By: Leigh Ann Burns Naas, PhD, DABT, ATS, ERT, and Ronald N. Hines, MS, PhD, ATS
Every year, the SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo features high-quality poster and platform presentations that highlight the latest advances and knowledge in toxicology. More than 2,700 abstracts are submitted each year. Of those, approximately 93% are accepted for presentation at the meeting.
For the other seven percent of submissions, the reasons for rejection vary, but many of them fall victim to a handful of common mistakes. These mistakes can range from including too much introductory/background information and not including enough study details and data/results in the abstract to failing to illustrate the connection of abstracts from related fields to the discipline of toxicology.
The SOT Scientific Program Committee (SPC) appreciates all the time and effort that goes into preparing abstracts for submission and wants to accept as many abstracts as possible that meet the criteria. As a result, we’ve compiled a list of the most common mistakes and offer tips on how to avoid them.
Insufficient Detail
This is perhaps the most frequent abstract submission error.
While writing and editing your abstract, one of your top priorities should be providing as much information as possible related to experimental design. This involves answering the two main questions of “What was done?” and “What was found?”. Other information to include is:
- A statement of the rationale and scope of the study presented;
- A brief description of the experimental procedures;
- The data that resulted from the study; and
- The principal conclusion(s) and impact(s) based on interpretation of the results.
In the case of studies that do not describe laboratory or field experiments, such as reports on educational, ethics, legal, or social initiatives, authors should:
- Describe the research or assessment approach instead of experimental procedures;
- Summarize the study’s results or findings explicitly; and
- Clearly articulate the implications for stakeholders.
Abstract descriptions are limited to 2,300 total characters, including the title, body, author last name, and institutions, which means incorporating all the details related to your research becomes challenging. This can be especially true for “big data.” As an alternative to presenting all the data in your abstract, include specific examples of findings to help meet the requirements.
Lack of Data
Simply indicating that “data will be presented” or “results will be presented” is not strong enough for abstract acceptance, and these types of “promissory note” phrases should not be used in your abstract.
Abstracts are not meant for research proposals or works in progress with no results to report. Your research must have reached a sufficient milestone and data must be available at the time of the abstract submission for a successful proposal.
Failing to Present New Information
Abstracts must include new findings. Only presenting a review of published literature or providing an overview of a workshop, task force, consortium, or technical report and not reporting new scientific interpretations, applications, data, or knowledge may result in an abstract rejection.
Failing to ID the Chemical(s) or Compound(s) Studied
Test compounds utilized in the study should be identified in the abstract. In cases where the length of the proper chemical name precludes its use, a manufacturer’s identification number, CAS number, etc., may be acceptable, provided the structure and chemical identity of the compound are included in the presentation. Abstracts will not be accepted if the authors are unable to disclose the chemical identity of the compound(s) used in the study.
Not Identifying the Impact of Non-Research Topics
If your abstract relates to the development or evaluation of a database, make sure you describe its unique features or attributes and how they represent a technical advance in toxicology.
If you are describing new initiatives or science policy in the regulatory community, clearly relate the impact on the practice of toxicology and/or risk assessment. Care should be taken to clearly distinguish between statements based on documented facts vs. opinions.
Lack of Connection to Toxicology
SOT encourages the submission of abstracts and presentation of data from related fields to enrich the discipline of toxicology. If it is not readily apparent how your research relates to toxicology, use a few lines of your abstract to make the connection.
Selling a Product or Service
If you have a commercial product or service that you believe would be of interest to the toxicology community, reserve a ToxExpo booth to present it. Abstract presentations are reserved for scientific research and advances in the understanding of toxicology and should not cite a ToxExpo booth indicating where a related product is being presented.
We look forward to receiving your abstracts for the 2018 Annual Meeting in San Antonio.