Microfluidic Device
Enables experiments on individual cells.
ISB Research Papers Have Highest Scientific Impact in the United States In virtually every scientific paper, authors cite work previously produced by other researchers that has in some way influenced the content of their own. Papers that are often cited by others are generally perceived within the scientific community to have a high impact, and as having had a significant influence in the relevant field of research. In December the Spain-based SCImago Research Group released a report evaluating more than 2000 research-centered organizations around the world. The review found that ISB research papers had the highest scientific impact in the United States and the third highest in the world. The report analyzes the impact of scientific papers published by institutions in 84 countries and five continents between 2003 and 2007. Other ranked US institutes include the likes of MIT, Harvard Medical School, the California Institute of Technology, the University of Washington, and other elite research organizations. "This achievement is first and foremost due to the talent and scientific insights of all the members of the Institute," said Alan Aderem, co-founder and director of ISB. "It demonstrates that our scientists are effective in working with each other across multiple disciplines to conduct truly groundbreaking research and shape scientific inquiry worldwide." ISB has assembled some of the best scholars and scientists in the world, from biologists, mathematicians and engineers to computer scientists and physicists, in an interactive and collaborative environment. Researchers from these different disciplines work effectively with each other in the pursuit of knowledge on the leading edge of science. The international impact of ISB research papers demonstrates the value of "new biology" as described in a recent report from the National Academy of Sciences. The report outlines biological inquiry and discovery strategies that mirror the systems approach on which ISB was founded. "We launched ISB in 2000 because we wanted to be nimble, reduce bureaucratic barriers that inhibit scientific creativity at large organizations, foster an interdependence between disciplines and gain a better understanding of how all the components of biological systems interact to generate health or disease," said Lee Hood, MD, PhD, co-founder and president of ISB. "It's great to see that an independent analysis of outcomes demonstrates that we were on track 10 years ago when we launched the world's first systems biology-focused research institute." Editor's Note: The SCImago Research Group and its institutional rankings report can be found at http://www.scimago.es.
email: tlangton@systemsbiology.org
BIOS Production and Design: Christine Emswiler
email: cemswiler@systemsbiology.org
VP for Development: Larry Herron
email: lherron@systemsbiology.org
