The power of partnership: Exploring collaboration dynamics in U.S. transplant research

Collaboration is one of the hallmarks of academic research. This study analyzes collaboration patterns in U.S. transplant research, examining publication trends, productive institutions, co-authorship networks, and citation patterns in high-impact transplant journals. 4265 articles published between 2012 and 2021 were analyzed using scientometric tools, logistic regression, VantagePoint software, and Gephi software for network visualization. 16,003 authors from 1011 institutions and 59 countries were identified, with Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and University of Pennsylvania contributing the most papers. Odds of international collaboration significantly increased over time (OR 1.03; p = 0.040), while odds of citation in single-institution collaborations decreased (OR 0.99; p = 0.016). Five major scientific communities and central institutions (Harvard University and University of Pittsburgh) connecting them were identified, revealing interconnected research clusters. Collaboration enhances knowledge exchange and research productivity, with an increasing trend of institutional and international collaboration in U.S. transplant research. Understanding this community is essential for promoting research impact and forming strategic partnerships. •The transplant research network is highly interconnected through direct or indirect collaborations.•However, only 4% of all potential direct institution collaborations are being explored by the transplant research community.•International collaboration in transplantation slightly increased over the decade, while national and single-institution collaboration remained stable.•The full collaborative transplant network potential should be explored to increase impactful research.