Understanding the Value of International Research Networks: An Evaluation of the International Cancer Screening Network of the US National Cancer Institute

Abstract

Purpose: International research networks have the potential to accelerate scientific progress via knowledge sharing and collaboration. In 2018, the US National Cancer Institute evaluated the International Cancer Screening Network (ICSN), in operation since 1988.

Methods: ICSN hosts a biennial scientific meeting and scientific working groups. A survey was fielded to 665 ICSN participants, and a bibliometric analysis was conducted for ICSN publications.

Results: A total of 243 individuals completed the survey (36.5%). They reported that participating in the ICSN helped advance their knowledge of cancer screening research (75.7%), policy development (56%), and implementation (47.7%). Approximately three-quarters agreed that ICSN facilitated knowledge sharing and networking among researchers and implementers (79.9%) and those working on different continents (74.0%) and cancer sites (73.7%). More than half reported that participating helped them form new collaborations in screening implementation (58.0%) or research (57.6%). Most agreed that ICSN helped to advance screening research and evaluation (75.4%), effective screening practices (71.2%), and screening policies (60.9%). Many reported that participating informed advances in their own research (68.7%) and screening implementation (50.2%) and policies (49.4%) in their settings. Approximately two-thirds agreed that ICSN helped advance career development among current experts (66.6%) and train the next generation (62.2%). Half (51.4%) reported that participating advanced their own careers. The 20 ICSN publications included 75 coauthors. They were cited in 589 publications with more than 2,000 coauthors.

Conclusion: Findings provide evidence of the influence of ICSN on international knowledge dissemination, collaboration, and advances in cancer screening research, implementation, and policies and highlight the potential value of longstanding international research networks.

FIG 1

Countries represented among coauthors of International Cancer Screening Network–produced publications, by number of publications.

FIG 2

Countries represented among coauthors of citing publications, by number of citing publications. A cutoff point of five or more citing articles was used for this figure. As such, the figure does not represent all 589 citing publications and all 57 countries represented among coauthors of these citing publications.

FIG 3

Each circle in the network graphic represents a country represented among the coauthors of the 20 International Cancer Screening Network publications. The size of a circle is proportional to the number of publications in which the country is represented. The color of a circle represents the country’s income level (World Bank Atlas method of classification). The lines connecting the circles represent coauthorships, with a gray line representing one coauthorship and a dark blue line representing 11 coauthorships, which was the maximum number found. The color gradient between gray and dark blue represents the range from one to 11 coauthorships.

FIG 4

Each circle in the network graphic represents a country represented among the coauthors of the 589 citing publications. The size of a circle is proportional to the number of publications in which that country is represented. The color of a circle represent the country’s income level (World Bank Atlas method of classification). The lines connecting the circles represent coauthorships, with a gray line representing one coauthorship and a dark blue line representing 12 coauthorships, which was the maximum number found. The color gradient between gray and dark blue represents the range from one to 12 coauthorships.