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Open research questions in History of Medicine Studies

219 gap statements mined from History of Medicine Studies papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,724 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The history of medical knowledge, particularly in the context of hepatic palpation, is not well understood. There is a lack of evidence on the development of physical examination techniques in ancient Greek medicine. The paper seeks to address this gap by exploring the potential significance of the episode of Polyphemus.

    The liver of Polyphemus: a pre-Hippocratic antecedent of hepatic palpation in Homer’s Odyssey? · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of interdisciplinary research on opium use in the Roman Empire. The need for further analysis of tangible evidence. The limited understanding of the cultural significance of papaver.

    Verdoofd en vereerd: opium als medisch en ritueel middel in het Romeinse Rijk · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of wholly ferrous instruments is a challenge to understanding medical practice in Roman Colchester.

    Healthcare in Roman Colchester · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding of healthcare in Roman Colchester. The paper identifies a gap in our knowledge of medical instruments from Roman Britain.

    Healthcare in Roman Colchester · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper suggests that future research should focus on developing a deeper understanding of the biological basis of the gap between desire and reality. The paper also suggests that future research should explore the implications of this framework for addressing the gap between desire and reality.

    When Desire Outruns Reality: The Habenular Algorithm Beneath the History of Philosophy · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper argues that major philosophical traditions have been addressing this gap, but that a new framework is needed to understand these traditions.

    When Desire Outruns Reality: The Habenular Algorithm Beneath the History of Philosophy · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should explore the practical applications of Galenic medicine in the Ottoman Empire. The study of the intersection of academic medical knowledge and folk healing elements could provide insights into the development of medical practices in other historical contexts.

    Osmanlı Tıbbında Galenik Miras: el-Kanun fi’t-Tıbb ve Şeceretü’t Tıb Analizi · 2026 · DOI

  • The gap lies in the limited understanding of the historical development of medical practices in the Ottoman Empire. The study aims to contribute to the field by providing a deeper understanding of the Galenic legacy in Ottoman medicine.

    Osmanlı Tıbbında Galenik Miras: el-Kanun fi’t-Tıbb ve Şeceretü’t Tıb Analizi · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper highlights the need to examine Valsalva's work within the context of the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment medicine.

    The Scientific Legacy of Antonio Maria Valsalva (1666–1723): An Anatomist’s Enduring Contributions to Medicine – A Medical History Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research could apply the substrate-anchored cross-witness method to other fields of historical research. Further study of the Despars commentary tradition could provide additional insights into the reception history of the Canon medicinae.

    The Despars Avicenna Canon Corpus: A Seven-Witness Substrate-Anchored Census (1431-1498) · 2026 · DOI

  • They were perceived as mentally and physically weaker, which limited their roles in society. The lack of public hospitals in Rome meant that medical practice was mainly carried out in private spaces.

    Obstetrices y medicae: La resiliencia femenina en la medicina romana · 2026 · DOI

  • It highlights the need to consider the social and legal structures of the time when analyzing women's contributions to the medical field.

    Obstetrices y medicae: La resiliencia femenina en la medicina romana · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding of Greco-Roman healthcare and its potential impact on modern-day healthcare. The importance of considering the psychological, emotional, and social elements of healing is not fully appreciated.

    Ancient Wisdom and Modern Medicine · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should continue to explore the convergence of scientific advancement with ethical awareness. Future research should examine the development of ethical norms in areas such as data protection, cultural sensitivity, and the ethical oversight of body donation.

    From Dissection to Bioethics: The Ethical Adventure of Anatomical Knowledge in Western Civilization · 2026 · DOI

  • The study highlights the need for a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between anatomical knowledge and ethical frameworks.

    From Dissection to Bioethics: The Ethical Adventure of Anatomical Knowledge in Western Civilization · 2026 · DOI

  • The study highlights the need to consider the social and cultural context in which medical knowledge is produced.

    Fleurir et flétrir : dires et savoirs sur la ‘nature’ cachée des femmes dans le discours médical aux XVIe et XVIIe siècles en France · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research could explore the representation of women's bodies in medical discourse during other time periods. The study suggests the need for further analysis of the social and cultural context in which medical knowledge is produced.

    Fleurir et flétrir : dires et savoirs sur la ‘nature’ cachée des femmes dans le discours médical aux XVIe et XVIIe siècles en France · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of direct information from pre-literate times creates a research gap. The author must rely on indirect information from archaeological finds and ethnographic observations.

    Adóztatás és adózás – hatalomgyakorlás vagy társadalmi szolidaritás · 2026 · DOI

  • The study highlights the need for further analysis of Ibn Ezra's work and its significance in this context.

    The Transmission of Scientific Knowledge in the Poetry of Abraham Ibn Ezra · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of ancient Roman medical practices for treating dislocations and fractures of knee joints. The need to examine the diagnostic and treatment protocols used by Roman physicians.

    TREATMENTS OF DISLOCATIONS AND FRACTURES OF THE JOINTS OF THE KNEE IN ANCIENT ROME: 27BCE-476 CE · 2026 · DOI

  • The journal's traditional Germany-dominated Editorial Board does not reflect the origin of papers. The journal needs to adapt to its increasing popularity and internationalization. The journal needs to maintain high ethical standards of research in all countries contributing to the journal.

    A new chapter in the history of Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Archives of Pharmacology: appointment of international deputy editors · 2026 · DOI

  • Further chemical analysis of aardewerk and other historical sources. Interdisciplinary approaches to the study of opium use in the Roman Empire. The exploration of the cultural significance of papaver in other historical contexts.

    Verdoofd en vereerd: opium als medisch en ritueel middel in het Romeinse Rijk · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research could explore the impact of Willis's work on the development of modern medical research, - it could analyze the role of competitive environments in shaping medical…

    Willis’s Circle? Exploring the Conflict Between Galenic and Harveian Physicians Through Treatises on Respiration · 2026 · DOI

  • The gap in the literature is the lack of analysis on Willis's work on respiration, - the paper identifies a need to understand the competitive environment of mid-seventeenth-century English medical…

    Willis’s Circle? Exploring the Conflict Between Galenic and Harveian Physicians Through Treatises on Respiration · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study of Ibn Ezra's work and its influence on the development of Jewish scientific knowledge. Analysis of other examples of didactic poetry with a pedagogical purpose.

    The Transmission of Scientific Knowledge in the Poetry of Abraham Ibn Ezra · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in History of Medicine Studies

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The history of medical knowledge, particularly in the context of hepatic palpation, is not well understood (“The liver of Polyphemus: a pre-Hippocratic antecedent of hepatic palpation in…”, 2026); (2) The lack of interdisciplinary research on opium use in the Roman Empire (“Verdoofd en vereerd: opium als medisch en ritueel middel in het Romeinse Rijk”, 2026); (3) The lack of wholly ferrous instruments is a challenge to understanding medical practice in Roman Colchester (“Healthcare in Roman Colchester”, 2026); (4) The paper suggests that future research should focus on developing a deeper understanding of the biological basis of the gap between desire and reality (“When Desire Outruns Reality: The Habenular Algorithm Beneath the History of…”, 2026); (5) Future research should explore the practical applications of Galenic medicine in the Ottoman Empire (“Osmanlı Tıbbında Galenik Miras: el-Kanun fi’t-Tıbb ve Şeceretü’t Tıb Analizi”, 2026). 219 gap statements have been mined from History of Medicine Studies papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,724 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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