MRC demonstrates excellence at world-class level
Thursday 9 September, 2010
Recently analysed data from the Medical Research Council (MRC) have revealed that MRC-funded scientists are twice as 'influential' in scientific terms as the world average.
Citations are an established and quantitative measure for evaluating the scientific influence of research. Analysis of citations show how often other scientists around the world have used and built on earlier work. Based on a study of almost 15,000 recent publications, the citation impact of papers arising from MRC funded work was calculated to be 2.35 times the world average.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) already invests in the highest quality research as judged by peer review. Excellence with impact is central to all research funded and this is reflected in the excellence of the UK research environment.
MRC impact
• All grants funded by the MRC have been judged internationally competitive by independent peer review. Owing to the high volume of exceptional applications received, the MRC was only able to fund around 85 per cent of all internationally competitive research proposals in 2008/09.
• The impact of UK research papers is second only to the USA, with UK research papers in all fields having an average citation impact of 1.5 times the world average.
• The citation impact of published work attributed to MRC funding is more than double the world average.
• 13 per cent of MRC papers are highly cited at over four times the world average, the average for UK medically-related research papers is just 6 per cent.
Other data shows MRC is spinning out its discoveries:
• In addition to a very high impact factor within the research environment, MRC research has led to the creation or growth of 30 spin-out companies since 2006 and the granting of over 200 new patents.
• Three of the UK’s largest biotechnology companies, Celltech, Cambridge Antibody Technology and Domantis, originated as spin-outs based on MRC research. The three companies have all since been acquired by the pharmaceutical industry for a collective total of around $3.7 billion.
The MRC addresses the most difficult scientific and health challenges of the day. By funding only the highest quality science, it strives to improve human health and wellbeing by picking research that will deliver improved health outcomes, bringing the benefits of its world-class research to all sections of society and accelerating progress in international health research – all the time advancing the economic competitiveness of the UK.
The recent 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) found that 87 per cent of UK research activity is of international quality with 54 per cent being classified as either “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”. Within the UK, the quality of research output tops international standings in many fields, both in terms of citations per paper and per pound invested. Collectively, the Research Councils also excel in the degree of cross-disciplinary and collaborative research, the infrastructure available to researchers as well as the translation of research to the needs of society, such as providing evidence for policy-making.
The MRC and other Research Councils will continue to work together to fund only the highest quality research, as judged by peer review, and in line with our individual strategic plans. Examples of Research Council-funded research that has brought benefits to the UK’s economy and wellbeing can be found at: www.rcuk.ac.uk/framework.
The MRC Strategic Plan 2009-2014 is available at: www.mrc.ac.uk/StrategicPlan2009-2014
Ends
Notes to editors:
1. MRC e-Val is the online survey through which the MRC gathers data about the outputs and outcomes of MRC-funded research
