The Emergence of Molecular Biology in the Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer: A Network Perspective

Abstract<br>Cytology-base technologies have been extensively used for decades to diagnose cervical cancer in women despite the large number of false negative cases those may report. The rise of molecular biology, since mid-1980s, has spurred the emergence of novel diagnostic technologies, which have significantly changed both the research landscape and clinical practices around cervical cancer. Within this context, the present paper examines how different institutional groups of actors (research and higher education, governmental, hospital and care, industrial, and non-governmental organisations) have contributed to the emergence of molecular biology from an inter-organisational network lens (co-authorship data of publications). To do so, we analyse the patterns of network interactions among different institutional groups involved in the emerge process. We specifically examine the formation of ties (dyads) within and between groups as well as the extent to which organisational actors operate in di↵erent brokerage positions (triads) over the emergence process. The analysis is based on a sample of scientific articles published over more than 30 years in the diagnosis domain of cervical cancer research. Findings provide evidence that the process of tie formation as well as the brokerage activity follow different patterns according to the considered institutional group. The process of tie formation and brokerage activity also evolve over emergence.

摘要 数十年来，基于细胞学的技术（cytology-based technologies）虽被广泛应用于女性宫颈癌的临床诊断，却存在大量假阴性报告案例。自20世纪80年代中期以来，分子生物学（molecular biology）的兴起催生了诸多新型诊断技术，极大重塑了宫颈癌研究领域的研究格局与临床实践范式。在此背景下，本文依托组织间网络视角（inter-organisational network lens），以学术论文合著数据为分析基础，探究不同制度主体群体——涵盖科研与高等教育机构、政府部门、医院与护理机构、工业界以及非政府组织——如何推动了该领域分子生物学相关技术的兴起。为此，本文分析了参与该兴起进程的不同制度主体群体间的网络互动模式。具体而言，本文重点考察了群体内部与群体间的联结（二元组，dyads）形成模式，以及在该兴起进程中，各组织主体在不同经纪位置（三元组，triads）中的参与程度。本次分析的样本为30余年间发表于宫颈癌诊断研究领域的学术论文。研究结果表明，联结形成过程与经纪活动模式均因所考察的制度主体群体而异。同时，联结形成与经纪活动进程亦随该兴起进程动态演进。