by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
On May 5, 2022, Research.com released the 1st edition of the annual ranking for top scientists in the area of immunology. This list of leading scholars is designed to offer the academic community more visibility and exposure to the influential research contributions made by those at the forefront of immunology.
What is more, we hope it will inspire researchers, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs around the world to find out where leading experts are heading. It is a great opportunity for all of us to learn who are the leading experts in different research areas, in different countries, as well as within different universities and research institutions.
For the 2022 edition of the ranking, more than 6,300 scientist profiles on Google Scholar and Microsoft Academic Graph have been examined with several indicators and metrics reviewed in order to consider each scientist’s inclusion in the ranking.
The h-index threshold for approving a scholar to be considered was set to 40 if most of their publications were in the field of immunology. The inclusion criteria for scholars to be considered into the ranking of top scientists are based on the discipline h-index, the proportion of contributions made within the given discipline in addition to the awards and achievements of the scientists.
The full ranking for the 2022 list of top immunology scientists can be found here:
TOP IMMUNOLOGY SCIENTISTS RANKING
Scientists from the United States dominate the list with 539 scholars included in 2022 which represents 53.9% of the whole ranking. 8 out of 10 scientists in the top 1% are from the United States.
The United Kingdom ranks second with 82 scientists.
The third spot was taken by Germany, which currently has 55 ranking scientists.
The other leading countries are France with 45 scientists, Australia with 36 scientists, the Netherlands with 36 scientists, Switzerland with 32 scientists, and Japan with 30 scholars.
Please note that the country associated with a scientist is based on their affiliated research institution according to MAG, not on their actual nationality.
In the 2022 edition of our ranking, the American National Institutes of Health is the leader, with 69 scientists affiliated with that institution included in the ranking. Ranking second is Harvard University with 34 scientists, and the third place is occupied by Stanford University with 22 scholars.
American universities and institutions constitute 70% of the top 10 leading institutions with the other ones representing the UK (University of Oxford), Switzerland (University of Zurich), and Sweden (Karolinska Institute).
Only 2 out of 10 institutions affiliated with the top 1% of leading scientists are based outside the USA. The other top spots are occupied by scientists from Osaka University, Japan (1st spot), and the Humanitas University, Italy (6th spot).
Dr. Gary Michelson, co-chair of Michelson Philanthropies, and Science/AAAS Director and Senior Editor for Custom Publishing, Sean Sanders, emphasize the immense potential of gaining a deeper understanding of the workings of the immune system that are thought to underlie numerous diseases. This knowledge has the potential to yield significant rewards, including new treatments for diseases, improved vaccines, and cures for lifelong conditions. Over the years, research in this direction has translated to a one-year 92.48% survival rate for kidney transplants, for example.
In this context, the emergence of online immunology degree programs is providing opportunities for researchers. Individuals with medical and biotechnology careers and coming from diverse backgrounds can collaborate and conduct research, leading to potential breakthroughs in translating scientific discoveries from bench to bedside.
What makes an online immunology degree program rewarding is not that it breeds individuals who can land one of the highest-paying biology jobs. More importantly, its availability has effectively made the world of immunology research more accessible and connected. Research on the immune system, which has the potential to improve immunotherapy, is no longer limited by geographical and cultural boundaries. The diversity of perspectives and cultural backgrounds has contributed to enriching research outcomes, thus enhancing the medical field and the broader scientific community. This increased connectivity and accessibility have helped break down traditional barriers to scientific collaboration, enabling researchers to work together across different locations and cultures toward shared goals.
For Asia, Professor Shizuo Akira from Osaka University, Japan is on top of the list with a world ranking of no. 1 as well. His h-index is 226.
For North America, Professor Richard A. Flavell from Yale University, United States is ranked first in the region, with an H-index of 219. He’s also listed as no. 2 in the world ranking.
Professor Alberto Mantovani from Humanitas University, Italy leads the top list in Europe with a world ranking of 6 as well.
For Oceania, Professor Mark J. Smyth from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Australia ranks 1st on our list of leading scientists in that region. He’s also listed as no. 14 in the world ranking.
Professor Ricardo T. Gazzinelli from Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil is the highest-ranking scientist from South America with a world ranking of 314.
Professor Lynn Morris who is affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa is the first in Africa with a world ranking of 593.
The average H-index for the top 1% of scientists is 196 against an average of 93 for all 1000 scientists included in the ranking.
The scholar with the lowest index value who made it to the ranking in 2022 has an H-index of 71.
The average number of published articles for the top 1% of scientists in the ranking is 739 against an average of 285 for all 1000 scholars.
The average number of citations for the top 1% of scientists is 151,724 against an average of 36,045 for all 1000 scholars. The highest cited scientist is Shizuo Akira from Osaka University, Japan with 241,364 citations.
You can learn more about the methodology used to create the ranking here.
All research was coordinated by Imed Bouchrika, PhD, a computer scientist with a well-established record of collaboration on a number of international research projects with different partners from the academic community. His role was to make sure all data remained unbiased, accurate, and up-to-date.
Research.com is the number one research portal for science rankings. Our mission is to make it easier for professors, research fellows, and those studying for a PhD or a master’s degree to progress with their research and to ensure they are always up-to-date with the latest conferences around the world and publications related to their work. Research.com is also involved in the publication of an annual ranking of leading scientists in a wide range of scientific disciplines.
