CRA & AHPA Annual Scientific Meeting

Attendees at the 2021 Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) and Arthritis Health Professions Association (AHPA) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) are invited to submit abstracts for presentation during the meeting.  We encourage you to submit abstracts relating to original research, systematic reviews or meta-analyses. Case reports or case series are acceptable. Project proposals without data or results will not be accepted. Abstracts may be presented at one meeting prior to the CRA ASM but data cannot be published before the CRA ASM. Abstracts cannot be submitted on data that has already been accepted for publication as a manuscript (publication in abstract form from a conference presentation is acceptable).

• During the on-line submission process, you will be asked to enter the first author, the first author’s contact information, and the names and e-mail addresses of all co-authors (as well as the email of an optional additional correspondent, i.e. Submitter).
• Please ensure the e-mail address of the corresponding author is accurate, as this will be the sole method of communication regarding acceptance.
• There is a limit of 400 words for each abstract. This does not include abstract title and author names. Longer submissions will be cut off at the word limit.
• All submissions must be input (typed or copied) into the correct fields (Objectives, Methods, Results and Conclusion).  There is no uploading of abstract files.
• No tables or graphs will be accepted.
• Each page of the submission process is automatically saved.
• You will receive an e-mail confirmation for each submission.

Important Dates

Instructions to Submitters

• Please ensure all email addresses for all authors are correct.
• For technical assistance, please click on the 'Support Form' icon located on the top right hand of each page for support. Support requests are answered within a 24 hour period.
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• Inactivity of more than 90 minutes on system pages will result in a session time out. Please save your pages intermittently to avoid loss of data by pressing the 'save and submit' button at the bottom of the page.
• Please note:  In order to successfully receive emails regarding your abstract submission, you must add 'cra@owpm1.com' and '@beanstream.com' as a safe sender. Click here for help adding a safe sender.

Submission Process

• The submission deadline is October 9, 2020 at 17:00 PT (please note the time change). Abstracts will not be accepted after the deadline.
• Abstract submissions can be updated until the deadline.  Updates will not be allowed after the deadline and will not be printed in The Journal of Rheumatology, including title changes.
• The most up-to-date data can be presented at the CRA ASM.
• Names can be added or removed from an abstract after submission as long as there is a good reason. e.g. if adding names will allow an author to be present at the conference to present the poster.
• Abstract submissions will not be complete, nor will the abstract be reviewed until payment is made.  Abstracts must be paid by the deadline (online payment is available once abstract has been finalized).
• The following non-refundable fees will be charged: $30.00 (plus applicable taxes) for investigator-initiated abstracts and $100.00 (plus applicable taxes) for industry-initiated abstracts.
• Only online abstract submissions will be accepted.
• There are 2 categories of submissions: investigator-initiated abstracts and industry-initiated abstracts.

Guidelines

• An author submitting an abstract or case report MUST be prepared to present their work at the meeting or to assign a co-author to do so otherwise the poster will not be presented and the abstract will not be published in The Journal of Rheumatology. The presenting author must be an author listed on the abstract. 
• The presenting author will receive detailed instructions as well as the date and time for the virtual poster sessions via email (see Important Dates).
• The First Author and Presenting Author of an investigator or Industry-initiated abstracts must be one of the following:
  • ​Non-industry based* or
  • CRA corporate sponsor or exhibitor (must adhere to the Industry Representative restrictions outlined in the CRA Industry Guidelines)
    • ​*industry includes all for-profit medical organizations
• The CMA Policy specifies that generic, rather than trade names, should be used, wherever possible.
• An acceptance/rejection will be sent via email (see Important Dates).
• The CRA will allow late-breaking abstract submissions under the following conditions (see Important Dates):
  • MOH PGY 4 and 5 rheumatology residents that are CRA members  and First Author on the abstract (link will be emailed to eligible participants) or,
  • Abstracts submitted to ACR that are affected by the embargo (click here to obtain a submission link).  ACR Acceptance must be submitted to vhopkins@rheum.ca in order to qualify for the late-breaking deadline. 
• The late-breaking abstract deadline was introduced to allow ACR embargo abstract submissions to be submitted to the CRA and to allow MOH funded PGY 4&5 CRA members the opportunity to qualify for a travel bursary.  All late breaking abstracts are eligible for poster and podium representations and are reviewed by the same abstract review committee and with the same review criteria as abstracts submitted by the abstract submission deadline.
• By submitting an abstract for consideration, all authors agree to abide by the rules outlined above, and the conditions, deadlines, policies and decisions of the CRA organizing committee.

