Present at the Research Symposium
UTRGV School of Medicine is pleased to announce this call for abstracts for our Annual Research Symposium to highlight biomedical research and the International Conference on Cancer Health Disparities (ICCHD).
The UTRGV School of Medicine’s 8th Annual Research Symposium will be held:
Date & Location: February 14-15, 2025, at the Mission Event Center, Mission, TX.
Our research symposium is an opportunity to highlight and present your research, QI/QA project, or other scholarly work that aims to promote health equity and eliminate health disparities. In addition, this conference supports global cancer research and cancer health disparity research to advance scientific knowledge and help all people live longer and maintain a high-quality lifestyle. Our research symposium is an opportunity to bringing together national leaders, local scientists, and community stakeholders with the aim at building community capacity for global minority health and health disparities research and at promoting research collaboration, implementation of science based, culturally relevant treatment approaches, and engaging trainees from underrepresented population.
All biomedical research is welcomed, and participants do not have to be affiliated with UTRGV School of Medicine. Anyone with an interest in presenting information on their research, QI/QA project, or other scholarly work and expanding scientific and professional knowledge in promoting health equity are encouraged to participate. We welcome submissions across all disciplines and academic levels, including government agencies, community organizations, health care and research institutions.
Knowing the quantity of excellent research been conducted is considerable and, in our effort to build community, we plan to accept as many abstracts for posters and oral presentations as space and time allows.
Abstract Formats:
Abstracts may be research, clinical or program focused, should be no longer than one 8.5” by 11” page, in Arial 11 font, margins no smaller than one inch, and may be single space. Please list the title of abstract, all authors/presenters by full first name then last name, and affiliations. If applicable, please submit an approval letter of your IRB protocol and/or QI/QA project.
1) Research/Clinical Abstracts
Structured abstracts are required and should include four simple headings: Background, Methods, Results and Conclusions. (500 words maximum)
- Background should include a statement that identifies why this is an important topic and specifies the purpose or goal of the study.
- A description of the Methods used to consider setting, population, sampling techniques, measures, and analytical procedures. Clinically focused abstracts may also include a case description or barriers encountered in application of evidence to practice.
- A summary of the Results should be included, presented in sufficient detail to support the conclusions. The committee will consider abstracts that have not yet produced results, but we strongly discourage abstracts that will not have results to present at time of symposium.
- Please include a statement of the Conclusions It is recommended that clinically focused abstracts convey practical applications of their findings.
2) Program Abstracts
Structured abstracts are required and should include four simple headings: Purpose, Description, Partners and Looking Ahead. Please list the title of abstract, all authors/presenters (by full first name then last name), and affiliations. (500 words maximum)
- Purpose should note the purpose and intent of program and how it promotes health equity and/or eliminates disparities.
- Description should include a brief outline of the program, its scope, target population for services, lessons learned, summary of outcomes.
- In Partners, please mention collaborative stakeholders and community partners and their roles.
- Lastly, in Looking Ahead, provide an overview of program benefits/impact on community and if applicable program’s next steps.
The Abstract should not exceed 500 words. Please minimize the use of abbreviations and do not cite references in the abstract. Please list the title of abstract, all authors/presenters (by full first name then last name), and affiliations. The abstract must include the following separate sections:
- Background: why the case should be reported and its novelty
- Case presentation: a brief description of the patient’s clinical and demographic details, the diagnosis, any interventions, and the outcomes
- Conclusions: a brief summary of the clinical impact or potential implications of the case report
Selection Process
Submissions will undergo peer review by the symposium’s scientific committee. Ratings will be based on the overall quality of the abstract and the following criteria 1) Alignment of subject matter with either biomedical research, symposium theme, and/or other scholarly activity, 2) Innovation and/or importance to research in that it introduces a new concept or sheds light on a research/program of relevance to community 3) Approach/Methodology are appropriate 4) Lessons Learned/Conclusions have potential to impact knowledge of health disparities in region, practice implications are relevant to broader community. Also, as determined by the Scientific Committee, a limited number of abstracts will be selected for oral presentations with priority given to new research/clinical abstracts.
Abstracts due: all abstracts must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Friday January 3, 2025.
Abstract Notification
Upon submission of abstract, the submission portal will display confirmation of your submission. After the review and selection process, Notification of Abstract Acceptance will occur on January 15, 2025, via direct email notification. To submit an abstract, click here. If you have any questions, please contact the scientific program organizer, Dr. Subhash Chauhan at somresearchsymposium@utrgv.edu.
Please note that your Abstract Submission is not registration to the symposium. Registration for the Symposium is done separately via our Marketplace payment portal. For more information, visit our website https://www.utrgv.edu/som/research-symposium/index.htm.