Uppsala impresses in research evaluation
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Mathias Hallberg, Anna Sjöström and Karin Forsberg Nilsson from Medfarm, together with Sirpa Jalkanen and Reinhard Fässler from the international panel.
In 2024, the Swedish Research Council carried out an evaluation of the research field of basic medical and pharmaceutical sciences. The aim was to conduct a national assessment of the scientific quality of the research and its relevance beyond academia. Uppsala University was one of seven higher education institutions included in the evaluation.
As part of the evaluation, Uppsala University submitted 75 selected scientific articles and 14 case studies, with the ambition of showcasing the strong research conducted in the basic medical and pharmaceutical sciences, as well as highlighting the societal relevance of the research.
The international panel that assessed the publications and case studies states in its report that Sweden, as a whole, demonstrates high scientific quality, groundbreaking research results, and good examples of collaborative networks. An important explanation for this is the access to outstanding national research infrastructures.
The report further emphasises that national and international collaborations are crucial factors for publication quality and high citation levels.
Uppsala University stands out in several fields
The panel followed the Swedish Research Council’s evaluation model and assessed the scientific quality of the research based on a selection of top publications, supported by bibliometric data. They also evaluated the societal impact of the research, based on the submitted case studies.
For Uppsala University, several research areas were identified where publications have been cited more frequently than the world average. Immunology, genetics, and toxicology are highlighted as particularly strong fields. Microbiology is also an area where Uppsala continues to have a high impact – a field with a strong tradition in Uppsala. Nationally, it was also found that the highest number of publications in medicinal chemistry come from Uppsala University.
Furthermore, no fewer than 12 out of the 14 submitted case studies were rated as “excellent”.
Women remain underrepresented
Despite many positive results, the evaluation also points to significant national challenges. One of the most prominent concerns is the gender distribution among professors, where only 30 per cent of these positions are held by women, which the panel held as one of the more important issues that the universities need to continue working on.
Robin Widing