What is scientific landscaping?
Scientific landscaping is the structured process of reviewing and analyzing the body of scientific literature and research activity within a specific field or therapeutic area. This includes peer-reviewed publications, preprints, clinical trial data, congress abstracts, and emerging hypotheses. The goal is to identify influential studies, research trends, leading investigators, and areas of unmet scientific need. Advanced landscaping may also include bibliometric analysis, topic clustering, and visualization of data to support interpretation.
Why is scientific landscaping important in pharmaceutical development?
Scientific landscaping helps pharmaceutical teams make evidence-based decisions by providing a clear view of the current knowledge base and future direction of research. It supports strategic planning, indication prioritization, biomarker identification, and differentiation in crowded or evolving therapeutic spaces. For Medical and R&D functions, scientific landscaping also informs publication strategy, advisory board planning, and clinical trial design by revealing where the scientific conversation is focused and where opportunities for leadership exist.
