ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

Prospective authors are encouraged to review the following submission guidelines to maximize their chances of acceptance and participation. These guidelines are intended to help authors include key information relevant to the accurate and comprehensive presentation of their research.

This year’s theme, “Bench to Bedside: Physiology and Healthcare,” highlights the vital translation of physiological research into clinical and real-world health solutions. It emphasizes the importance of integrating basic science, clinical insight, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve healthcare outcomes.

We invite submissions that reflect this translational journey, from laboratory discoveries to patient-centered applications, across a wide range of disciplines. Research may be basic, applied, clinical, or exploratory in nature. All forms of scholarly work are welcome, including original studies, reviews, clinical trials, case reports, and innovations.

This conference is open to undergraduates, house officers, postgraduates, and professionals across medicine, healthcare, and science-related fields.

To assist with peer review and thematic organization, authors will be asked to categorize their abstract under the following two levels:

1.Broad Disciplinary Track

Basic & Biomedical Sciences
Clinical & Applied Health Research
Public Health, Community & Population Research
Behavioral, Social & Mental Health Sciences
Health Professions & Science Education
Allied Health, Rehabilitation & Sports Sciences
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Innovation, Technology & Digital Health

Other healthcare and science related disciplines

2.Subtopic Division

For more precise thematic grouping, especially for physiology-focused submissions, authors may also select a relevant subtopic:

Genetics, Cytology, and Oncology
Cardio-Respiratory Physiology
Renal, Endocrinology, and Reproduction
Hematology, Histology, and Immunology
Neuromuscular and Special Senses
Oral Cavity, Gastrointestinal Physiology, and Medical Education

Abstract Eligibility

1. Accepted Study Types

Submissions are welcome for the following categories of study:

Basic laboratory research (e.g. in vitro studies, animal experiments, molecular biology)
Translational research
Clinical research (clinical trials, observational studies, cohort studies, case-control studies)
Case reports or case series
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Quality improvement or audit studies
Qualitative research (e.g. interviews, focus groups, thematic analysis)
Mixed-methods research
Survey-based studies (if not already included in observational)
Educational research (e.g. studies on teaching methods, curriculum development, learning outcomes)

Note: Narrative reviews and Letters to the Editor are not eligible for submission.

2. Structure and Formatting Requirements

All submitted abstracts must be clearly structured and include the following four sections:

a. Introduction/Background

b. Methods

c. Results/Case Presentation

d. Comment/Conclusions

Abstracts must be written in English, using formal academic language. The total word count should be between 250–300 words. Text must be typed in Arial font, size 12, and should be formatted as continuous prose. The use of bullet points is not permitted.
Figures or tables are not permitted within the abstract body. Any data requiring illustration must be presented within the word count using standard prose.
Abstract titles must be concise, written in sentence case (capitalizing only the first word and proper nouns), and must not contain abbreviations, symbols, or all-uppercase formatting.
Authors are expected to define any abbreviations used within the abstract at their first mention. Abstracts should be carefully proofread to ensure clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy.
Authors may include 3 to 6 relevant keywords at the end of the abstract, separated by commas and formatted in lowercase unless using proper nouns.
Abstracts must be submitted as a document file, PDF submissions will not be accepted.

3. Eligibility Criteria and Scientific Standards

Both completed studies and ongoing studies with preliminary results and conclusions are eligible for submission. Research proposals or studies that lack any results or early conclusions will not be accepted.
Previously published work, including presentations at other national or international conferences, may be submitted if it remains relevant and meets the abstract criteria.
Authors may not submit the same abstract under multiple categories.
All abstracts must represent original work that contributes meaningfully to academic or clinical discourse. Abstracts must adhere to accepted scientific reporting standards.

4. Ethical Requirements

Any research involving human subjects must comply with relevant ethical guidelines.
Authors must confirm that appropriate measures were taken to maintain the anonymity and confidentiality of study participants.
For case reports, authors must explicitly state that informed patient consent was obtained.

