STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH NETWORK AT LACM - Presentation of the results of the 2nd phase of the study Nuno Rodrigues
Coordination of Administrative Centres (CPA)
nunorodrigues@medicina.ulisboa.pt
Sónia Barroso
Support Bureau for Scientific and Technological Research and Innovation (GAPIC)
gapicmail@medicina.ulisboa.pt
The 2nd phase of the study "Structural Analysis of Scientific Research Networks at LACM"proposed to continue the work carried out in the pilot phase. That is, analyse the relationships developed around scientific research at LACM (Lisbon’s Academic Centre of Medicine). LACM brings together three key vectors, Higher Education, Scientific Research and Hospital Care. These activities are carried out at an institutional level at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon (FMUL), the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM) and North Lisbon Hospital Centre - Santa Maria Hospital (NLHC-HSM), respectively.
LACM, as any social structure built on a multitude of interactions or relationships, is itself the product of the interconnection of the institutions involved. Intra-LACM relationships can be translated into a variety of networks, different depending on how one wishes to interpret them. One of the elements in these networks is scientific research, and this is an area where IMM plays a central role, being one of the leading biomedical research institutes in the country. This phase of the study will be applied to IMM as a whole.
The Analysis of Social Networks (ASN) in addition to the usual characterisation of specific attributes of the agents/researchers involved also allows the study of the form of social relationships at a research level, and the graphic representation of this through networks maps or graphs. ASN is now considered an important tool for describing interactions between agents and social structures, and its empirical and conceptual analysis has an impact in areas as diverse as Sociology, Economics and Management, Education and Health, among many others. It is increasingly used as a key tool to support decision making. (For more information about ASN see the article on the 1st phase of the study- link)
ASN permits the identification of research networks in the three institutions that make up LACM, independent of whether these are at a partnership level with formal relationships based on funded projects, or collaborations with informal relationships based on individual and spontaneous interactions. At this stage, the study covered all the researchers in IMM’s 22 units (except the laboratories that participated in the 1st phase of the project). The methodology used was a survey in online format, which had a 24% response rate.
From the analysis of the web of researchers’ relationships it became clear that within IMM there tend to be than more "informal" relationships (collaborations), than "formal" relationships (partnerships) especially when it comes to the development of projects, preparation of articles and organisation of events. In fact, in LACM, as a whole, there tend to be more "informal" relationships (collaborations) than "formal" relationships (partnerships), particularly within IMM itself, and with FMUL. However, these do not play a central role in research networks of the CHLN units.
Analysing LACM’s external research networks, it appears that there are several very dynamic researchers looking outward both at a national and international level, establishing both "formal" relationships (partnerships) and "informal" (collaborations), especially for project development and article production. At a national level the external relationships that stand out are those with universities, associate laboratories, R & D institutions and the pharmaceutical industry; at a European level relationships with universities and the pharmaceutical industry seem to be most important; and at an international level relationships both with universities and with R & D institutions appear to be the most relevant.
By analysing the research networks existing in the whole of IMM we are moving toward the desired global characterisation of the web of relationships established around scientific research at LACM. This could permit a possible longitudinal analysis of research networks, but it must also be remembered that the analysis of research networks offers a privileged instrument in the assessment of the impact of research programmes and strategies, and for informed decision making.
Presentation of the results of the 2nd phase of the study “Structural Analysis of Scientific Research Networks at LACM”
Coordination of Administrative Centres (CPA)
nunorodrigues@medicina.ulisboa.pt
Sónia Barroso
Support Bureau for Scientific and Technological Research and Innovation (GAPIC)
gapicmail@medicina.ulisboa.pt
The 2nd phase of the study "Structural Analysis of Scientific Research Networks at LACM"proposed to continue the work carried out in the pilot phase. That is, analyse the relationships developed around scientific research at LACM (Lisbon’s Academic Centre of Medicine). LACM brings together three key vectors, Higher Education, Scientific Research and Hospital Care. These activities are carried out at an institutional level at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon (FMUL), the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM) and North Lisbon Hospital Centre - Santa Maria Hospital (NLHC-HSM), respectively.
LACM, as any social structure built on a multitude of interactions or relationships, is itself the product of the interconnection of the institutions involved. Intra-LACM relationships can be translated into a variety of networks, different depending on how one wishes to interpret them. One of the elements in these networks is scientific research, and this is an area where IMM plays a central role, being one of the leading biomedical research institutes in the country. This phase of the study will be applied to IMM as a whole.
The Analysis of Social Networks (ASN) in addition to the usual characterisation of specific attributes of the agents/researchers involved also allows the study of the form of social relationships at a research level, and the graphic representation of this through networks maps or graphs. ASN is now considered an important tool for describing interactions between agents and social structures, and its empirical and conceptual analysis has an impact in areas as diverse as Sociology, Economics and Management, Education and Health, among many others. It is increasingly used as a key tool to support decision making. (For more information about ASN see the article on the 1st phase of the study- link)
ASN permits the identification of research networks in the three institutions that make up LACM, independent of whether these are at a partnership level with formal relationships based on funded projects, or collaborations with informal relationships based on individual and spontaneous interactions. At this stage, the study covered all the researchers in IMM’s 22 units (except the laboratories that participated in the 1st phase of the project). The methodology used was a survey in online format, which had a 24% response rate.
From the analysis of the web of researchers’ relationships it became clear that within IMM there tend to be than more "informal" relationships (collaborations), than "formal" relationships (partnerships) especially when it comes to the development of projects, preparation of articles and organisation of events. In fact, in LACM, as a whole, there tend to be more "informal" relationships (collaborations) than "formal" relationships (partnerships), particularly within IMM itself, and with FMUL. However, these do not play a central role in research networks of the CHLN units.
Analysing LACM’s external research networks, it appears that there are several very dynamic researchers looking outward both at a national and international level, establishing both "formal" relationships (partnerships) and "informal" (collaborations), especially for project development and article production. At a national level the external relationships that stand out are those with universities, associate laboratories, R & D institutions and the pharmaceutical industry; at a European level relationships with universities and the pharmaceutical industry seem to be most important; and at an international level relationships both with universities and with R & D institutions appear to be the most relevant.
By analysing the research networks existing in the whole of IMM we are moving toward the desired global characterisation of the web of relationships established around scientific research at LACM. This could permit a possible longitudinal analysis of research networks, but it must also be remembered that the analysis of research networks offers a privileged instrument in the assessment of the impact of research programmes and strategies, and for informed decision making.
Presentation of the results of the 2nd phase of the study “Structural Analysis of Scientific Research Networks at LACM”
