Investment In Research Infrastructure Research Articles

An Exploratory Study on the Brain Drain Within the Higher Education: A Case of Private Universities in Sichuan Province, China

This paper presents an exploratory study on the phenomenon of brain drain within the higher education sector, focusing specifically on private universities situated in Sichuan Province, China. Brain drain, the emigration of highly skilled individuals from one region or country to another, has been a growing concern globally, impacting various sectors including academia. Private universities in China, despite their significant contributions to the higher education landscape, face unique challenges related to talent retention and attraction, which have implications for regional development and competitiveness. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study aims to investigate the factors contributing to brain drain among faculty and researchers within private universities in Sichuan Province. Through surveys and interviews conducted with faculty members, administrators, and key stakeholders, the study examines the push and pull factors influencing their decisions to migrate or remain within the institution and region. Additionally, the study explores the impact of government policies, institutional strategies, and socio-economic factors on brain drain dynamics. Preliminary findings suggest that factors such as inadequate research funding, limited career advancement opportunities, disparities in compensation, and perceived lack of academic freedom contribute to the brain drain phenomenon within private universities in Sichuan Province. Furthermore, the study identifies strategies and interventions that may mitigate brain drain and enhance talent retention, including targeted investment in research infrastructure, competitive compensation packages, professional development opportunities, and supportive institutional policies. By shedding light on the challenges and dynamics of brain drain within private higher education institutions in Sichuan Province, this study contributes to the existing literature on talent mobility and regional development. The findings may inform policymakers, university administrators, and stakeholders in devising effective strategies to address brain drain, foster talent retention, and promote sustainable development in the higher education sector. Further research is recommended to validate and extend the findings of this exploratory study.

Cancer Research in Pakistan: Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions

Cancer is a growing public health concern in Pakistan, with rising incidence rates and significant impacts on individuals and communities. In recent years, cancer research in Pakistan has made notable strides in understanding the epidemiology, risk factors, and treatment outcomes of various cancer types. However, numerous challenges persist, hindering progress in cancer control and prevention. Exploring the progress made, acknowledging the challenges faced, and outlining future directions is crucial for advancing cancer research and improving cancer care in Pakistan.
 In terms of progress, cancer research in Pakistan has provided valuable insights into the burden of different cancer types across various regions. Studies have shed light on the prevalence of common cancers such as breast, lung, and gastrointestinal cancers, enabling targeted interventions and screening programs. Furthermore, collaborative efforts between research institutions and healthcare providers have resulted in improved diagnosis and treatment modalities, with advancements in radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical techniques.
 Despite these advancements, several challenges persist. Limited access to quality cancer care, particularly in rural areas, remains a significant barrier. Insufficient infrastructure, shortage of skilled healthcare professionals, and financial constraints impede timely diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. Additionally, cultural beliefs and social stigmas surrounding cancer often lead to delayed diagnosis and inadequate support for patients and their families. Overcoming these challenges requires comprehensive strategies, including strengthening healthcare infrastructure, training healthcare professionals, and raising awareness about cancer prevention and early detection.
 Looking ahead, the future of cancer research in Pakistan lies in a multidimensional approach. Enhancing collaboration among researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers is crucial for effective data collection, research translation, and evidence-based policymaking. Investment in research infrastructure, including molecular and genetic profiling facilities, can facilitate targeted therapies and personalized treatment options. Additionally, fostering international collaborations and partnerships can provide opportunities for knowledge exchange, access to innovative technologies, and clinical trials.
 Cancer research in Pakistan has made significant progress in understanding the burden of cancer and improving treatment outcomes. However, challenges such as limited access to quality care and cultural barriers must be addressed to ensure equitable and comprehensive cancer services across the country. By investing in research infrastructure, fostering collaborations, and promoting awareness, Pakistan can enhance cancer research capabilities and make substantial strides in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. A concerted effort by researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and communities is necessary to combat the growing burden of cancer and improve the lives of individuals affected by the disease.

