In the face of a global crisis, scientists didn't just conduct research—they mapped the very landscape of knowledge to guide us through the storm.
When the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, it triggered an unprecedented explosion of scientific research. By June 2020, just five months after the virus emerged, the world had seen over 14,588 scientific publications about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19—a staggering increase of 1600% in publication output . This deluge of information threatened to overwhelm even experts. How could anyone make sense of this rapidly expanding knowledge universe? The answer emerged from an innovative field called mapping knowledge domains, which uses powerful visualization tools to transform countless scientific papers into clear, navigable maps of understanding, guiding the global scientific response 1 .
Mapping knowledge domains is similar to creating a Google Maps for science. Instead of streets and landmarks, these maps chart the relationships between scientific concepts, research institutions, and collaborative networks. By analyzing thousands of research publications simultaneously, scientists can identify emerging trends, spot gaps in understanding, and visualize the collaborative networks driving discovery 1 .
When the coronavirus struck, researchers turned to this methodology to make sense of the rapidly evolving situation. They used specialized software like CiteSpace and VOSviewer to create "knowledge domain maps" that visualized patterns and connections across the global scientific landscape 1 3 .
Long before COVID-19 appeared, scientists had been studying coronaviruses for decades. Analysis of thousands of publications reveals that coronavirus research has evolved through four distinct historical stages 1 :
Research progressed slowly with only about 38 publications per year on average, focusing on basic virology and veterinary applications.
The 2002 SARS outbreak triggered a dramatic surge in research, with annual publications peaking at 323 by 2005.
As the immediate threat of SARS receded, research activity gradually decreased, demonstrating the reactive nature of scientific funding.
The emergence of MERS in 2012 established a new baseline of sustained interest, with publications steadily climbing to 213 in 2019 before exploding with COVID-19 1 .
This historical pattern demonstrates how pandemic events act as catalysts for scientific mobilization, with each major outbreak generating new research infrastructure that forms the foundation for responding to future threats.
| Country | Research Output | Global Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Leading country | ~25% |
| China | Significant contributor | Major proportion |
| Italy | Prominent in early research | Notable share |
| United Kingdom | Active participant | Considerable percentage |
| G7 Countries Combined | Massive collective output | ~50% |
As COVID-19 spread globally in early 2020, a team of researchers embarked on a crucial mission: to systematically map the entire landscape of coronavirus research. Their goal was to create a comprehensive guide to what we knew, what we didn't know, and where science was heading 1 .
The research team designed their mapping experiment with several key steps 1 :
They retrieved 4,860 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection database, focusing specifically on coronavirus research from 1990-2020.
Using specialized software, they analyzed co-authorship patterns between countries and institutions, revealing the global collaborative network fighting the pandemic.
They identified the most frequently used terms across all publications and mapped their relationships, creating a visual representation of research hotspots.
By tracking how keywords emerged and evolved over time, they could identify shifting research priorities and emerging frontiers.
This systematic approach allowed the researchers to transform a mountain of disconnected publications into a coherent map of scientific understanding, highlighting both established knowledge and unexplored territories 1 .
The knowledge domain maps revealed that coronavirus research clustered around six major hotspots, each representing a critical frontier in our understanding of the virus 1 :
Fundamental research on the coronavirus genome, spike protein, and mechanical structure.
Molecular Biology GenomicsStudies investigating zoonotic origins, transmission routes, and superspreading events.
Epidemiology One HealthResearch mapping how the virus enters human cells, replicates, and spreads within the body.
Cell Biology VirologyInvestigations into how the virus causes disease, from mild symptoms to severe complications.
Immunology PathologyWork on testing methods and the spectrum of clinical presentations.
Diagnostics Clinical MedicineThe global race to develop antiviral drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and other therapeutics.
Pharmacology Vaccine DevelopmentThese clusters weren't isolated—they were densely interconnected, demonstrating how advances in one area propelled discoveries in others. For instance, understanding the viral structure (Cluster 1) directly informed vaccine development (Cluster 6) 1 .
| Research Cluster | Focus Areas | Key Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction & Structure Analysis | Viral genome, spike protein, structural biology | How is the virus built at the molecular level? |
| Outbreak Source & Transmission | Zoonotic origins, transmission routes, environmental factors | Where did the virus come from and how does it spread? |
| Human Infection Pathway | Cellular entry mechanisms, replication, tissue tropism | How does the virus infect human cells and spread within the body? |
| Pathogenesis | Immune response, cytokine storm, organ damage | How does the virus cause disease in the human body? |
| Diagnosis & Symptoms | Testing methods, clinical presentation, symptom spectrum | How do we identify infection and what are its effects? |
| Treatment Development | Antiviral drugs, therapeutics, vaccine development | How can we treat or prevent infection? |
Creating these knowledge maps required a sophisticated toolkit of databases, software, and analytical frameworks. These resources enabled researchers to process massive volumes of scientific information and extract meaningful patterns 1 3 :
The authoritative database containing over 10,000 multidisciplinary journals that served as the primary data source for most knowledge mapping studies. Its comprehensive coverage of high-impact literature made it ideal for tracking global research trends 1 .
A specialized software for visualizing emerging trends and key turning points in scientific literature. It excelled at creating time-zone visualizations that showed how research focus evolved throughout the pandemic 3 .
An alternative comprehensive citation database used particularly for tracking One Health research and other specialized aspects of pandemic science, valued for its broad coverage including social and health disciplines 7 .
The knowledge maps created during the pandemic revealed unexpected gaps in our understanding. While virology and clinical research received extensive attention, the maps showed comparatively less focus on One Health approaches—which integrate human, animal, and environmental health—despite coronavirus being a zoonotic disease that jumps from animals to humans 7 .
This insight has profound implications for future pandemic preparedness. Knowledge mapping doesn't just show us where we are; it helps us see where we need to go. As one analysis noted, "The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a comprehensive and collaborative strategy to successfully counter infectious diseases" 7 . The visualization techniques perfected during COVID-19 are now being applied to other pathogens, from influenza to mpox, creating an evolving atlas of infectious disease knowledge 6 .
When the next novel pathogen emerges, scientists won't be starting with a blank slate. They'll have powerful mapping tools ready to chart the course of research, ensuring that global science can respond more swiftly and effectively than ever before. In our interconnected world, the map of knowledge may ultimately prove to be as vital as any vaccine.
Knowledge mapping enabled scientists to quickly identify research priorities during the pandemic.
Maps revealed under-researched areas like One Health approaches to zoonotic diseases.
These tools will enhance our ability to respond to future emerging pathogens.