We are thrilled to share some significant leadership updates within our network. These changes mark a new chapter of growth and excellence, and we are excited to introduce the individuals stepping into their new roles.
The Network Reaches New Milestones in Scientific Impact and Productivity
There are many ways to assess the productivity and impact of a Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN). Common metrics include the number of studies conducted, patients enrolled, and practitioners engaged [Gilbert et al., JCTS, 2022]. One of the most widely recognized measures in academic settings is the number of peer-reviewed publications. In this regard, our Network continues to excel, with an impressive total of 243 peer-reviewed publications to date.
However, another powerful and less commonly used indicator is the breadth of publication, the number of different journal titles in which research is published. This reflects the extent to which a network influences multiple scientific domains.
Our Network has now published in 73 different journal titles, spanning areas such as general dentistry treatment procedures, health behavior, health promotion, orthodontics, informatics, craniomandibular disorders, dental materials, health services research, implementation science, and many more. This milestone objectively quantifies the broad and interdisciplinary impact our Network is having across the scientific community.
To further assess the influence of our publications, we turn to article-level metrics such as the Relative Citation Ratio (RCR). Developed by the NIH, the RCR offers a field- and time-normalized measure of a publication’s citation impact, benchmarked to a median NIH-funded paper (RCR = 1.0). Unlike journal impact factors, RCR provides a more nuanced view of individual article influence.
All peer-reviewed articles from NIH-funded studies are required to be publicly available in the NIH iCite database, which facilitates public access to RCR metrics. (https://icite.od.nih.gov/analysis)
According to a recent analysis, our Network’s publications (n=232, published at least two years prior) achieved a mean RCR of 1.40 (±0.11), well above the median benchmark. This indicates that our articles are cited more frequently than the average NIH-funded publication, underscoring the high impact and relevance of our research.
Whether measured by quantity, diversity, or citation influence, the Network continues to demonstrate exceptional productivity and scientific impact. These achievements reflect the dedication of our practitioners, researchers, and collaborators—and the growing importance of practice-based research in advancing oral health.
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