The state of cancer research in fragile and conflict-affected settings in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A bibliometric analysis.

Cancer represents a disproportionate burden in LMICs, especially conflict-affected countries in the MENA region. Research output on cancer fails to match the growing burden in the region. This bibliometric study aims to examine the status and trends of cancer research in fragile and conflict-affected settings in the MENA region from 2000 to 2021, while also incorporating economic and demographic indicators as additional factors of analysis. The Web of Science databases were searched for publications related to cancer research in Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2021. The retrieved publications were screened based on preset eligibility criteria and the final list was analyzed using the Bibliometrix Package in R to generate the annual scientific production and citations, journals, institutions, authors, collaborations, keywords, and title co-occurrence. Each country's annual scientific production was analyzed against its annual GDP per capita. A total of 4,280 documents met the inclusion criteria in this research. The annual number of publications revealed a significant increase over the past 20 years. These publications were mostly published in international journals that had impact factors rated in the 3rd or 4th quartiles. The overall contribution of researchers from Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings (FCS) to cancer research was 6.5% of the MENA cancer research productivity, despite comprising around 23% of the total MENA region's population. Lebanon had the highest publication productivity at the country level, followed by Iraq and Syria. GDP per capita was not significantly correlated with cancer research across the countries under investigation. At the institutional level, the American University of Beirut was the most prolific institution and had the highest number of collaborations and the widest range of cooperative partners. Most first authors were male researchers. There is an interest in cancer expression, prevalence, diagnosis, and management in terms of commonly researched topics. This study underscores the need for a concerted effort to improve cancer research outcomes in FCS, which can be achieved through targeted research, increased investment in research infrastructure and capacity-building initiatives, and greater regional and global collaboration.

Towards a Roadmap for Advancing the Catalogue of the World’s Natural History Collections

Natural history collections are the foundations upon which all knowledge of natural history is constructed. Biological specimens are the best documentation of variation within each species, increasingly serve as curated sources for reference DNA, and are frequently our only evidence for historical species distribution. Collections represent an enormous multigenerational investment in research infrastructure for the biological sciences, but despite this importance most of the holdings of these institutions remain invisible on the Internet, inaccessible to taxonomists from other countries and hidden from computational biodiversity research. Although comprehensive digitisation of the complete holdings of each natural history collection is the long-term goal, this is an expensive and labor-intensive task and will not be completed in the near future for all collections. However, many benefits could quickly be achieved by publishing high-quality metadata on each collection to increase its visibility, provide the foundations for further digitisation and enable researchers to discover and communicate with collections of interest. This paper summarises the results from a consultation activity carried out in 2020 as part of the SYNTHESYS+ (Synthesys of Systematic Resources), “Developing implementation roadmaps for priority infrastructure areas as part of cooperative RI for biodiversity” project. This consultation was primed through an ideas paper, and introductory webinars and conducted as a facilitated two-week online multilingual discussion around 26 topics grouped under four broad headings (Users, Content, Technology and Governance). The results of these discussions are summarised here, along with the wider context of existing and planned initiatives.

Improving the Health of Rural Communities Through Academic-Community Partnerships and Interprofessional Health Care and Training Models.

