Call for Abstracts

The International Research Centre for Healthy Ageing and Longevity (IRCHAL) warmly invites you to submit an abstract to contribute to the scientific programme and content of this unique world forum on Healthy Ageing and Longevity. The Conference is co-sponsored by the World Health Organization and will address and link the three areas of Research, Policy and Clinical Practice.

“A world forum such as this is essentially an opportunity for practitioners, policy makers, service providers, students, consumers and relevant organisations to get together so that we can discuss strategies to promote the health of the rapidly ageing population. Ageing cannot be understood unless we have all sectors together. This is why I am writing to you for your support and participation in the 3rd International Conference on Healthy Ageing and Longevity in Melbourne.”

Dr. Alexandre Kalache, MSc, MD, PhD. Coordinator, Ageing and Life Course Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

As the Baby Boomers, the largest generation in history, become elders, the unprecedented rise in the number of people aged over 60 will dramatically expand market demand for medical and lifestyle solutions that will enable them to live healthier, longer and more active lives. The annual conference programmes designed to stimulate discussion, debate, collaboration and the exchange of ideas to create fertile ground for forward thinking and decision making as the baby boom generation progresses through the age structure.

The primary aim of the conference is to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and facilitate the exchange of ideas, information and practical solutions in relation to the prevention and treatment of age-associated disease across the lifespan, the delivery of optimal care to ageing individuals, and understanding and intervening in the ageing process and determinants of longevity.

All abstracts will be reviewed by the Scientific Programme Committee. Accepted abstracts submitted by registered delegates will be published in the Final Programme & Book of Abstracts, which will be distributed to all conference delegates and to international libraries throughout the world. Please note that the Conference Organisers regret that they cannot waive registration fees or pay travel expenses for presenters of accepted abstracts.

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Important Dates

Call for Abstracts Open                                    January 13

Abstract Submission Deadline                          

                              Oral Presentations             April 30          

                              Poster Presentations         May 31           

Notifications sent                                             June 13

Presenting Author Registration Fees due        June 30 

Conference commences                                   October 13

Please read all of the guidelines before submitting your abstract

About the Call for Abstracts

Types of Presentations

Instructions for Abstract Submission

Submit an Abstract

About the Call for Abstracts

Presentations of cutting-edge research are the cornerstone of the annual International Conference on Healthy Ageing and Longevity, offering researchers the opportunity to disseminate their findings and providing healthcare practitioners and policy makers the information to make sound decisions to improve public health. Panel discussions on policy matters and practical workshops for healthcare practitioners are also an integral part of the 3-day conference.

IRCHAL is seeking presentations that demonstrate examples of significant research findings, clinical procedures and results, as well as social interventions and products that promote healthy ageing and longevity.

All areas of research in health, ageing and longevity are welcomed, including social sciences, public health, basic science, clinical science, translational research, and health and social services. Presentations about clinical innovations and promising practices in ageing services and innovative ageing education approaches are also encouraged.

Presentations should help participants introduce innovative and practical solutions in their daily operations. Please share your knowledge, ideas, expertise, innovations, practices, case studies and visions by answering this call for Abstracts for the 2006 International Conference on Healthy Ageing and Longevity.

Note: If you wish to submit an abstract for consideration by the Scientific Programme Committee, you must also intend to register to attend the Conference before June 30, 2006.

Presentation Topics

Topics to be covered at the 2006 International Conference on Healthy Ageing and Longevity include, but are not limited to:

• Basic Science & Mechanisms of Ageing and Longevity;
• Clinical Physiology of Ageing and Translational Research;
• Interventions in Ageing and Age-Associated Disease;
• Healthy Ageing and Longevity;
• Policy for an Ageing Population.

Who Attends the Conference

• Scientists and Researchers;
• Healthcare Professionals (medical doctors, allied healthcare professionals, complementary healthcare practitioners);
• Policy Makers and Government Officials.

Fees

Presenters at the conference must pay their own travel expenses. Presenters are also required to pay the applicable registration fees. A 25% reduction on the early bird registration fee will be awarded to delegates giving Oral Presentations, provided they pay this registration fee by June 30, 2006. No compensation will be given to Poster Presenters.

Selection Process

The Scientific Programme Committee will review all abstracts for the annual conference and make selections based on content, objectives, relevance to the conference themes, and the evaluation criteria.

The deadline for abstract submissions is April 30, 2006 (May 31 for Poster Presentations). All persons who submit abstracts will receive notification of the committee’s decision no later than June 13, 2006. Deadline for presenting author’s registration fee is June 30, 2006. If the registration fees have not been paid the abstract will not be included in the Final Programme & Book of Abstracts.

Abstracts will be allocated oral or poster presentations by the Scientific Programme Committee, with consideration given to the author’s preference. Being granted an oral presentation is subject to the quality of the abstract submission and availability within the relevant session. Authors requesting poster presentations will have their request granted subject to acceptance of the abstract.

Oral Presentations are designed to present the links between research, policy and practice, and the impact on individuals and the wider community. Every presenter should attempt to show the practical implications of their presentation to the health of ageing individuals and communities. Use of handouts, demonstrations and audience involvement is highly encouraged. Reading of papers is discouraged.

When emailing your abstract, if it is for an Oral Presentation please include in the body of your email 3 educational objectives and the target audience for the proposed presentation (e.g. medical practitioner, scientists, policy makers, multidisciplinary, etc.). Please also submit a brief biographical sketch (200-words) of the presenting author stating the education and professional activities of the presenter.

