Exploring the presence of DFG-funded publications in Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to analyze the number of Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)-sponsored papers published in Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology (NSAP), the oldest pharmacology journal in the world. This is the first systematic investigation of DFG-sponsored research in NSAP. Using the Scopus database, which provides comprehensive citation data from 1969 onward (for NSAP), the study identifies DFG-sponsored publications in the fields of pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmaceutics. The analysis includes only peer-reviewed articles and reviews, excluding other document types such as conference proceedings or editorials etc. The results show that, out of 453,047 total DFG-sponsored publications from 1969 to the present, only 3.05% (13,847) are in the specialized fields of pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmaceutics. This is relatively low compared to other research areas such as biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology (24.69%), and physics and astronomy (23.37%). The study further analyzes the yearly publication dynamics of DFG-sponsored papers in NSAP, revealing a concerning trend: between 2015 and 2023, fewer than 10 DFG-sponsored papers were published in each of these years, with the lowest being 2 publications in 2022. These findings raise questions regarding the visibility and contribution of DFG-funded research in NSAP and suggest that strategies could be developed to enhance the presence of DFG-sponsored research in this historically significant journal. The study does not aim to interfere with funding policies but encourages a discussion on ways to improve publication outcomes for DFG-sponsored projects, particularly in well-established journals like NSAP. Collaboration between researchers, universities, and funding bodies may be key to promoting the visibility and impact of DFG-funded research in relevant academic journals.

Keywords: Deutsche forschungsgemeinschaft; Naunyn–Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology; Pharmacology research; Publication analysis; Research funding; Scopus.