Review

• Abstracts will be blindly reviewed & graded by members of the CRA Abstract Review Sub-Committee.

Podium Presentations

• The CRA Abstract Review Sub-Committee will choose outstanding abstracts suitable for podium presentation. Applicants must select podium presentation preference during abstract submission process to be considered. 
• One CIORA funded abstract will be selected to be presented during a podium presentation session at the CRA ASM.
• Top original investigator-initiated abstracts will be selected to be presented during a podium presentation session at the CRA ASM. 
• Top trainee abstracts will be selected to be presented during a podium presentation session at the CRA ASM.  Applicants must apply for the trainee abstract awards during the abstract submission process to be considered.
• One industry-initiated abstract will be selected to be presented during a podium presentation session at the CRA ASM.  Applicants must select podium presentation preference during abstract submission process to be considered. The following conditions apply:
  • Must be original research that has not been presented at another meeting.
  • A maximum of 1 industry-initiated abstract will be selected.
  • The First Author must be non-industry based.
  • The Presenting Author must be a CRA member and be an author listed on the abstract.
  • The Presenting Author must disclose the presentation is industry-initiated.
• Podium presenters will be notified of the time and date via email (see Important Dates).

Abstract Awards

• Best Abstract on Quality Care Initiatives in Rheumatology Award
• Best Abstract on Research by Young Faculty Award
• Best Abstract on Paediatric Research by Young Faculty Award
• Best Abstract on Basic Science Research by a Trainee Award
• Best Abstract on Clinical or Epidemiology Research by a Trainee – Phil Rosen Award
• Best Abstract on SLE Research by a Trainee – Ian Watson Award
• Best Abstract by a Medical Student Award
• Best Abstract by a Rheumatology Resident Award
• Best Abstract by an Undergraduate Student Award
• Best Abstract by a Post-Graduate Research Trainee Award
• Best Abstract by a Rheumatology Post-Graduate Research Trainee Award
• Best Abstract on Spondyloarthritis Research Award

Presentation Format

• The abstracts for both Podium and Poster presentations will be published in The Journal of Rheumatology following their rules regarding publication rights. Submitting an abstract to the CRA meeting obliges the submitter to allow the abstract to be printed according to the rules of The Journal of Rheumatology.
• All abstracts will be available for downloading on the CRA website prior to the meeting.
• All abstracts must be presented in the following format: 1. Objective(s); 2. Method(s); 3. Result(s); 4. Conclusion(s). Do not include educational qualifications, industry support, introductions, historical data or bibliographies in the text of the abstract.
• Disclosures and conflicts of interest must be reported in the appropriate section during online submission.  Disclosures must be listed at the bottom of the poster and on the 2nd slide of podium presentations. The CMA Policy specifies that generic, rather than trade names, should be used, wherever possible, in presentation materials.
• All Abstracts must be submitted and presented (podium and posters) in English.
• The maximum poster size is 4' high x 8' wide. Please ensure that it is a one piece poster presentation or that you bring fasteners for a multi-page presentation.
• QR Codes will be allowed on posters. The QR code should allow participants to view the poster online without any form of advertising or promotional material.

Disclosures and conflict of interest

A conflict of interest may exist if an author or co-author has a financial interest in, or is otherwise affiliated with, a commercial organization that may have a direct or indirect interest in the content of his/her submission. The CRA requires that all authors disclose such pertinent relationships and inform participants of these relationships at the time of submission. The presence of a potential conflict of interest does not preclude participation in the submission or presentation process but declaration informs participants of the affiliation so that they may be aware of possible bias in the content.

A “financial interest” may include but is not limited to:

• being a shareholder
• receiving research funding or other support
• receiving fees or other benefits for any role (including speaking at CPD activities)
• being a paid employee or consultant

An “affiliation” may include but is not limited to:

• holding a position in the organization
• sitting on an advisory committee
• playing some other role of benefit to the organization

Abstract Categories

Submitters can choose up to three of the following topics for their abstract:

Registration

Questions?

Virginia Hopkins
Manager, Innovation and Research
Canadian Rheumatology Association
T: 905-952-0698 ext 3
E: vhopkins@rheum.ca
Website: www.rheum.ca