Data Sources and Citation Metrics
The 5th edition of the Research.com Best Medicine Scientists in Italy Ranking is primarily based on comprehensive bibliometric data collected from OpenAlex and CrossRef, complemented by multiple other reputable data sources. To ensure accuracy, the citation-based metrics used in this ranking were gathered on January 12, 2026. These metrics underpin the ranking methodology, which leverages a researcher’s D-index (Discipline H-index). The D-index specifically evaluates a scientist’s impact within the examined discipline by including only papers and citations relevant to Medicine, thereby providing a domain-focused assessment of scientific contributions.
Scope of Research and Selection Criteria
The ranking evaluates a total of 188,153 scientist profiles identified from a variety of bibliometric data sources across all disciplines, with particular attention to 809 scientists specializing in Medicine. To qualify for inclusion, a scientist’s D-index had to be at least 70, ensuring a focus on top-performing researchers. Additionally, a majority of an eligible scientist’s tier publications needed to be within the field of Medicine. Alongside bibliometric metrics, researchers’ awards and achievements in Medicine were also taken into account as supplementary indicators of excellence.
The threshold for the D-index is incrementally adjusted by 10 points relative to the estimated number of scholars within each discipline, while rigorously maintaining the inclusion of the top 1% of leading experts. To ensure discipline-specific prominence, only candidates whose D-index approximates their general H-index within a 30% margin or less have been considered, thus confirming their focused contribution in Medicine.
Additional Verification Practices
At Research.com, we acknowledge that raw bibliometric data alone is insufficient to fully evaluate the multifaceted output of scholars. Consequently, all scientist profiles included in this ranking underwent manual verification and cross-correlation against a broad range of trustworthy publication sources. This meticulous process safeguards against inaccuracies and enhances the reliability of the ranking.
While not directly influencing the ranking position, the count of publications in prominent journals and conference proceedings serves as a valuable secondary signal of a researcher’s contribution to Medicine. The position in the ranking itself is determined solely by each scientist’s D-index, which is calculated using the comprehensive data from OpenAlex and CrossRef—the most prominent and internationally recognized bibliometric databases accessible to the global research community.
For further details on the methodology behind this ranking, we encourage you to visit our our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Agenda
The Research.com initiative is driven by a mission to inspire researchers, policy makers, and industry leaders around the world to gain insights into the trajectories of leading scientific experts. This ranking provides a transparent and data-driven pathway for the international scientific community to identify, acknowledge, and engage with top researchers in Medicine, whether within Italy, across countries, or at specific research institutions. By doing so, we aim to foster collaboration, recognition, and informed decision-making at all levels of scientific advancement.