Health disparities between rural and urban areas are widening at a time when urban health care systems are increasingly buying rural hospitals to gain market share. New payment models, shifting from fee-for-service to value-based care, are gaining traction, creating incentives for health care systems to manage the social risk factors that increase health care utilization and costs. Health system consolidation and value-based care are increasingly linking the success of urban health care systems to rural communities. Yet, despite the natural ecosystem rural communities provide for interprofessional learning and collaborative practice, many academic health centers (AHCs) have not invested in building team-based models of practice in rural areas. With responsibility for training the future health workforce and major investments in research infrastructure and educational capacity, AHCs are uniquely positioned to develop interprofessional practice and training opportunities in rural areas and evaluate the cost savings and quality outcomes associated with team-based care models. To accomplish this work, AHCs will need to develop academic-community partnerships that include networks of providers and practices, non-AHC educational organizations, and community-based agencies. In this commentary, the authors highlight 3 examples of academic-community partnerships that developed and implemented interprofessional practice and education models and were designed around specific patient populations with measurable outcomes: North Carolina's Asheville Project, the Boise Interprofessional Academic Patient Aligned Care model, and the Interprofessional Care Access Network framework. These innovative models demonstrate the importance of academic-community partnerships to build teams that address social needs, improve health outcomes, and lower costs. They also highlight the need for more rigorous reporting on the components of the academic-community partnerships involved, the different types of health workers deployed, and the design of the interprofessional training and practice models implemented.

The economic challenges of new drug development.

The COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed highly successful efforts to produce effective vaccines and treatments at an unprecedented pace. This perspective discusses factors that made this possible, from long-term investments in research infrastructure to major government interventions that absorbed much of the risk from research and development. We discuss key economic obstacles in the discovery of new drugs for infectious diseases, from novel antibiotics to diseases that primarily affect the poor. The world's collective experience of the pandemic may present an opportunity to reform traditional economic models of drug discovery to better address unmet needs. A tax-funded global institution could provide incentives for drug discovery based on their global health impact. International co-operation would be needed to agree and commit to adequate funding mechanisms, and the necessary political will would require strong public support. With the current heightened appreciation of the need for global health system resilience, there may be no better opportunity than now.

Investments in research infrastructure on the project level: Problems, methods and mechanisms

Evaluation of infrastructure projects usually involves the separate application of financial or economic analysis to assess return on investment. In this paper we have developed a modified approach that includes additional public effects and their distribution between project participants in the financial and economic model of the research infrastructure project. Evaluation methods are based on the transition from financial to economic efficiency by adjusting cash flows and including indirect effects (impact of technological spillovers), externalities (knowledge spillovers and ecological effects) and tax effects. Policy and practical implications are closely examined with a focus on the distributional effects for the Core Facility Project of the Catalyst Center in Novosibirsk Academic Town. The results show that a significant excess of economic returns compared to financial returns is determined mainly by the indirect benefits of private participants who use the results of the project, but are not direct participants in this project. The main impact on the financial efficiency arises at the investment stage through direct support measures, complemented by private funding. Indirect support measures only work successfully during the operational stage. Stimulation of the investments in research infrastructure through government support essentially depends on the choice of a certain combination of government support instruments and project financing.

Challenges and enablers of the embedded researcher model

PurposeThe embedded researcher is a healthcare-academic partnership model in which the researcher is engaged as a core member of the healthcare organisation. While this model has potential to support evidence translation, there is a paucity of evidence in relation to the specific challenges and strengths of the model. The aim of this study was to map the barriers and enablers of the model from the perspective of embedded researchers in Australian healthcare settings, and compare the responses of embedded researchers with a primary healthcare versus a primary academic affiliation.Design/methodology/approach104 embedded researchers from Australian healthcare organisations completed an online survey. Both purposive and snowball sampling strategies were used to identify current and former embedded researchers. This paper reports on responses to the open-ended questions in relation to barriers and enablers of the role, the available support, and recommendations for change. Thematic analysis was used to describe and interpret the breadth and depth of responses and common themes.FindingsKey barriers to being an embedded researcher in a public hospital included a lack of research infrastructure and funding in the healthcare organisation, a culture that does not value research, a lack of leadership and support to undertake research, limited access to mentoring and career progression and issues associated with having a dual affiliation. Key enablers included supportive colleagues and executive leaders, personal commitment to research and research collaboration including formal health-academic partnerships.Research limitations/implicationsTo support the embedded researcher model, broader system changes are required, including greater investment in research infrastructure and healthcare-academic partnerships with formal agreements. Significant changes are required, so that healthcare organisations appreciate the value of research and support both clinicians and researchers to engage in research that is important to their local population.Originality/valueThis is the first study to systematically investigate the enablers and challenges of the embedded researcher model.

