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TheUnitforPolicy Research in Science and Medicine (PRISM) wasestablished bythe WellcomeTrustin 1990asacentreforindependentanalysisandadviceonscience policy.Itsmission istohelp informdecisionsonthemosteffectivemeansofsupporting scientific research.Itsupportsevidence-based policymakingparticularlyby: • evaluatingresearch outcomes; • auditingscientificactivityin differentresearch fieldsandcountries; • applyingnovel approachesto strategicplanningand prioritysetting. Aswellascarryingoutindependentpolicyresearch,PRISM offerstwounique servicesto fundingorganizations,policymakers,governmentdepartments,universities and industrialists: • SPIN (Science Policy Information News) -aweeklyround-upofnewsinbiomedical science policy; • ROD (Research Outputs Database) -developedbytheWellcomeTrusttorack research outputsin biomedical sciences.Forthefirsttime,research-fundingagencies areableto identifyandacquiredetailsofresearch papersattributabletothem NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH AN AUDIT OF RESEARCH ACTIVITY WELLCOME LIBRARY Policy report no.10 W D D Seemungal, S Ginns, Dixon, Ewart March 1999 2111 Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Scope 1 THE NEED FOR NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH 1 2.1 Introduction 12 2.2Worldwide patterns ofburden ofdiseaseand death (1990 and 2020) 12 2.3 UKburden ofdisease 14 2.4 US burden ofdisease 19 2.5 Conclusions 19 FUNDING INPUTS INTO RESEARCH 20 3.1 Introduction 20 3.2 UKsources ofneuroscience funding 20 3.3 US sources ofneuroscience fundingand the 'Decade ofthe Brain' 22 3.4 European Union Decade ofthe Brain 25 3.5 Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) 27 3.6Japanesegovernment research and development expenditure on neuroscience research 27 3.7The pharmaceutical industryand commercial drug market 28 3.8 Conclusions 33 OPINION SURVEY 34 4.1 Introduction 34 4.2 Results 34 4.3 Conclusions 39 ACADEMIC RESPONSETO RESEARCH NEED-A BIBLIOMETRICANALYSIS 40 5.1 Introduction 40 5.2 UK neuroscience research output 40 5.3Weightingand influence ofUKpapers 43 5.4 General trends in outputs ofpapers 44 5.5 Conclusions 52 Neuroscience:Anauditofresearchactivity i Digitized by the Internet Archive 2014 in https://archive.org/details/b20456621 Contents HOWRESEARCH IS DEVELOPED -APATENTSANALYSIS 53 6.1 Introduction 53 6.2 Neuroscience papers citedon US patents 53 6.3Analysis ofcited neuroscience papers 54 6.4Analysis ofUS patents citing neuroscience papers 56 6.5 Inventors and assignees named on citingpatents 56 6.6 Conclusions 57 THE MILLENNIUMWORKSHOP MEETING-STRATEGIES FORACTION 58 7.1 Introduction 58 7.2 Summaryol the key issues 58 7.3 Session overviews 59 DISCUSSIONAND CONCLUSIONS 65 APPENDICES 68 Appendix 1 The Global Burden ofDisease Study- methods 68 Appendix 2Tabulated results forneurosciencequestionnaire 70 Appendix 3 Bibliometricanalysis ofresearch outputs in eight neurosciencespecialist 89 areas- methodology Appendix4 Distribution ofresearch papers from basic and clinical neuroscience subfields 94 Neuroscience:Anauditofresearchactivity 5 Summary Executive Introduction Neuroscience is one ofthe fastest growing areas ofbiomedical research. To counter the economic and humanitarian burden ofdiseases ofthe nervous system, significant funding initiatives are in place worldwide. To assess the UK's neuroscience research activity in a worldwide context, the study examined the incidence and economic burden ofdiseases of the nervous system; the funding inputs to neuroscience research internationally; and the published outputs and development ofnew therapeutic products. Opinion was sought on the barriers limiting research activity, on measures to tackle these obstacles, and on strategic objectives for future research. Main stages ofthe study The study comprised five stages: • a survey ofthe latest estimates of the burden ofdiseases ofthe nervous system both globally and in the UK; • asurvey ofthe funds available for neuroscience research support; • bibliometric analyses ofresearch publications in eight subfields ofneuroscience, and of patents that cite these publications; • an opinion survey ofneuroscience experts, to determine their perceptions ofthe field and of ways to strengthen research infrastructure; • aworkshop meeting attended by nearly f50 neuroscientists, ofall disciplines, as well as representatives from the WellcomeTrust, industry and other funding agencies, to identify specific scientific and infrastructural opportunities that would strengthen the UK's neuroscience research base. Main findings Globalburden ofdisease Diseases associated with disorders ofthe nervous system are a major burden worldwide. Current estimates indicate that the majority ofthis burden is in developed countries. AWorld Health Organization (WHO) study predicts that this burden will increase dramatically over the next 30 years, with most ofthe increase occurring in developing countries. UK burden ofdisease These diseases have a considerable impact on the UK healthcare system. Mental illness is the leading cause ofillness and disability in the UK, accounting for approximately 25 per cent of the UK government's total payments on sickness and disability benefits (approximately £6.1 billion out of£24.2 billion in 1990/91). Neuroscience:Anauditofresearchactivity 7 Executive Summary Research-fundinginitiatives There are significant research-funding and strategic initiatives worldwide to battle against the diseases in this field. The initiatives include the 'Decade ofthe Brain' programmes in the USA and European Union, and theJapanese government's Human Frontier Science Program. In the UK, there are special initiatives by theWellcomeTrust and other medical charities, the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and the Department ofHealth's (DoH) research and development programme. Also within the UK, neuroscience research has been identified as a priority area by the UK government's Foresight Panel on Health and Life Sciences. Researchpublicationsprofile UK Bibliometric analyses ofeight neuroscience subfields indicate that the is generally in a OECD strong position in this area, with growth in all the fields studied (none ofthe other 11 UK countries can claim this). However, while it appears that cognitive behavioural psychiatry has a relatively large share ofthe world output ofpublications, this area does not produce publications ofthe general high quality ofthe other subfields selected for study. There is some evidence that UK clinical research in this field may need specific attention. Exploitation ofresearch Patent analysis indicates that UK inventors account for 13 per cent ofall inventors cited on US patents based to some extent on UK research, but only 3.5 per cent ofthese patents are owned by UK companies or individuals. This 'exploitation gap' in UK neuroscience — a failure to take advantage ofcommercially relevant research - needs to be addressed. The establishment ofthe UK University Challenge Fund (a £60 million venture capital fund for universities) is a major step in addressing the problem. Perception ofresearchers UK experts feel that this country has a strong base ofneuroscience research. However, a number ofinfrastructural changes need to be made to maintain or strengthen this position. In particular, the career structure ofUK neuroscience researchers needs to be improved- with clearer progression paths and increased mobilitywithin the field. The workshop meeting identified the following points: Mu hidisciplinarity There is a need for multidisciplinary research throughout neuroscience, and for funding mechanisms to encourage multidisciplinary research programmes. A new 'breed' ofscientists is required — individuals highly skilled in more than one discipline. Examples cited included molecular biologists who could pursue their investigations in electrophysiological laboratories, cognitive psychologists at home in functional imaging laboratories, and computational scientists who are aware ofthe key biological questions. 8 Neuroscience:Anauditofresearchactivity