The “Call for Abstracts” is now open and submissions should be made online before 19 March 2021.
Abstract Submission Guidelines
This is a unique opportunity to play an active role in the Program, the best abstracts will be presented in plenary presentations. Other accepted abstracts will be presented in oral sessions or eposter presentations in the heart of the Exhibition Hub.
We look forward to receiving abstracts from all over the world on a wide range of sickle cell related topics, based on one of the five tracks including the additional track on Covid-19 outlined in the Program.
All information and guidelines on how to submit an abstract are detailed below. Start on your abstract now:
- Review the submission types
- Consult the topic list
- Read the requirements and deadline
- Submit your abstract
Call For Abstracts
1. Submission Types
- Abstracts on scientific studies describing the collection, analysis and interpretation of sickle cell relevant data (clinical, behavioural, epidemiological, etc)
- Summaries of practice, policy and advocacy reports describing innovative sickle cell program in screening, care, support, prevention, organization.
- Summaries of fundraising campaign reports which supported funding or donation to sickle cell control causes.
Presentation Format
Selected abstracts will be assigned to different presentation formats.
Abstract Sessions – Featuring best Abstracts from around the World (Pre-recorded / Live)
Best Abstracts from the African Region, Asia-Pacific Region and South America will be selected to be featured in dedicated Live Abstract Sessions and moderated with experts in their topics of expertise.
The objective is to promote scientific research of these geographical regions and to provide the abstract presenters with additional exposure and scientific exchange.
The audience will therefore benefit from international perspectives on Sickle Cell Disease.
ePosters (Pre-recorded)
Selected research will be published on the virtual congress dedicated platform in a Virtual ePoster format. These ePosters will be available on-demand during and after ACSCD 2021 – Virtual Congress.
This platform will allow continued discussions during the event, with interaction functionalities such as rating the presentation, number of views, chat and comments.
The abstract submitter will be able to participate and follow the conversation on their abstract throughout the event.
2. Topic List
A list of topics has been developed from the Congress tracks to help authors with their abstract subjects.
This topic list will be used for reviewing and indexing purposes. Click on the tracks to view suggested topic list.
Track 1: Sickle Cell Prevention – Advancing Newborn Screening & Early Detection
- Advances in newborn screening
- Recent advances in sickle cell prevention
- Cross-sectorial collaboration in sickle cell prevention
- Dispelling myths and misconceptions about sickle cell
- Early detection
- Economics of sickle cell prevention
- Education in sickle cell prevention
- Epidemiology
- Equity and sickle cell prevention
- E-technology
- Ethics in sickle cell prevention and screening
- Evidence to practice – successes and gaps
- Reproduction policy
- Health promotion
- Interventions for disadvantaged populations
- Law and policy making in sickle cell prevention
- Sickle cell prevention strategies
- Measurement and monitoring of risk behaviors
- Patient advocacy
- Policy development in sickle cell prevention
- Prevention in partnership
- Programs and policies on genotype testing
- Risk factors
- Screening and early detection: program implementation
- Screening and early detection: recruitment and communication
- Screening and early detection: technological advances
- Sickle cell prevention & control – international efforts and new strategies
- Using media to achieve public health objectives
- Wellness at work
- Other
Track 2: Sickle Cell Diagnosis, Complications and Treatment – Addressing barriers & Inequality in Sickle Cell Care
- Access to care
- Sickle cell classification
- Clinical advances in diagnosis
- Clinical advances in treatment
- Clinical advances in pain management
- Cost of sickle cell treatment
- Early diagnosis and optimizing treatment
- Essential medicines
- Ethical consideration in sickle cell care
- Health technology assessment
- Inequities in sickle cell care
- M-health for diagnosis
- Pediatric care
- Personalized therapies
- Quality of sickle cell care
- Other
Track 3: Maximizing Quality of Life – Empowering Patients & Caregivers
- Access to pain relief/management
- Advance sickle cell – specific issues
- Advanced care planning
- Sickle cell and well-being
- Sickle cell management, care and financial impact
- Care givers
- Caring for patients with co-morbidity
- Community engagement in advocacy
- Delivery of health information
- Empower sickle cell patients
- Ethics of access to sickle cell care
- Ethics of clinical research
- Global perceptions of sickle cell
- Health systems and palliative care / pain management
- Improving care delivery
- Improving support outcomes
- Delivery of psycho-social support to patients and care givers
- Innovation and technology in care
- Lack of healthcare workers
- Law and patient care
- Media and advocacy for pain relief
- Pediatric sickle cell pain management and palliative care
- Pain and symptom assessment and management
- Patient and family experience
- Patient and family support
