The 2026 Nature Spotlight on Infectious Diseases compiles data from the Nature Index database, focusing on articles about infectious diseases published in natural and health science journals from 2021 to 2025. The articles were identified through a keyword search in Digital Science’s Dimensions database, which is affiliated with Nature’s publisher, Springer Nature. This search included 83 infectious diseases and five subcategories for severe coronaviruses and influenza subtypes, using the same criteria as the 2021 Nature Index on Infectious Diseases. The resulting data set forms the basis for the tables in this Spotlight, offering insights into the latest research and trends in infectious diseases.
QUESTION: How might the focus on infectious diseases in scientific research influence public health policies in the coming years?
A guide to Nature Index tables
