=1 Cpp =1/p p i Ci ∑ World Journal of Medical Sciences 7 (3): 159-162, 2012 ISSN 1817-3055 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjms.2012.7.3.65161 Corresponding Author: Kamran B. Lankarani, Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 159 Iranian Stem Cell Research Trends: Bibliometric Analysis as a Tool For Mapping Trends From 1995 to 2010 Payam Peymani, Zahra Zahiri, S.T. Heydari, Mohammad Khoshsima and Kamran B. Lankarani Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Abstract: This Bibliometric study was carried out to investigate the trends in stem cell research in Iran from 1995 to 2010. Original research and review articles were considered and publications were identified with the keyword "stem cell" and an affiliation to an Iranian institution. Data were obtained from the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science databases and Scopus. We found 491 articles published since 1995. The mean number of citations per publication was3.928 and the most frequently cited paper received 76 citations. Articles were published in journals with impact factor that ranged from 0.46 to 8.1. We have observed an increasing trend in stem cell publications based on research done in Iran, although the rate of citations of these papers was low. Key words: Bibliometric Method %Stem Cell %Trend %Iran INTRODUCTION who have had more time to be cited. The objective of this Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have two for Iranian stem gcell researches from 1995 to 2010 [9, 10]. particular properties: the ability to differentiate and the ability to self-regenerate. Research on the use of stem MATERIALS AND METHODS cells centers on the treatment for a wide variety of incurable diseases such as Parkinson, diabetes, spinal The database was obtained from the ISI in cord injury and burns [1, 2]. Thescientific productivity is Philadelphia, USA and Scopus. We used the keyword a significant country indicator [3], as teaching and "stem cell" and limited this topic with defined affiliation research are essential elements of scientific productivity which was Iran and other Islamic. Both original research [4]. As a result, the scientific community places great and review articles were considered. The ISI impact factor importance on the assessment of research output [5]. for a journal is calculated by dividing the number of Analysis of the scientific literature date back to the citations to articles during a two-year period by the beginning of the 20 century [3]. Research assessment is number of citable publications that appeared in the journal th based on indicators of science and technology [4]. during the preceding year. We obtained impact factors of Among these indicators, Bibliometric indicators are widely journals from the ISI website. Citations per publication used to assess research production in terms of (Cpp) were calculated by dividing total number of publications [7]. Citation is an important tool to identify citations by the number of publications according to the the quality of a paper [8]. The Science Citation Index formula: appeared in 1963 from the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI). Another commonly used Bibliometric indicator is the h-index, introduced by Hirsch in 2005. It reflects both the quantity (number of papers) and where Ci is the number of citations to publication I and P quality (citations to these papers) of a researcher’s is the number of citable publications. output; however, it is biased in favor of older researchers The h-index was obtained from Scopus [8]. study was to determine the publication and citation trends