5. Authorship and Academic Integrity

All authors must accept full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the work submitted.
All abstract submissions must include a statement on conflicts of interest. Any financial or non-financial relationships that could be perceived to influence the work must be disclosed at the time of submission.
All submissions will be screened for plagiarism. Any instance of plagiarism will lead to immediate rejection and potential disqualification from future events hosted by the FMH College of Medicine & Dentistry Physiology Society.
If AI tools were used to assist with writing, their use must be acknowledged in the Methods section. Authors remain fully accountable for the scientific validity and clarity of the submission.

6. Submission Process

All abstracts must be submitted exclusively via the official submission portal.
The portal link will be available on the official conference website and will also be shared in the registration section. Submissions that do not meet the above guidelines will not be reviewed.

General Content Recommendations

To ensure clarity, scientific rigor, and uniformity across submissions, all abstracts must adhere to the following section-wise formatting and content requirements:

a. Title

The title of the abstract should succinctly reflect both the general study design and the thematic content of the research. For example, a title such as “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of [Subject]: A Cross-Sectional Study” clearly communicates both the nature and methodology of the study.

b. Introduction / Background

The introduction should briefly outline the current state of knowledge on the topic, identify gaps in the existing literature, and explicitly state what the present study aimed to discover or contribute. Authors should ensure that the content provides relevant background context and includes a clear, specific statement of the research objective.

c. Methods

The Methods section must provide information regarding the design, execution, and analysis of the study. Authors should include concise details covering the study setting, identification and definition of the study population, sampling methods, data acquisition processes, and key analytic approaches, whether statistical, laboratory-based, or computational.

The Methods section should clearly explain how data were collected, processed, and analyzed, including any subgroup comparisons or types of statistical analysis used. Authors should also describe any steps taken to reduce bias and explain why the chosen study design is appropriate for the research question.

Additionally, ethical considerations must be addressed in this section. All studies must include a statement regarding ethical approval. This may include an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Review Committee (ERC) approval number, a waiver (if granted), or a justified explanation for why formal approval was not obtained. Where applicable, authors should confirm whether written or verbal informed consent was obtained from participants or their legal guardians and name the approving authority. If the study is registered, the registration number should be provided.

d. Results

The Results section should follow logically from the Methods and present findings clearly and succinctly. The sample size must be explicitly stated. Authors should report statistical results accurately, including appropriate significance measures where applicable. Numerical findings must be clearly presented, and any statistical tests or models used should be identifiable. The Results section should remain descriptive and avoid extensive interpretation, while maintaining consistency with the stated methodology.

e. Comment / Conclusion

The Conclusion should summarize the study’s principal findings and relate them directly to the research aim stated in the Introduction. This may involve confirming or rejecting the original hypothesis, answering the research question, or acknowledging that the study was unable to do so despite appropriate execution. Authors should briefly mention the limitations of the study, including potential sources of bias, methodological constraints, or concerns regarding generalizability. Finally, a concise statement suggesting directions for future research should be included, reflecting on how the study contributes to ongoing academic or clinical discourse.

Study Specific Guidelines

Basic Laboratory Research

Clearly describe the scientific question and experimental design (e.g., in vitro, animal models, molecular or genetic techniques).
Outline the rationale, key procedures, and significant results relevant to understanding basic mechanisms.

Translational Research

Explain how basic science findings are applied to real-world or clinical settings.
Describe both laboratory and applied aspects, and note implications for practice, policy, or further research.

Clinical Studies

Common study types include:

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Cohort Studies (prospective or retrospective)
Case-Control Studies
Observational & Cross-Sectional Studies
Pre/Post Studies Without a Control Group

General Requirements for All Clinical Studies

For any clinical study abstract, authors must:

Clearly state the study aim.
Define the study population, including inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Describe participant recruitment and sampling methods.
Report how exposures, interventions, and outcomes were defined and measured.
Include any use of blinding and strategies to address confounding.
Justify the sample size, if feasible, and describe statistical analyses used.
Report participation rates, loss to follow-up, and length of follow-up, if relevant.

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

Describe randomization, allocation concealment, and blinding of participants, investigators, or outcome assessors.
Define intervention and control groups, primary and secondary outcomes.

Cohort Studies

Specify if the cohort is prospective or retrospective.
Describe recruitment and follow-up duration.
Note methods used to handle confounding and attrition.

