Characteristics and structural imbalances of biomedical academicians in China: policy implications for the governance of leading medical talents
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background Against the backdrop of intense global competition in biomedical science, leading biomedical talents constitute core determinants of national strategic science and technology capacity and effective health workforce governance. Nevertheless, large-sample empirical research on career trajectories and structural disparities among China’s elite biomedical academics remains limited, constraining evidence-based talent policy refinement. Methods This retrospective study included 284 biomedical academicians listed on the official websites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) as of July 1, 2025. Drawing on publicly available data on demographics, educational background, mentorship, and institutional affiliations, it systematically characterized the distribution of top-tier talent and the factors influencing age at election, using descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results The average age at election for CAS biomedical academicians was significantly lower than that for CAE academicians ( p < 0.001). Female academicians constituted only 12.68% (36/284) of the total sample. A significant geographical clustering was observed in the birthplaces and upbringing regions of the academicians. Univariate analysis showed that academicians holding overseas doctoral degrees or supervised by academicians were elected at younger ages. However, after adjustment for confounders in multiple linear regression, overseas doctoral degree was not independently associated with age at election (β = −0.109, p = 0.071). In contrast, highest degree attainment and supervised by academicians remained statistically significant predictors. Over half of the academicians were employed by universities, revealing an imbalance in the ratio of Basic Medical Sciences to Clinical Medicine talent. The educational attainment of academicians in the <50 and 50–65 age groups was significantly higher than that of those over 65 ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Chinese biomedical academician cohort exhibits substantial structural imbalances across gender, geography, age, and academic career trajectories. Drawing on the WHO global health workforce governance framework, this study proposes governance insights across three dimensions: national top-level policy design, institutional platform development, and early-career talent cultivation. These findings may inform future policy research and empirical evaluation.
Source: Frontiers in Public Health
Authors: Rong Liu, De Fei Huang, Tao Huang, Tian Lan Hu
Language: English
Subfield: Management of Technology and Innovation
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Reduced inequalities
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7223327262