A decade of publication trends in the Mountain West Clinical and Translational Research Infrastructure Network

TL;DR

This study tracks a research network's publication trends over ten years, showing growth in advanced translational research and the value of non-traditional academic outputs.

Contribution

The study introduces a scientometric evaluation of both database and non-database scholarly outputs to assess translational research progress and mentorship success.

Findings

Publication numbers nearly doubled between 2020 and 2022 compared to earlier years.

Later years showed increased focus on advanced translational research (T3 and T4 stages).

Males were more represented in basic science publications compared to females.

Abstract

The Mountain West Clinical and Translational Research Infrastructure Network (MW-CTR-IN) promotes junior investigators’ careers via robust mentorship and faculty development. A key success indicator is the diversity and volume of scholarly publications. We employed scientometric methods to evaluate both database and non-database outputs—including academic works not traditionally indexed in bibliographic databases—over ten years, examining publication types, thematic focuses, and factors such as gender and discipline.

We analyzed 1,554 peer-reviewed publications (1,141 from databases and 413 from non-database sources) published between 2014 and 2024. Publications were categorized by type and translational research stage using predefined criteria. Two independent coders classified the manuscripts. Gender and discipline differences were assessed.

From 2014 to 2024, 1,554 peer-reviewed publications were documented—1,141 database articles (68%) and 413 (31%) non-database outputs. Notably, publication numbers nearly doubled between 2020 and 2022 compared to previous years. Early database publications primarily focused on T0 and T1 levels (preclinical and basic research). In contrast, later years (2020, 2022, and 2023) saw significant growth in T3 and T4 research, indicating a shift toward advanced translational efforts. Males predominated in basic science (28% vs. 14%, p < .001).

Rising publication trends underscore MW-CTR-IN’s success in building junior research capacity and reveal the remarkable impact of both traditional and non-traditional scholarly outputs in guiding equitable, interdisciplinary training. The inclusion of non-database publications—such as guidelines, protocols, and technical innovations—offers a more comprehensive evaluation of academic productivity and translational impact.

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