From first report to clinical trials: a bibliometric overview and visualization of the development of Angelman syndrome research

Angelman syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations affecting the chromosomal 15q11-13 region, either by contiguous gene deletions, imprinting defects, uniparental disomy, or mutations in the UBE3A gene itself. Phenotypic abnormalities are driven primarily, but not exclusively (especially in 15q11-13 deletion cases) by loss of expression of the maternally inherited UBE3A gene expression. The disorder was first described in 1965 by the English pediatrician Harry Angelman. Since that first description of three children with Angelman syndrome, there has been extensive research into the genetic, molecular and phenotypic aspects of the disorder. In the last decade, this has resulted in over 100 publications per year. Collectively, this research has led the field to a pivotal point in which restoring UBE3A function by genetic therapies is currently explored in several clinical trials. In this study, we employed a bibliometric approach to review and visualize the development of Angelman syndrome research over the last 50 years. We look into different parameters shaping the progress of the Angelman syndrome research field, including source of funding, publishing journals and international collaborations between research groups. Using a network approach, we map the focus of the research field and how that shifted over time. This overview helps understand the shift of research focus in the field and can provide a comprehensive handbook of Angelman syndrome research development.