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Abstract Submission Information

Deadline for submission

The deadline for abstract submissions is September 2, 2025 by 11:59 pm. The submission site will open July 10, 2025, accepting abstracts for:

• Posters to be presented on Thursday, October 16, 2025 (Research Day) at Tinkham Veale University Center
• Oral presentations to be presented on either Thursday October 9, 2025 (Alumni Weekend) at Wolstein Auditorium OR Thursday, October 16, 2025 at Tinkham Veale University Center.
  • Please note: Some oral presentations will be selected for presentation on Thursday October 9, 2025 from 4-5:30 at the SOM Alumni Weekend Event.

Abstract and Presenter Eligibility

The criteria below applies to both posters and oral presentations. To submit an abstract and have the opportunity to present, you must be:

• A CWRU SOM graduate or medical student who has conducted research as a student in a CWRU SOM graduate or medical program
  • Includes students pursuing MDs, PhDs, and Master’s degrees
  • First year students are not generally eligible to present, unless they were formerly in another CWRU School of Medicine graduate program or are in the CCLCM program.
• The primary/presenting author on only one abstract submission for this event each year.
  • You may be a co-author on multiple abstracts, but only the primary author will present if selected for an oral presentation, and only the primary author will be recognized with any awards.

You may submit an abstract:

• For work already presented at another meeting or already published, if the work was conducted during your time as a graduate or medical student at the CWRU School of Medicine. 
• For work that does not have results at the time of submission but is expected to have results by the time of Research Day for consideration as a poster.  These will not be accepted for oral presentations. 
• In any field (basic science, clinical/translational research, health services, medical education research, policy-oriented analysis, etc.) using any methodology (quantitative or qualitative).

Additional Abstract Eligibility Applicable to Only Oral Presentations
Oral presentations will be spread across Research Day (October 16, 2025) and CWRU Alumni Weekend (October 9, 2025). 

In order for abstracts to be considered for an oral presentation you must:

• Be available to present at either event.
  • If you are selected for an Alumni Weekend oral presentation session you may also opt to present a poster on the same topic at SOM Research Day, but you cannot give an oral presentation at both 
• Have results by the time of submission
• Include a link to a video presentation about your abstract within the word document upload portion of this form.
  • The required video presentation follows Three Minute Thesis (3MT) format.
    • You will have three minutes and one slide to effectively explain your research and its significance in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
    • Your video link must be publicly available and included on your abstract document.  
  • Please watch this  from the linked start time until 11:46 for more information about video presentation parameters. 
    • Judging criteria is also discussed in this clip; remember you are trying to demonstrate both the value of your research and your skill as a presenter to be selected to give a full length (10-12 min) oral presentation.
• Additional tips about preparing this type of presentation including designing your slide and generating a link is available .

Abstract Preparation Guidelines

Please use the following abstract formatting guidelines:

Heading section (excluded from word count maximum) consists of:

• abstract title
• your name and program
• mentor's name and affiliation
• any other authors you would like to include/recognize
• any acknowledgements (including for funding)
• Consideration for oral presentation (optional): provide LINK TO YOUR VIDEO if you wish to be considered for oral presentation or leave blank if not applicable

Structured abstract with four sections (300 words maximum):

• Significance: (including the research question)
• Methods
• Results: If you do not have results by the abstract deadline, you may still submit. Please include this section and a statement of whether you are likely to have results by the presentation date.  Abstracts without results are often accepted for posters but will not be considered for oral presentations)
• Conclusions: Include a statement of the potential significance of the project and next steps for research

Formatting guidelines:

• Maximum of 300 words, Arial font, size 11, single spaced
• Do not insert any tables or figures
• A format template is available for download .
• An example of an appropriately formatted abstract on a clinical topic is . 
• An example of an appropriately formatted abstract on a basic science topic is . 

365betÌåÓýÔÚÏßÊÀ½ç±­tendance and Presenting Your Work

365betÌåÓýÔÚÏßÊÀ½ç±­tendance

Posters will be scheduled for either the morning (8 am -11:30 pm) or afternoon (11:30 am - 4:30 pm) session of SOM Graduate and Medical Student Research Day on October 16, 2025. Sessions will be assigned with a balance of topics and programs in each session.  
You are strongly encouraged to attend the entire day, but at a minimum are expected to attend the entire session to which you are assigned, including poster session and Dean's welcome and keynote address (morning), or poster session, oral presentations and awards ceremony (afternoon). Please hold the entire day open on your calendar.

• Oral presentations will be scheduled for either 4 pm - 5:30 pm on Thursday, October 9, 2025 or the afternoon session on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Please hold both dates open if you submitted for an oral presentation. 
• If you are selected for an Alumni Weekend oral presentation session you may also opt to present a poster on the same topic at SOM Graduate and Medical Student Research Day, but you will not give an oral presentation at both events.

Poster Printing

Please do not print your posters until you receive an acceptance email (by September 26, 2025) to confirm if you have been selected for an oral presentation or poster, and which session you have been assigned to. Printing guidelines and suggested printing locations will be shared with you at that time.

Non-presenters

Students who are not presenting are encouraged to attend to learn about their colleaguesâ€� research activities. Everyone is invited to attend; those who are not presenting will be asked to RSVP separately through CampusGroups, also opening July 10. 

Who is eligible to be a judge?

The CWRU School of Medicine invites faculty, alumni, and senior trainees (residents, fellows, post-docs) to participate in providing student feedback and award consideration.

This judge sign-up site (opening July 10th) accepts from faculty, alumni and senior trainees who wish to serve as judges:

• For student abstracts; to select those presented as posters or oral presentations during Research Day.  Abstract judging takes place via an online form between September 8 and 17, 2025.
• For student poster presentations conducted in person from 10 -11:30 am on Thursday October 16 at the Tinkham Veale University Center.
• For student poster presentations conducted in-person from 1:30 -3 pm on Thursday October 16 at the Tinkham Veale University Center.

What is the deadline to sign-up to be a judge? 

The deadline to sign up to judge via this site is September 2, 2025 by 11:59 pm.

If you cannot help with judging, you are still welcome and encouraged to attend; RSVPs will be requested separately!

Judging Details

Abstract judging:

Abstract judges will be assigned approximately 15 abstracts to evaluate. Some abstracts will also include a linked, 3-minute video presentation to be considered for oral presentations.  

Abstract judges will be asked to review both the written abstract and the video presentation, if relevant. Materials will be available by September 8, 2025 and evaluations must be submitted through an online form by September 17, 2025. Faculty receive 1.5 hours med school teaching credit for every 4 abstracts evaluated. All judges can add this activity to their CV/service report.

Poster judging:

Poster judges will be assigned 4-6 posters to evaluate during a 90 minute session on SOM Graduate and Medical Student Research Day, October 16, 2025. Evaluation is done on paper with a simple rubric. 

Judges can indicate your availability to judge in the morning (10 -11:30 am) and/or afternoon (1:30-3:00 pm) session.  Judging determines the poster award winners from each session. Faculty receive 1.5 hours med school teaching credit for every 4 posters evaluated. All judges can add this activity to their CV/service report. Judges will receive free parking at the Tinkham Veale University Center on the day of the event.

Judges can sign up for an abstract and/or poster judging. 

We will make every attempt to match judges with abstracts/posters in their area of expertise but cannot guarantee perfect matches.