Experience in Evaluating the Project on Research Infrastructure of the Center for Collective Use for the Production of Catalysts

The infrastructural component of Russia’s scientific and technological development requires a significant update of the methodology for evaluating the relevant investment projects. The article covers the issue of simultaneous assessment of financial and economic efficiency of research infrastructure projects and justification of the need for government participation for successful implementation of such projects. The suggested methods and models are based on the transition from financial to economic indicators of the project through the adjustment of cash flows, identification of public effects significant for such projects (social, environmental, indirect, price, tax), and allocation of synergistic effects in their composition. These methods and models were tested for the innovative project of the Center for Collective Use “Experimental Catalyst Production”, which was proposed by the Institute of Catalysis in 2018 within the framework of the Novosibirsk regional programme “Akademgorodok 2.0”. The results show that the stimulation of investment in research infrastructure is justified by a significant excess of the project economic efficiency compared to its financial efficiency and it significantly depends on the choice of an adequate mechanism for government support

An empirical knowledge production function of agricultural research and extension: The case of the University of California Cooperative Extension

Our study examines empirically the impact of agricultural research inputs on the creation and dissemination of knowledge by the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE). We formulate a conceptual framework to understand the relationship between the agricultural research inputs employed by UCCE and the knowledge shared. We develop an index of knowledge based on a weighted average of the various modes through which knowledge is produced by UCCE's agricultural research for all counties in the state of California during 2007–2013. Empirical results indicate significant positive impacts of research inputs on the production of knowledge. We find research input, such as number of research positions measured as full-time equivalent (FTE), level of salary per researcher (including seniority and status), and investment in research infrastructure per FTE, positive and significant. Our models suggest diminishing marginal knowledge returns to research infrastructure, and a linear knowledge production function with respect to the number of FTE and the salary per FTE in the UCCE system.

Professional identity and the Clinical Research Nurse: Aqualitative study exploring issues having an impact on participant recruitment in research.

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of Clinical Research Nurses, with an emphasis on factors that may have an impact on successful study delivery. The Clinical Research Nurse workforce is pivotal to improving health outcomes through supporting research-active health economies. Investment in research infrastructure has led to nurses and midwives increasingly undertaking extended roles to deliver clinical research. Despite such opportunities, the recruitment of sufficient participants into research studies remains problematic. A growing body of literature is exploring barriers to successful study delivery, indicating the emergence of a caring-recruiting dichotomy in clinical research staff. This qualitative study investigates the experiences of Clinical Research Nurses delivering research in the United Kingdom National Health Service. Four Focus groups (total 19 participants) were conducted in a large North East National Health Service Foundation Trust from November 2015 - February 2016. Thematic analysis identified perceptions of the role in the wider context of professional identity. Role transition, altered relationships and workload complexity, affected participants' practice, leading to inconsistency between core clinical values and perceived identities as research delivery staff. A duty of care as patient advocates contrasted elements of the work reflecting that of salespeople. The emotional labour of approaching patients and unease regarding peer perceptions of the Clinical Research Nurse role, affected the positive aspects of research delivery. Professional-identity and self-concept appear to have an impact on practice in a research delivery role. Further research should explore these issues further, to enlighten the basis on which such feelings are positioned and to work towards practical solutions.

Personalized medicine for ARDS: the 2035 research agenda.

