Call for Abstracts

Attendees at the 2019 Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) and the Arthritis Health Professions Association (AHPA) Annual Meeting 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.

Submission Process

• The submission deadline is October 12, 2018 at 23:59 PT. 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 HST) for investigator-initiated abstracts and $100.00 (plus HST) 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 in person or to send 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.
• There will be two poster sessions at the 2019 meeting.  The presenting author will be notified of the date and time of the poster session via email (see Timeline for dates).  Please ensure you make your travel arrangements to be able to attend the poster session to which you have been assigned.
• The First Author and Presenting Author of 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)
• The CMA Policy specifies that generic, rather than trade names, should be used, wherever possible.
• An acceptance/rejection will be sent via email (see Timeline for dates).
• The CRA will allow late-breaking abstract submissions under the following conditions (see Timeline for dates):
  • MOH PGY 4 and 5 rheumatology residents that are CRA members (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 and include ACR acceptance notification)
• 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. 
• 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 chosen for a podium presentation session at the CRA ASM.  Applicants must apply for the trainee abstract awards during the abstract submission process to be considered.
• Podium presenters will be notified of the time and date via email (see Timeline for dates).

Abstract Awards

The Abstract Awards have been established to recognize exceptional research presented at the podium or poster sessions and to encourage participation of young faculty and trainees at the CRA ASM. The first author must apply for the award during the abstract submission process.  Applicants that do not apply will not be considered for an award. The top 5 abstracts in each award category are adjudicated at the CRA ASM and awards are presented at the Gala Dinner. Case reports will not be considered for awards.  Click here for more information on the following awards: 

• Best Abstract on Quality Care Initiatives in Rheumatology
• Best Abstract on Research by Young Faculty
• Best Abstract on Paediatric Research by Young Faculty
• Best Abstract on Basic Science Research by a Trainee
• 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
• Best Abstract by a Rheumatology Resident
• Best Abstract by an Undergraduate Student
• Best Abstract by a Post-Graduate Research Trainee
• Best Abstract by a Rheumatology Post-Graduate Research Trainee

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.
• Poster size will be indicated in the acceptance notification.
• 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

Timeline

October 12, 2018	Abstract submission deadline Abstracts will not be accepted after the deadline
November 19, 2018	Late-breaking abstract deadline  Applies to abstracts submitted to ACR and MOH PGY 4 and 5 rheumatology residents (that are CRA members).
December 31, 2018	Acceptance or rejection notifications Podium presentation date and time will be included in acceptance notification for all podium presenters
January 7, 2019	Abstract Acceptance deadline Abstract must be accepted and presenting author  (author or co-author) must be selected.
January 14, 2019	Poster session notifications

Abstract Categories

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

Ankylosing Spondylitis	Immunology
Anti-Phosholipid Syndrome	Infectious Arthritis
Arthritis	Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Auto-Immune Diseases	Musculoskeletal Examination
Basic Science	Myositis
Choosing Wisely and Quality Improvement	Osteoarthritis
Chronic Pain	Osteoporosis
Clinical Research	Pediatric Rheumatology
Education	Psoriatic Arthritis
Epidemiology	Public Health and Arthritis
Fibromyalgia	Reactive Arthritis
Fibrosis	Regional Pain Syndrome
Genetics	Rheumatoid Arthritis
Gout or Crystalline Arthritis	Sjogren’s Syndrome
Health Economics	SLE / Anti-Phosholipid Syndrome
Health Services Research	Systemic Sclerosis
Imaging of Rheumatic Disease	Miscellaneous / Other

 

Registration

Questions?

Virginia Hopkins
Research & Innovation Co-ordinator
Canadian Rheumatology Association
T: 905-952-0698 ext 3
E: vhopkins@rheum.ca
Website: www.rheum.ca

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