Funding trends in hormetic research

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Pharmacology
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Hormesis research funding has been debated, with a common assumption of private sector dominance.
• This assumption raises concerns about potential bias in hormesis studies.
• Clarifying funding sources is crucial for understanding research integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the funding sources of hormesis research.
• To determine the proportion of private versus public funding in this field.
• To address the assumption of private sector bias.

Main Methods:

• Hormesis research articles were identified from online databases.
• Data was collected in 5-year increments from 1995 to 2015.
• Articles reporting funding sources were categorized by sector (public/private).

Main Results:

• A total of 710 articles were analyzed, with 383 reporting funding information.
• The assumption of majority private funding was not supported.
• Public sector funding (federal and state agencies) exclusively accounted for 78% of reported research funding.

Conclusions:

• Public funding, not private, predominantly supports hormesis research.
• Increased funding transparency is vital for research perception and application.
• Accurate reporting of funding sources enhances scientific credibility.