CRA Annual Scientific Meeting Abstract Submission

Important Dates

Abstract Submission Eligibility

• 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).

Instructions to Submitters

• During the online 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.
• 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.
• Browser back and forward arrows have been disabled.  Users must use the page progress bar located at the top left of each page.
• Please use one of the following browsers: Mozilla Firefox 4+, Safari 5+, Chrome 14+, Opera 11.5+.  
• 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 senders. Click here for help adding a safe sender.

Submission Process

• The submission deadline is November 7, 2025 at 5:00 pm 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.
• Avoid abbreviations in the title and use title case capitalization.
• 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.
• 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 the abstract has been finalized).
• There are 2 categories of submissions: investigator-initiated abstracts and industry-initiated abstracts.
• There is a limit of 400 words for each abstract. This does not include abstract titles and author names. Longer submissions will be cut off at the word limit.
• A maximum of 3 references can be listed on each abstract in the following format: [#.] Last name first initial. Journal abbreviation Year; Volume: page no.-page no. e.g, [1.] Almeida C. Autoimmun Rev 2015;14:1087-96.
• References MUST be cited in the text. Citations should appear in square brackets after a period or comma, but before a semi-colon or colon. For example: Neurological involvement occurs in 5-10% of all BD cases, with pediatric-onset neurological involvement being rare at approximately 4% of all NB cases.[1]
• 1 table OR 1 graph/figure/image can be uploaded. Please ensure that your table or graph is within the following parameters:
  • Maximum 4000 pixels (width) x 2076 pixels (height)
  • Maximum 1200 dpi resolution
  • JPEG, TIFF or PDF format
  • Troubleshooting: How to change image size in Photoshop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-rf0aus6zc
• Tables, graphs, figures, and images MUST be cited in the text. Citations should appear in parentheses before punctuation, e.g., (Figure 1).
• Each page of the submission process is automatically saved.
• The following non-refundable fees will be charged: $50.00 (plus applicable taxes) for investigator-initiated abstracts and $150.00 (plus applicable taxes) for industry-initiated abstracts.
• Only online abstract submissions will be accepted.
• You will receive an e-mail confirmation for each submission.

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 abstract will not be presented or 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 assigned session, via email (see Important Dates).
• The First Author and Presenting Author of an investigator or Industry-initiated abstract 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 to all authors marked as correspondents (see Important Dates).
• The CRA will allow abstract submissions to be submitted by the CRAF Education Bursary deadline under the following condition (see Important Dates).
  • Ministry of Health (MOH) PGY 4 and 5 rheumatology residents that are CRA members  and the First Author on the abstract (instructions will be emailed to eligible participants),
  • The CRAF Education Bursary abstract deadline was introduced to allow MOH-funded PGY 4 and 5 CRA members the opportunity to qualify for a bursary.  All CRAF Education Bursary abstract submissions are eligible for poster, poster tour, abstract workshop and podium presentations and are reviewed by the same abstract review committee and with the same review criteria as abstracts submitted by the abstract submission deadline.
  • Abstracts submitted to ACR are not affected by the embargo (this has been confirmed with the ACR) and must be submitted by the abstract submission deadline (see Important Dates)
• 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 and 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 preferences during the abstract submission process to be considered. All accepted podium submissions will automatically be accepted as poster presentations if they are not selected for a podium presentation.
• 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 preferences during the 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 in 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).

Poster Session, Poster Tours, and Abstract Workshops

• The CRA Abstract Review Sub-Committee will choose outstanding abstracts suitable for 2 poster sessions, 8 posters tours* and 3 abstract workshop sessions. All accepted poster and podium submissions will be considered for the poster tours and abstract workshops except for case reports or case series. Systemic reviews will be considered, but original studies with primary data will be prioritized.
• Abstract Workshop, Poster Tour and Poster Session presenters will be notified of the session type, time and date via email (see Important Dates).
• Abstract Workshops will consist of a mini state-of-the-art lecture delivered by the moderator followed by 4 abstract presentations relevant to the main topic presented in the session.
• Poster Tours will consist of 3-4 highly rated abstracts grouped by topic hosted by a moderator.

Presentation Format

• The abstracts presented at the Podium, Abstract Workshops, Poster Tours and Poster sessions 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 Journal of Rheumatology (JRHEUM) rules. Click here to review JRHEUM Guide for Authors which includes copyright and publication policies.
• All abstracts will be available for downloading on the CRA ASM website prior to the meeting.
• 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 in English.
• Presenters will have the option to present exclusively in person.
• All poster presenters will be required to submit a PDF of their poster (see Important Dates). Instructions will be provided in the acceptance email.
• The maximum poster size is 4' high x 8' wide for the in-person presentation.  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 to enable participants to view the poster online. Additional research information may be added, however, advertisements or promotional material are prohibited.
• Company branding/logos are allowed on the poster. (for example: Company x can have its logo on the poster).

Abstract Awards

• 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 Equity Diversity and Inclusion in Rheumatology
• Best Abstract by a Medical Student Award
• Best Abstract on Pediatric Research by Early Career Faculty Award
• Best Abstract by a Post-Graduate Research Trainee Award
• Best Abstract on Quality Care Initiatives in Rheumatology Award
• Best Abstract on Research by Early Career Faculty Award
• Best Abstract by a Rheumatology Resident Award
• Best Abstract by a Rheumatology Post-Graduate Research Trainee Award
• Best Abstract on SLE Research by a Trainee – Ian Watson Award
• Best Abstract on Spondyloarthritis Research Award
• Best Abstract by an Undergraduate Student Award

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 the 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: asm.rheum.ca