International Benchmarking of US Immunology Research (1999)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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 1.

INTRODUCTION

1.1  How Important Is It for The US To Lead In Immunology Research?

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1.2  What Is Immunology?

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1.3  Immunology As An Academic Discipline

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1.4  What Is The International Nature Of Immunology?

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1.5  What Are Some Caveats?

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1.6  Panel Charge and Rationale

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 2.

BENCHMARKING RESULTS

2.1  Methods

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2.1.1  Reputation Survey

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2.1.2  Citation Analysis

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2.1.3  Journal Publication Analysis

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2.2  Results

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2.2.1  Reputation Survey

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2.2.2  Citation Analysis

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2.2.3  Journal Publication Analysis

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2.3  Summary

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 3.

KEY FACTORS

3.1  Funding

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3.2  Human Resources

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3.3  Infrastructure

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3.4  Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Firms

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3.5  The Clinical Trial

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 4.

LIKELY FUTURE POSITION

4.1  Funding and Resource Limitations

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4.2  Increased Competition from Europe and Other Countries

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4.3  Clinical Immunology and the Shift Toward HMOs

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4.4  Training of US Students

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 5.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

5.1  The United States Is The World Leader In All The Major Subfields Of Immunology But Is Only Among The World Leaders In Some Specific Sub-Subfields.

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5.2  Flexibility To Pursue Original And Innovative Research Ideas Has Attracted Both Domestic And International Human Capital. Federal, State, And Private Funding Have All Contributed To A Climate Ripe For This Innovative Research.

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5.3  Industrial Interests Have Fostered Many Striking Breakthroughs In

 Immunology.

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5.4  A Scarcity Of Large-Scale Clinical Trials In Immunology Can Be Attributed To Shortages Of Funding And Of Qualified Personnel. In Addition, Increasing Dominance Of Managed Care Means That Fewer Patients Are Available To Academic Institutions For Clinical Trials.

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5.5  Shifting Federal And Industry Priorities, A Potential Reduction In Access To Domestic And Foreign Talent, And The Increasing Cost Of Maintaining Mouse Facilities Could Curtail US Ability To Capitalize On Leadership Opportunities.

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 6.

REFERENCES

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 7.

APPENDIX: PANEL AND STAFF BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

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 Figure 2.1:

Contribution of United States and Other Nations to Immunology Papers in 1981-1996,

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 Figure 2.2:

Percentage of the World's Papers in Immunology in 1981-1996 by Country,

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 Figure 2.3:

Contribution of United States and Other Nations to Immunology Citations in 1981-1997,

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 Figure 2.4:

Percentage of World's Citations in Immunology in 1981-1997 by Country,

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 Figure 3.1:

U.S. Net Trade Balance: Biotechnology,

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 Figure 4.1:

Number of PhD Students in Immunology in the United States, 1977-1996,

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 Figure 4.2:

Percentage of US Citizen and Permanent-Resident PhD Students in Immunology Supported by National Institutes of Health, 1977-1996,

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 Table 2.1:

Immunology International Reputation Survey Results,

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 Table 2.2:

Relative Citation Impact by Country, 1981-1997,

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 Table 2.3:

Authorship of Immunology Papers in Blood, 1995-1997,

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 Table 2.4:

Authorship of Immunology Papers in Cell, 1995-1997,

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 Table 2.5:

Authorship of Immunology Papers in Immunity, 1995-1997,

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 Table 2.6:

Authorship of Immunology Papers in Nature, 1995-1997,

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 Table 2.7:

Authorship of Immunology Papers in Science, 1995-1997,

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 Table 2.8

Authorship of Immunology Papers in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, February 1996 - July 1996,

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 Table 3.1:

Analysis of Nobel Prizes Presented for Immunology Research,

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 Table 3.2:

Industry Comparable Metrics (Ecu in Millions),

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 Table 3.3:

Entrepreneurial Life Sciences Highlights (Ecu in Millions),

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 Table 4.1:

NIH Trainee and Fellowship Support in Immunology,

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 Table 4.2:

Employment Status of Doctorates in Immunology,

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