In the last 20 years, survival among patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has increased substantially with advances in lung-protective ventilation and resuscitation. Building on this success, personalizing mechanical ventilation to patient-specific physiology for enhanced lung protection will be a top research priority for the years ahead. However, the ARDS research agenda must be broader in scope. Further understanding of the heterogeneous biology, from molecular to mechanical, underlying early ARDS pathogenesis is essential to inform therapeutic discovery and tailor treatment and prevention strategies to the individual patient. The ARDSne(x)t research agenda for the next 20 years calls for bringing personalized medicine to ARDS, asking simultaneously both whether a treatment affords clinically meaningful benefit and for whom. This expanded scope necessitates standard acquisition of highly granular biological, physiological, and clinical data across studies to identify biologically distinct subgroups that may respond differently to a given intervention. Clinical trials will need to consider enrichment strategies and incorporate long-term functional outcomes. Tremendous investment in research infrastructure and global collaboration will be vital to fulfilling this agenda.

Scaling climate change experiments across space and time

Scaling climate change experiments across space and time

Evidence based politics: knowing and acting today to shape tomorrow

The role of scientific evidence in influencing political decisions that affect the future and the importance of research in generating such evidence is highlighted in the context of the Swiss federation. Within the Swiss federation the responsibilities are balanced between the confederation and the cantons. Currently Switzerland faces several challenges such as epidemiological transition, increase in chronic non-communicable diseases, increasing social costs, increasing health care costs, need for more medical professionals and health inequalities. Therefore we need more scientific knowledge to tackle these problems. Considerable investment in research infrastructure is needed in the form of cohorts and biobanks. Two new federal laws have been enacted which pertain to prevention, health promotion, managed care and disease management. However such laws need scientific support and collaboration across political, economic, academic and social forces.

A Review of Occupational Therapy Research and Development Activity in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales

Introduction: A review was undertaken of the College of Occupational Therapists' 2002 scoping study of occupational therapy research and development activity in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales in order to assess the developments in infrastructure supporting occupational therapy research, to highlight opportunities available to occupational therapists and to identify how the College could best support members' research activities. Method: Within each nation, a literature review and focus group were undertaken. A feature of the research was the opportunity for a student occupational therapist from each country to be involved as co-researcher. Findings: The findings revealed a considerable investment and increase in research capacity developments in all three countries, recognising the need to develop the evidence base to underpin occupational therapy interventions. Barriers to progressing research activity included time and research topic prioritisation, and workplace cultures that did not promote research-related activities. The College of Occupational Therapists was considered to have a key role in influencing policy directions and the launch of the United Kingdom Occupational Therapy Research Foundation was viewed as an opportunity to support occupation-focused research and capacity development. Conclusion: Significant progress reflects the investment in research infrastructure, although further effort is needed to change cultural impacts.

Polymers in Asia‐Pacific

According to economists, the share of the World's GDP by the loosely defined Asia-Pacific region has more than doubled in the 30 years to 2006.1 This, combined with the fact that the region is home to a large part of humanity, was bound to have effects on scientific output, and indeed today many of the nations in this region are scientific research powerhouses. Some countries, such as Japan, have been at the forefront of science and technology for more than a century, but the new story is the development of the research infrastructure of the entire region, not just impressive South Korea and Taiwan, or huge China, but also South-East Asian nations such as Thailand and Malaysia. Our definition of Asia-Pacific, for the purpose of this special issue, is somewhat ad hoc, as we do not include contributions from India, the Middle East, or Russia, which might be the subject of future special issues; on the other hand, we of course include Australia and New Zealand. Polymers are no exception in the evolution of scientific geography: the last decades have witnessed an impressive development of the research infrastructure (and, more importantly, of the human capital that goes with it) in this region, and today several of the leading scientific journals in the field of polymer science carry a sizable share (or an outright majority) of contributions from this region. The Journal of Applied Polymer Science is no exception, and we are proud of showcasing selected articles from Asia-Pacific, which clearly run the gamut of topics in contemporary polymer research, from flame retardant composites using renewable fibers,2 to adhesives,3 fuel cell membranes,4 elastomers,5 processing improvement aimed at waste reduction,6 electrically conducting polymers, 7 nanotube composites,8 and many more. This would clearly not have been possible without the vision of governments as well as private companies, both local and foreign, which have seen this region as a prime hub for investment in research infrastructure and production facilities. This is doubly important for a journal like ours that spans the gap between academia and industry, as we can see firsthand the benefit of this convergence of interests. At the Journal of Applied Polymer Science, we appreciate the trust that scientists from this very diverse region accord our journal in handling the peer review and publication of their research papers, and we are looking forward to many more years of publishing their best results. Stefano Tonzani*, * Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Applied Polymer Science.

