Research trends and hotspots of kidney disease and stem cell therapy from 2009 to 2025: a bibliometric analysis

Despite the growing interest in stem cell therapy for kidney disease research, there remains a lack of comprehensive and systematic bibliometric analyses in this field. This study aimed to summarize the progress in stem cell therapy for kidney disease through bibliometric analysis, providing insights into the development and direction of the field.

Publications related to kidney disease and stem cell therapy in the last 17 years were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database on July 15, 2025. In conducting a comprehensive bibliometric analysis, a variety of bibliographic elements were meticulously collected to map the landscape of research within a specific field.

Between January 1, 2009, and July 15, 2025, a total of 3,914 articles on stem cell therapy research in kidney disease were published across 186 academic journals by 19,195 authors from 3906 institutions in 90 countries. The volume of publications has shown a steady increase over this period. The United States and China lead in both publication and citation counts. Harvard University and University of California System are the most active institutions in this research domain. Lilach O. Lerman from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science was noted for the highest number of significant publications and received the most co-citations. The analysis revealed key research themes, including pluripotent stem cells, exosomes, and extracellular vesicles.

This study provided a comprehensive bibliometric and knowledge mapping analysis of stem cell therapy in kidney disease research landscape, offering valuable insights into the trends, key contributors, and thematic focus areas within the field. By delineating the evolution of this research, this study aims to guide future scholarly endeavors and enhance our understanding of stem cell therapeutic potential.