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National-, institutional-, and individual-level determinants of dermatologic research excellence: an analysis of Stanford-Elsevier Lists of the top 2% scholars worldwide (2017-2023)

Riad A, Koščík M

Frontiers in medicine, 2026

Abstract

Background: Skin diseases contribute to a massive and often overlooked component of the global disease burden, highlighting the need for a better understanding of the dermatologic research landscape and its key drivers of excellence.

Aim: To explore the national, institutional, and individual-level determinants that shape dermatologic research excellence worldwide.

Methods: We analyzed the publicly available Stanford-Elsevier Lists of the top 2% most-cited scientists (2017-2023), extracting scholars classified in Dermatology & Venereal Diseases to identify excellent dermatologic scholars (EDS). EDS records were then linked, based on affiliation data, to country-level indicators (Universal Health Coverage [UHC], Human Development Index [HDI], Gender Inequality Index [GII], national budgets, and disease burden), institutional rankings (Quacquarelli Symonds [QS], Times Higher Education [THE], and Academic Ranking of World Universities [ARWU]), and individual attributes (gender and academic age). Outcomes were EDS counts by country/institution and scholar-level bibliometrics (citations excluding self-citations, modified H-index, and composite score).

Results: EDS were overwhelmingly based in high-income countries (97.9% career-long; 94.5% single-year) with the EURO region contributing ~48% of EDS and exhibiting highest densities (0.585 and 0.482 per 100,000), while low-income settings had ~0.002. The top 20 institutions hosted ~21% of all EDS. Women comprised 22.9% (career-long)…

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