The Implications of Comparative Effectiveness Research for Academic Medicine

With growing constraints on government spending, policy makers are investing in comparative effectiveness research (CER) to attempt to bring the power of science to bear on the problems of suboptimal outcomes and high cost in the U.S. health care system. This commitment of resources to CER reflects confidence that better evidence can help clinicians and patients make better decisions, consistent with the long tradition of medical schools' and teaching hospitals' use of science to inform medical care. Thus, CER offers a great opportunity, albeit with some considerable challenges, for academic medicine to play a central role in comprehensive health care reform. Certainly, many scientists conducting CER will learn their methodological rigor in the training programs of academic health centers. Numerous new CER research teams will be needed, establishing effective partnerships far outside the walls of the traditional academic setting. And the clinicians interpreting the medical literature and applying the insights from CER to the unique problems of individual patients will need to learn this evidence-based, patient-centered care from the educators, mentors, and role models at U.S. medical and other health science schools and teaching hospitals. Achieving this will require investment in research infrastructure, adaptations of institutional culture, development of new disciplines and research methods, establishment of new collaborations, training of new faculty, and the expansion and refocusing of educational capacity. By successfully responding to this challenge, academic medicine can further strengthen its long-standing commitment to the scientific practice of medicine and the use of evidence in patient-centered, personalized care.

Non‐malignant haematology research in the UK: looking forward to new opportunities

SummaryOver the last few years there has been rapid and radical change in the way clinical research in the UK is funded and supported within the NHS. This has resulted from restructuring and major new investment in research infrastructure, co‐ordinated through Clinical Local Research Networks (CLRNs) and equivalent organisations in the devolved nations. CLRNs have resources to support local researchers undertake studies that have been adopted on to the national research portfolio. For example, CLRNs can help with gaining local approvals or provide research nurses to recruit patients, undertake study procedures and perform data entry. CLRNs can establish Local Speciality Groups in a number of areas of medicine, including non‐malignant haematology. These new networks offer non‐malignant haematology access to significant new resources and a major opportunity to support clinical research for the benefit of our patients.

Announcement: Non‐malignant haematology research in the UK: looking forward to new opportunities

SummaryOver the last few years there has been rapid and radical change in the way clinical research in the UK is funded and supported within the NHS. This has resulted from restructuring and major new investment in research infrastructure, co‐ordinated through Clinical Local Research Networks (CLRNs) and equivalent organisations in the devolved nations. CLRNs have resources to support local researchers undertake studies that have been adopted on to the national research portfolio. For example, CLRNs can help with gaining local approvals or provide research nurses to recruit patients, undertake study procedures and perform data entry. CLRNs can establish Local Speciality Groups in a number of areas of medicine, including non‐malignant haematology. These new networks offer non‐malignant haematology access to significant new resources and a major opportunity to support clinical research for the benefit of our patients.

Tapping the potential of the National Institute for Health Research Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) to develop research capacity and capability in nursing

Nine Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRCs) were established by the National Institute of Health Research in 2008 with the remit to undertake high-quality applied health research and support the translation of research findings into practice within the National Health Service in England. Each CLAHRC represents a collaborative partnership between one or more universities and their neighbouring NHS organisations. This investment in research infrastructure presents considerable opportunities for nursing to develop capacity and capability to undertake research and knowledge translation activity and support clinical academic careers. However, in order for the potential of CLAHRCs to be realised investment in nursing leadership is required.