The University of Aberdeen is the top institution in the UK for its first class pharmacology research, according to a new report which shows the impact scientists are making in their field.
High quality research papers from Aberdeen are cited so often by other scientists worldwide, that the University has been ranked top in pharmacology by a highly respected organisation (see http://scientific.thomson.com/press/2006/8319732/)
Researchers regularly cite other scientists when they publish papers – this may be to acknowledge previous findings or to support a new research finding.
Now a leading organisation, which compiles data of all scientific papers published, has shown that research at Aberdeen, that has appeared in pharmacological journals over the last four years, has been the most influential in its field.
Roger Pertwee, Professor of Neuropharmacology at the University of Aberdeen, said: “According to this highly objective criterion, the University of Aberdeen is perceived to be the top University in the UK in the area of pharmacology.
“The fact that we are above other UK universities, which include Oxford and Cambridge, shows that we are producing some excellent pharmacological research which is really making an impact.”
Fellow University of Aberdeen pharmacologist, Dr Ruth Ross, added: "It is encouraging to be recognised for our work, which is ultimately aimed at discovering new drug treatments for a variety of conditions including obesity, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, arthritis and the pain associated with these conditions.
"We anticipate that this will further strengthen our existing links with the pharmaceutical industry".
When the average number of citations of papers in all scientific fields at UK universities were totted up and compared, the University of Aberdeen
came sixth out of all institutions because of the number of citations its pharmacological publications in peer-reviewed journals have had per publication
Oxford took first place because of its high number of citations in Clinical Medicine, Microbiology, Immunology and Psychology/Psychiatry.
Professor Pertwee added: “This ranking really is a measure of the high quality of pharmacological research that is being conducted at the University of Aberdeen.
“This research is coming from the laboratories of a relatively small number of University of Aberdeen scientists and we now want to build on this success by expanding pharmacology at this University."