- Patient safety
- Psycho-social studies and interventions in sickle cell care
- Quality of life in palliative care
- Sexuality issues brought by sickle cell
- Reproductive issues brought by sickle cell
- Supportive care
- Supportive care in the resource poor setting
- Sustainable models of care
- Other
Track 4: Advocacy, Policies and Enabling Sustainable Outcomes of Healthcare Systems
- Application of sickle cell evidence / implementation science measures
- Sickle cell management and control planning in low and middle income countries
- Sickle cell registries and their potential impact on sickle cell management & control planning and evaluation
- Cost of sickle cell disease
- Cross sector collaboration to make systems change / strengthen systems
- Economics of strengthening health systems for sickle cell disease
- Effective national sickle cell control planning
- Empowering national networks for global change
- Funding sickle cell research – fund allocation
- Global capacity and capability for health professionals
- Global education and training initiatives: building stronger networks
- Health technology assessment systems and their impact
- Challenges and Impact of national sickle cell screening program
- Improving international healthcare systems for early sickle cell diagnosis and survival
- Integrating sickle cell and NCDs into existing services, health systems strengthening, and patient empowerment
- Integration of new technologies into sickle cell control strategies
- Legal strategies
- Data
- Patient empowerment
- Patient rights
- Performance models
- Quality models
- Role of Governments in sickle cell control
- Role of NGOs and civil societies in sickle cell control
- Role of private sector in sickle cell control
- Role of Media in sickle cell control
- Strategies to engage indigenous communities in achieving culturally responsive sickle cell care services
- Sustainable access to innovative sickle cell medicine
- Systems for community involvement
- Other
Track 5: Cross-sector Partnering and Building Capacities – Raising funds & Attracting Resources
- Developing platforms for multi-sectoral dialogue
- Developing the next generation of sickle cell researchers and leaders
- Education and training initiatives
- Building and sustaining high quality partnerships with patients
- Building capacity in monitoring & evaluation
- Creating effective private and public sector partnerships
- Effective financial management of NGOs
- Effective leadership models for NGOs / improved Governance
- Empowering patients and sickle cell caregivers with information and training
- Enabling knowledge transfer of sickle cell control resources
- Engaging non-traditional partners across diseases and sectors
- Essential skills for developing successful sickle cell advocacy strategies
- How to approach and work with the Government
- Implementing effective research strategies and communicating outcomes
- Innovative fundraising models
- Managing conflict of interest
- Mobilizing international networks
- Successful communication strategies and leveraging social media
- Working with volunteers
- Other
Covid-19 and Sickle Cell Disease – What Do We Know
Timely, special topic relating to COVID-19 and the unique sickle cell disease challenges/solutions arising during the pandemic.
3. Abstract Requirements
The maximum length of the abstract is 3,600 characters. This includes the author’s details, titles and non-visible characters, such as spaces and line breaks. The minimum length is 1,500 characters.
Submitters are required to read through instructions on the abstract submission system and ensure all information provided are accurate. Be advised that abstracts cannot be saved as “Draft” during application process and submitted abstracts can only be modified until the submission deadline (19 March 2021, midnight WAT). Send requests for modifications to submissions@acscd.org
The submitted abstracts cannot be edited after the submission deadline (19 March 2021, midnight WAT).
The abstract should be structured as follows:
- Background (A backgrounder about your investigation)
- Objectives (What did you investigate? Why?)
- Methods (What did you do?)
- Results (What did you find out?)
- Conclusion (What do your results mean? So what?)
- References may be added
The submitting author of an abstract is requested to declare any potential conflicts of interest for all authors during abstract submission in order to provide high-quality sessions focused on educational content that is free from commercial influence or bias.
The submission of an abstract constitutes a formal commitment by the submitting (presenting) author to present the abstract (if accepted) in the session and the time assigned by the Program Committee. Registration fees will not be waived.
The submitting authors should ensure the abstract does not contain spelling, grammar, or scientific mistakes, as it will be reproduced exactly as submitted. Linguistic accuracy is your responsibility. No proof reading will be done. Abbreviations should also be defined.
No changes can be made to the abstract after the submission deadline.
Important dates
19 March 2021 – Abstract submission deadline
25 March 2021 – Notification of outcomes of abstract submissions
Please note that the abstract submission system will not be available after 19 March 2021.
For questions about abstract submissions
please contact:
submissions@acscd.org