailed network analysis., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers and researchers should consider the underrepresentation of German contributions in NTD research as an opportunity to initiate or strengthen projects in this area, focusing on building robust international partnerships.

Study

Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Mapping Global NTD Research Networks Reveals Underrepresentation of German Contributions

PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2015

Key Findings

01Germany's share of NTD publications is approximately half of its share in other medical research fields.
02Collaborations with African continent partners are scattered.
03NTD research within Germany is distributed across 220 institutions.
04Key performers were identified using publication counts, h-index, and social network analysis parameters like betweenness centrality.
05Research network characteristics varied significantly between different NTDs.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When undertaking global health research projects, consider mapping existing collaboration networks to identify areas of underrepresentation or potential for new partnerships, especially in regions or disease areas with limited current focus.

Project actions

01When choosing a research topic, consider areas that are under-researched but have significant global impact.
02Think about how to build strong international collaborations, especially with partners in regions directly affected by the problem.

Method & Evidence

AimTo identify and map global Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) research networks involving German institutions and their international partners, and to evaluate Germany's contribution to this research area.

MethodBibliometric analysis and social network analysis

ProcedureA comprehensive search of the SCOPUS database was conducted for articles on kinetoplastid and helminth diseases with German author affiliations published between 2002 and 2012. Data was cleaned and processed using OpenRefine, geocoded with OpenStreetMaps, and then used to construct and analyze co-authorship networks using tools like Table2Net and Gephi. Individual authors and institutions were identified, and network centrality measures were applied to identify key contributors.

Sample26,833 publications globally, with 1,187 (4.4%) having German affiliations; 972 publications were processed for detailed network analysis.

ContextGlobal health research, specifically Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), with a focus on German research contributions and international collaborations.

Variables

IVAuthor affiliations (German vs. non-German), publication years (2002-2012), disease types (kinetoplastid, helminth).

DVNumber of publications, co-authorship network structure, centrality measures (e.g., betweenness centrality), number of research institutions involved.

CVDatabase used (SCOPUS), specific diseases analyzed, time frame of the study.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Utilizes robust bibliometric and network analysis techniques.
+Provides a clear quantitative assessment of research contributions and collaboration patterns.
+Identifies specific areas for potential improvement in research focus and collaboration.

Limitations

The data is from a specific time period (2002-2012) and may not reflect current research trends. The focus on German affiliations limits the scope to one country's contribution.

Reliability & validity

Reliability is supported by the systematic use of database searches and established analysis tools. Validity is enhanced by using multiple network analysis parameters to assess research contributions, though it is limited by the scope of the database and the chosen time frame.

Think critically

Given that Germany's contribution to NTD research is lower than expected, what are the potential systemic barriers preventing greater involvement, and how could design thinking be applied to overcome them?

Design Principles

"Strategic research focus can amplify impact in under-resourced or under-researched global health challenges."

Understanding global research landscapes and identifying collaboration patterns is crucial for strategic investment and intervention. This insight highlights an opportunity for design and research institutions to focus efforts on underrepresented areas, potentially leading to more impactful solutions for neglected diseases.

What This Means for Your Design

This study found that Germany does less research on neglected tropical diseases compared to other health topics, even though these diseases are very important. It also showed that collaborations with African countries are not very strong.

How to use in your project

1.Use this study to justify the importance of your chosen design problem, especially if it relates to global health or under-researched areas.
2.Cite this research when discussing the need for international collaboration in your design project.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights that strategic research contributions can be uneven, with certain critical areas like Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) receiving proportionally less attention from major research nations like Germany. This presents an opportunity for focused design interventions and research collaborations to address these identified gaps, particularly in strengthening partnerships with affected regions.

Source

PLoS neglected tropical diseases

Using Co-authorship Networks to Map and Analyse Global Neglected Tropical Disease Research with an Affiliation to Germany

journal · 2015

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about mapping global ntd research networks reveals underrepresentation of german contributions?: Designers and researchers should consider the underrepresentation of German contributions in NTD research as an opportunity to initiate or strengthen projects in this area, focusing on building robust international partnerships. Evidence: PLoS neglected tropical diseases (2015).
Why does "Mapping Global NTD Research Networks Reveals Underrepresentation of German Contributions" matter for design?: Understanding global research landscapes and identifying collaboration patterns is crucial for strategic investment and intervention. This insight highlights an opportunity for design and research institutions to focus efforts on underrepresented areas, potentially leading to more impactful solutions for neglected diseases.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers and researchers should consider the underrepresentation of German contributions in NTD research as an opportunity to initiate or strengthen projects in this area, focusing on building robust international partnerships.
What were the main findings?: Germany's share of NTD publications is approximately half of its share in other medical research fields.. Collaborations with African continent partners are scattered.. NTD research within Germany is distributed across 220 institutions.. Key performers were identified using publication counts, h-index, and social network analysis parameters like betweenness centrality.
What research method was used?: Bibliometric analysis and social network analysis with 26,833 publications globally, with 1,187 (4.4%) having German affiliations; 972 publications were processed for detailed network analysis..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2015 journal from PLoS neglected tropical diseases.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When undertaking global health research projects, consider mapping existing collaboration networks to identify areas of underrepresentation or potential for new partnerships, especially in regions or disease areas with limited current focus.
What are the limitations?: The study period was limited to 2002-2012. The analysis focused on specific disease groups (kinetoplastid and helminth), and the definition of 'Neglected Tropical Diseases' can evolve. The reliance on SCOPUS data may exclude research published in other databases.