“International” collaborative research: greater than the sum of the parts?

Peter Kamerman

AIM 2014, Sydney, Australia, 2014

According to the Australian Academy of Science,

“The last major Australian invention that did not

involve some international input was probably the

stump-jump plough in 1876”

Internationalisation of Australia Science. Australian Academy of Science, 2010

The second charter of the Royal Society in 1663 granted the right to its members,

“To enjoy mutual intelligence and affairs with all and all manner of strangers and foreigners, without any disturbance

whatsoever in matters or things philosophical, mathematical or mechanical.”

Knowledge, networks and nations: global scientific collaboration in the 21st century. Royal Society policy document 03/11, 2011

International collaboration is not a new idea

Assess the growth and benefits of international collaboration

Translational research and collaboration

A case study of research collaboration

Collaborative research: greater than the sum of the parts?

Evidence of collaboration

C King, Single author publications: waning share but still providing the tools for progress, 2013http://sciencewatch.com/

Evidence of collaboration

C King, Single author publications: waning share but still providing the tools for progress, 2013http://sciencewatch.com/

Evidence of collaboration

Kamalski & Plume, Comparative benchmarking of European and US research collaboration and researcher mobility. Science Europe and Elsevier SciVal Analytics, 2013

Royal Society policy document 03/11, 2011

Evidence of collaboration%

inte

rnat

iona

l col

labo

ratio

n

Year

…but the growth is not uniform across countries

Adapted from: Royal Society policy document 03/11, 2011

% international collaboration (1996 to 2008)

Col

labo

rativ

e pu

blic

atio

ns p

er y

ear

Bote et al., JASIST 64:392-404, 2013

…and the range across countries is large

% international collaboration (2009)

Gai

n in

cita

tions

Royal Society policy document 03/11, 2011; International scientific collaboration: a quick guide, http://www.scidev.net/global/policy-brief/international-scientific-collaboration-a-quick-gui.html, 2005; Internationalisation of Australia Science. Australian Academy of Science, 2010

Why collaborate?

Informal (bottom-up)• Seeking complimentary

skills and knowledge

• Shared burden

• Increased exposure

• Gain access

• Skills development

Formal (top-down)• Research benefits

• Business/trade benefits

• Diplomacy

• Push factors

Why collaborate?

Adapted from: Bote et al., JASIST 64:392-404, 2013

Does everyone benefit?

Bote et al., JASIST 64:392-404, 2013Collaborator’s gain in citations

Ow

n ga

in in

cita

tions

Benefits of collaboration are not balanced

Bote et al., JASIST 64:392-404, 2013Collaborator’s gain in citations

Ow

n ga

in in

cita

tions

Greater benefit to self

Greater benefit to collaborator

Royal Society policy document 03/11, 2011

Global hubs of collaboration (2004-2008)

Royal Society policy document 03/11, 2011

African hubs of collaboration (2004-2008)

Boshoff. Scientometrics 84: 481-503, 2010

Patterns of collaboration (Southern Africa)

% Southern African country articles co-authored with other South Africa

0.00 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Boshoff. Scientometrics 84: 481-503, 2010

Patterns of collaboration (Southern Africa)

% South African articles co-authored with other Southern African countries

0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00

Does collaboration improve translation of research findings into effective clinical

practice?

Collaboration and translational research

Translational research

Basic science discovery

Improved global health

“I once asked a worker at a crematorium, who had a curiously contented look on his face, what he found so

satisfying about his work. He replied that what fascinated him was the way in which so much went in and so little

came out.”- A. L. Cochrane*

*Effectiveness and Efficiency: Random Reflections on Health Services. Cambridge University Press, 1972.

Types of translational research

T1Translation to humans

Bas

ic s

cien

ce d

isco

very T2

Translation to patients

T3Translation to practice

T4Translation to population health

Improved global health

Types of translational research

T1Translation to humans

Bas

ic s

cien

ce d

isco

very T2

Translation to patients

T3Translation to practice

T4Translation to population health

Improved global health

Translation of the new knowledge into new approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease

Translation of results from clinical studies into everyday clinical practice and health decision making

Woolf SH. JAMA 299: 211-2013, 2008

A case study of informal (bottom-up) collaboration

Collaborative network: 2005

New field: HIV-related painNew focus: Human researchNew approach: EpidemiologicalCollaborators: 0

Collaborative network: 2006-2007

Patricia Price - immunologist Kate Cherry - infectious disease

Collaborative network: 2006-2007

Patricia Price - immunologist Kate Cherry - infectious disease

New field: HIV-associated sensory neuropathyNew focus: Genetic epidemiologyCollaborators: 2

Gains:• Immunological and genetic expertise• Clinical expertise• Statistical expertise

Contributions:• HIV+ individuals• Expertise in pain

Collaborative network: 2008-present

Patricia Price Kate Cherry

Field: HIV-associated sensory neuropathyFocus: Genetics (tailored to Africans)Collaborators: 3

Gains:• Bioinformatics and multiplex genotyping• Immunological and genetic expertise• Clinical expertise• Statistical expertise

Contributions:• Statistics• HIV+ individuals• Expertise in pain

Zané Lombard - geneticist

Collaborative network: 2008-present

Patricia Price Kate Cherry

Primary outputs: (9 papers, 5 postgraduates, 10 workshops) • 1st description of genetic associations with pain sensitivity in Black Africans• 1st description of haplotype structure of the central MHC in Black Africans• 1st description of novel central MHC predictors of HIV-SN risk in Black Africans

Zané Lombard

Collaborative network: 2008-present

Collaborative network: 2008-present

Patricia Price Kate Cherry

Snowball effect:• Increased profile leading to

new research opportunities• Phenotyping• Pain epidemiology• Immunology• Treatment

Andrew Rice

Zané Lombard Francois Venter - HIV specialistGlenda Gray - paediatricianGerda Marx - geneticistRomy Parker - physiotherapist

Collaborative network: a role for mentorship

Andrew Rice

Secondary gains:• NeuPSIG

• Exposure to experts• Guidelines development

Conclusion

Collaborative research: greater than the sum of the parts?

Conclusion

Collaborative research: greater than the sum of the parts?

YES