Speaker Details

Biography

Faina Linkov is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Magee-Womens Research Institute. Dr. Linkov holds PhD in Epidemiology, MPH in the Community and Behavioral Health Sciences, and Certificate of Advanced Studies in Global Health from the University of Pittsburgh. Her current research activities concentrate on health system infrastructure, the use of biological tumor markers to detect malignancies at early stages and on the link between obesity, biobehavioral factors, and cancer. She is the recipient a Mentored Research Award from the American Cancer Society. She has been the Principal or Co-Principal Investigator on several grants since 2005, receiving support from organizations including: Department of Defense, Scaife Foundation, CDC, Hillman Foundation, USAID, and NATO. In June 2012, Dr. Linkov received the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Scholar Award for her meritorious work in the area of biobehavioral cancer research. She published over 100 research papers and chapters in the field of cancer epidemiology and global health. Since 2000, Dr. Linkov has been working with Professor Ronald LaPorte on the development of the Global Health Network Supercourse Project ( www.pitt.edu/~super1) and is an editor in chief of the Central Asian Journal of Global Health (cajgh.pitt.edu). Central Asian Journal of Global Health is one of the first English language scientific journals targeting scientists in Central Asia. The goal of the journal is to improve scientific productivity in Central Asia and allow scientists in the Central Asian region share their scientific discoveries with global audience. Central Asian Journal of Global Health started in 2012 and currently has 3 full published issues.

Abstract

Research Methods Library of Alexandria to Boost Scientific Productivity Locally and Globally

Research productivity, measured by the number of scientific articles published in the reputable journals, varies substantially from country to country and from continent to continent. Despite some improvements, research productivity throughout the African continent and Central Asian region has been relatively low. The goal of this presentation is to analyze publication patterns in these countries, overview some of the barriers to research productivity, as well as to overview the Research Methods Library of Alexandria (RMLA) effort and its implication for the improvement of scientific productivity locally and globally. Opportunities for the establishment of new models of scientific journals, aimed at reducing the productivity gap will also be discussed. Scientific productivity data was evaluated across various research fields generated by the SCImago Journal & Country Rank over the period from 1996 to 2017 and identified significant deficiencies in scientific productivity in some of the African and Central Asian countries. Barriers that impact scientific productivity include lack of scientific networking, lack of mentoring, language difficulties, lack of training in research methods and/or statistics, limited publishing skills, and many others. Despite barriers, the ranking of Egypt in scientific productivity went from 37th in 1996 to 35th in 2016. Research Methods Library of Alexandria is a new project focusing on collecting research methods books and online research methods materials at the Library of Alexandria to boost scientific productivity locally and globally. Over the past two years, thousands of research methods book and online lectures/educational materials have been collected and made available to students in Egypt and around the world. In addition to improving access to research methods materials, we are proposing the development of a new model of mentored scientific journals with the focus on boosting research productivity in the developing world. Central Asian Journal of Global Health (cajgh.pitt.edu) is an example of such model. The journal provides forum for discussion for all aspects of public health, medicine, and global health in Central Asia and around the world and it is the only Central Asian journal that is referenced in PubMed. Hundreds of mentors have been providing their services through the RMLA and the journal in the past few years. University of Pittsburgh open access platform utilized by our journal may serve as a model for other journals, where university is at the center of scientific publishing. We welcome contributions to RMLA and Central Asian Journal of Global Health from established researchers, junior scientists, PhD Students, and research trainees. With tools like RMLA and the new journal models, we aim to provide a supportive environment for new investigators and those who never published in English language journals.