Tracking and Mining the COVID-19 Research Literature

Area of Science:

• * Virology and Pandemic Research
• * Information Science and Knowledge Management

Background:

• * The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an explosive growth in research publications.
• * Keeping abreast of the vast and rapidly expanding COVID-19 research landscape is a significant challenge for scientists.
• * Existing knowledge structures may not adequately capture the nuances of pandemic research evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To provide accessible overviews and novel categorizations of COVID-19 research.
• * To identify resources for researchers to explore specific questions within the domain.
• * To analyze topical evolution and the balance between tactical and strategic approaches in pandemic mitigation.

Main Methods:

• * Content analysis and reassembly of COVID-19 research topics.
• * Development of novel topical categorizations.
• * Identification and profiling of relevant research websites and knowledge resources.

Main Results:

• * Data indicate a need for increased focus on strategic, immunological factors in pandemic response.
• * Novel categorizations were developed to facilitate deeper understanding of research trends.
• * Resources were identified to support researchers in addressing specific knowledge gaps.

Conclusions:

• * Effective knowledge modeling is crucial for transferring insights from outside the COVID-19 domain.
• * The proposed categorizations can enhance Literature-Based Discovery efforts for future pandemic preparedness.
• * A strategic, immunology-focused approach is recommended for mitigating current and future viral threats.