Case-Control Studies

Clarify if cases and controls come from the same source population.
Explain use of concurrent controls and any matching performed.
Describe how exposures and outcomes were measured.
Observational and Cross-Sectional Studies
Indicate whether exposed/unexposed groups came from the same population.
Describe how exposure status was assessed (levels, frequency, timing).
Note methods to control for confounding.
Pre/Post Studies Without a Control Group
Justify generalizability of the sample.
Explain the intervention, assessment of impact, and any blinding used.
Present and interpret results clearly.

Case Report

Authors submitting case reports are strongly encouraged to consult the CARE guidelines to determine the key components and level of detail appropriate for inclusion in their abstract. The title must clearly indicate it is a case report, ideally ending with “A Case Report,” and highlight what makes the case unique.

Introduction: Explain why the case is unique, rare, surprising, or educational. Clearly state the patient’s condition or diagnosis, including if it is undiagnosed or uncertain. Indicate if similar cases have been reported before or if the case appears novel.

Consent & Ethics: Confirm that informed written consent was obtained from the patient or their guardian and that no text, data, images, or media can identify the patient.

Case Presentation:

Presenting complaint and initial clinical findings
Relevant medical, social, and family history
Whether management began with your team or elsewhere
Differential diagnoses considered
Investigations performed and final diagnosis
Management plan, response to treatment, outcome, and follow-up if available
Any challenges such as diagnostic difficulties or loss to follow-up

Comment: Conclude with key learning points and what the case contributes to knowledge or practice.

Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Authors must clearly state the aim and scope of the review. Special emphasis is placed on the methodology, which must comprehensively outline the article retrieval and selection process, including:

Databases searched
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Screening strategy

Results must be interpreted appropriately, with clear discussion of limitations. Authors should be prepared to demonstrate familiarity with the following methodological concepts, even if mentioned only briefly in the abstract:

Quality assessment
Certainty in evidence
Publication bias
Heterogeneity

Quality Improvement or Audit Studies

Define the problem and study aim.
Describe baseline data and methods for assessing current practice.
Explain the intervention or audit cycle (e.g., Plan-Do-Study-Act).
Report outcomes, impact, and key lessons learned.

Important Considerations

Copyright Policy

Abstracts must not include libellous, defamatory, or plagiarised content, and all material should comply with applicable copyright laws. If authors include figures, images, or graphics not originally created by them, it is their sole responsibility to obtain written permission from the copyright holder for worldwide use in both print and online formats. Any reproduction costs charged by the copyright holder must also be borne by the author. Authors are expected to ensure that all content is legally and ethically sourced prior to submission.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is regarded as a serious breach of professional conduct. All abstracts may be screened for plagiarism, and any submission found to contain plagiarized material will be rejected outright. If plagiarism is discovered after acceptance or presentation, the author will assume full responsibility, and appropriate measures may be taken. Abstracts previously presented or published may only be submitted if they include significant updates, new findings, or revised methodologies. A valid justification must accompany such resubmissions.

Ethical Compliance

Only research conducted in accordance with ethical standards will be accepted. Studies involving human subjects must have prior approval from an institutional or local ethics review committee. In instances where no formal ethics body exists, the research should follow the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki by the World Medical Association. Submissions that fail to meet ethical requirements will not be considered for review.

Abstract Review and Selection Process

All abstracts will undergo a blind peer-review process. Each abstract will be evaluated by at least three independent reviewers. Final decisions regarding acceptance and the mode of presentation, either oral or poster, will be made by the Scientific Program Committee based on reviewer scores and session availability. Only high-quality abstracts that align with the conference scope will be selected for presentation.

Submission and Acceptance Confirmation

After submission, a confirmation email will be sent to the corresponding author. This author is responsible for maintaining communication with all co-authors regarding the status of the abstract. Please ensure the provided email address is active and accurate to avoid delays in communication. Authors are encouraged to keep a copy of the submission for their records.

Presentation and Publication

Accepted abstracts will be scheduled for either oral presentations or poster sessions. A limited number of top-scoring posters may also be invited for oral poster discussions. The submission of an abstract implies consent for publication in the official conference booklet and on associated websites. Authors retain full copyright of their work.