About Us
This story begins with a painful moment: the sudden loss of my mother to pancreatic cancer. I kept wondering if there was a way to save her.
Talking to researchers, I discovered a frustrating truth: much of the research we rely on is shaped by budgets, prestige, and politics. Scientists spend valuable time searching for relevant studies, unsure if they truly reflect the best science.
That was my eureka moment. I realized there was a need for objective and meaningful metrics. And so, the YCR-index was born.
The algorithm behind YCR-index is fully documented and built on open data from OpenAlex. It combines three measurable factors (publication Year, raw Citations count, and a Relative citation ratio adapted from the open-data version of RCR) to compare papers within the same field and time frame. This approach aims to reduce field-size bias and improve transparency without relying on subscription databases or proprietary scores.
Using our free, open-source Chrome extension and related tools, researchers can view these scores directly in Google Scholar, PubMed, or on any page that displays a DOI. This helps them quickly assess whether a paper outperforms, matches, or trails its peers.
We are continuing to refine the relative measure through carefully planned algorithm modifications. We have already begun adding complementary metrics such as PaperRank, and more metric and algorithm enhancements are planned for the future.
David Banino
Founder, YCR-index
Team
The journey of YCR-index began from a deep, personal experience. After suffering a personal loss to pancreatic cancer, David turned his grief into a life's mission: to accelerate and advance cancer research in every possible way. He founded YCR-index with the belief that innovative technological tools have the power to create a real breakthrough in the hands of researchers. His vision and determination, born from loss, are the driving force behind every aspect of the project.
Arie brings many years of experience in technology and startups to YCR-index, where he co-manages product direction, project coordination, and team operations. He joined the team at the earliest stages and, alongside his core responsibilities, has contributed to UI/UX design and creative tasks such as naming and branding. His multidisciplinary background enables him to connect scientific, technical, and organizational aspects, keeping the project focused and accessible to researchers.
Professor Atkin's deep academic expertise forms the mathematical backbone of YCR-index. As a Professor of Mathematics at Ulyanovsk State University with over 30 scientific and educational-methodical works, he brings irreplaceable theoretical depth and analytical precision. His work validates that the algorithms at the core of our project are not just effective, but are built upon solid and proven mathematical foundations. Selected papers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
With a PhD in Mathematical Modeling and Numerical Methods, Sergei uniquely combines deep expertise in data analysis, data engineering, and Python development. His ability to translate complex research challenges into practical data solutions was fundamental to architecting YCR-index's technological foundation. His academic experience, backed by scientific publications, upholds our project's commitment to the highest standards of accuracy and innovation. Selected papers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Liat Mackover – Marketing and Community Relations Manager
Liat is responsible for building connections with the research community and sharing the mission of YCR-index with the world. Her passion for connecting people with technology is at the heart of our marketing and public relations efforts. She works tirelessly so that the tools we've developed can reach as many scientists and researchers as possible, thereby maximizing our impact on advancing cancer research.
Early Contributors
Hay contributed to the earliest phase of YCR-index development. He explored the structure and architecture of our data sources, mapped out technical requirements, and prepared the first system specifications. His work provided a foundation for later development, ensuring the project had a clear technical direction from the start.
This story begins with a painful moment: the sudden loss of my mother to pancreatic cancer. I kept wondering if there was a way to save her.
Talking to researchers, I discovered a frustrating truth: much of the research we rely on is shaped by budgets, prestige, and politics. Scientists spend valuable time searching for relevant studies, unsure if they truly reflect the best science.
That was my eureka moment. I realized there was a need for objective and meaningful metrics. And so, the YCR-index was born.
The algorithm behind YCR-index is fully documented and built on open data from OpenAlex. It combines three measurable factors (publication Year, raw Citations count, and a Relative citation ratio adapted from the open-data version of RCR) to compare papers within the same field and time frame. This approach aims to reduce field-size bias and improve transparency without relying on subscription databases or proprietary scores.
Using our free, open-source Chrome extension and related tools, researchers can view these scores directly in Google Scholar, PubMed, or on any page that displays a DOI. This helps them quickly assess whether a paper outperforms, matches, or trails its peers.
We are continuing to refine the relative measure through carefully planned algorithm modifications. We have already begun adding complementary metrics such as PaperRank, and more metric and algorithm enhancements are planned for the future.
David Banino
Founder, YCR-index
Team
The journey of YCR-index began from a deep, personal experience. After suffering a personal loss to pancreatic cancer, David turned his grief into a life's mission: to accelerate and advance cancer research in every possible way. He founded YCR-index with the belief that innovative technological tools have the power to create a real breakthrough in the hands of researchers. His vision and determination, born from loss, are the driving force behind every aspect of the project.
Arie brings many years of experience in technology and startups to YCR-index, where he co-manages product direction, project coordination, and team operations. He joined the team at the earliest stages and, alongside his core responsibilities, has contributed to UI/UX design and creative tasks such as naming and branding. His multidisciplinary background enables him to connect scientific, technical, and organizational aspects, keeping the project focused and accessible to researchers.
Professor Atkin's deep academic expertise forms the mathematical backbone of YCR-index. As a Professor of Mathematics at Ulyanovsk State University with over 30 scientific and educational-methodical works, he brings irreplaceable theoretical depth and analytical precision. His work validates that the algorithms at the core of our project are not just effective, but are built upon solid and proven mathematical foundations. Selected papers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
With a PhD in Mathematical Modeling and Numerical Methods, Sergei uniquely combines deep expertise in data analysis, data engineering, and Python development. His ability to translate complex research challenges into practical data solutions was fundamental to architecting YCR-index's technological foundation. His academic experience, backed by scientific publications, upholds our project's commitment to the highest standards of accuracy and innovation. Selected papers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Liat Mackover – Marketing and Community Relations Manager
Liat is responsible for building connections with the research community and sharing the mission of YCR-index with the world. Her passion for connecting people with technology is at the heart of our marketing and public relations efforts. She works tirelessly so that the tools we've developed can reach as many scientists and researchers as possible, thereby maximizing our impact on advancing cancer research.
Early Contributors
Hay contributed to the earliest phase of YCR-index development. He explored the structure and architecture of our data sources, mapped out technical requirements, and prepared the first system specifications. His work provided a foundation for later development, ensuring the project had a clear technical direction from the start.