Poster Presentations consist of written and pictorial material that provide summary information about a research effort, a model service program, or a best practice. Authors are responsible for printing of their own posters that will be mounted on a poster board (specifications to be advised). The poster board and push pins will be provided at the Convention Centre. Posters will be displayed during an allocated time and authors must be present to respond to questions from delegates during this time. Authors are responsible for hanging their poster one hour before the scheduled poster session and removing them after the Conference.

Evaluation Criteria

Clinically-oriented submissions should include such areas as programme, purpose, treatment, rationale and outcomes. Research abstracts should include the objective, method, results, and discussion.

Acceptance of abstract submissions will be based upon the following criteria:

(1) Quality and originality; (2) Potential significance to disciplinary theory or application to healthcare research, policy or clinical practice; (3) Timeliness; (4) Clarity of writing and presentation; (5) Completed or nearly completed research; and (6) Relevance to conference themes.

Types of Presentations

The Conference will host several kinds of presentations: Symposia, Roundtable Discussions, Workshops, Paper, and Poster presentations. Pre-Conference Courses may also be available depending upon interest. In addition, submissions for the Public Forum, which will run in conjunction with the 3-day medical/scientific conference, are also encouraged.

IRCHAL invites the submission of Abstracts for the following formats:

1. Call for Papers
2. Call for Posters
3. Call for Workshops
4. Call for Symposia
5. Call for Roundtable discussions
6. Public Forum Presentations

1. Call for Papers:

• Papers that warrant both presentation and discussion will be accepted. Paper presentations are 30-minutes in duration (20-minutes presentation plus 10-minutes for questions);
• Abstracts will undergo review by the Scientific Committee;
• The number of sessions per theme is proportionate to the number of abstracts submitted to the theme;
• Abstracts not selected for paper presentation will automatically be considered for poster presentation;
• Both quantitative and qualitative research will be considered.

2. Call for Posters

• Poster presentations offer an opportunity for clinical and/or scientific presentations in an interactive environment. Abstracts may be submitted to the poster programme on any area of ageing research, policy or clinical practice;
• Posters will be presented at the poster session scheduled with non-competing activities;
• Papers that are not accepted for oral presentation will automatically be considered for poster consideration;
• No financial compensation is provided for poster presenters. All poster presenters must register for the conference.

3. Call for Workshops:

• A workshop provides an opportunity for involving participants in teaching and learning experiences relevant to ageing issues;
• Workshops are intended to be instructional and skill building and should maximise audience participation, with one or two leaders organising a systematic exchange of ideas or conducting a demonstration or application of techniques and/or skills;
• Workshops will be allocated 45-minutes or 90-minute time slots, and all workshop presenters must register for the conference;
• A 250-word abstract from the lead workshop presenter is required covering background information on the topic and the learning objectives of the workshop.

4. Call for Symposia:

• These 90-minute sessions consist of three to five oral presentations addressing timely or key issues of interest to researchers, practitioners and/or policy makers in a panel format. Symposia may include differing perspectives or discussion related to a current or controversial topic, but must still be related to the themes of the conference;
• The lead organiser (and convener) of the session must submit a 250-word general abstract about the session containing a description of the unifying theme(s), and include separate 250-word abstracts for each participant. All participants in the session must register for the conference;
• Individual abstracts not selected for symposia will not automatically be considered for poster presentation, but may be submitted individually to either the call for papers or call for posters.

5. Call for Roundtable Discussions

• Roundtable Discussions are 90-minutes in duration and comprise four to six brief presentations followed by discussions about the subject area;
• The lead organiser (and convener) of the session must submit a 250-word general abstract about the session containing a description of the unifying theme(s), and include separate 250-word abstracts for each presenter. All participants in the session must register for the conference;
• Abstracts not selected for roundtable discussions will not automatically be considered for poster presentation, but may be submitted individually to either the call for papers or call for posters.

6. Call for Public Forum Presentations:

• A Public Expo with Public Presentations will run in conjunction with the 3-day medical/scientific conference. Public Presentations will vary in length and format according to each individual presentation. Abstracts of public presentations are encouraged by enthusiastic and engaging speakers who are able to discuss matters in an easily understandable manner for a public audience.

Instructions for Abstract Submission

General Policies and Requirements for the Submission of Abstracts

1. All abstracts must include original unpublished or recently published work. Abstracts must be factual and report significant research findings, clinical procedures and results, or social interventions and products.
2. All abstracts must be submitted no later than April 30, 2006 for Oral Presentations and May 31, 2006 for Poster Presentations. Submit your abstract early to ensure prompt confirmation and processing.
3. All abstracts submitted are subject to review by the Scientific Programme Committee. The Committee reserves the right to accept, reject and allocate abstracts for inclusion in the Conference Programme.
4. The presenting author must be a registered delegate (and pay the registration fee before the presenter’s registration deadline of June 30, 2006), to ensure inclusion in the Final Programme and Book of Abstracts.
5. All presenters are responsible for their own expenses, including registration, travel, hotel and any other costs incurred by their conference participation.
6. The Scientific Programme Committee reserves the right to suggest co-presenters and to combine submissions.
7. Submitters should be available the entire three days of the conference, October 13-15 2006, as sessions cannot be scheduled per individual requests.
8. Presenting authors are responsible for the transport and storage of their presentation materials.
9. It is the responsibility of the presenting author to ensure accuracy of content, spelling and presentation of the presentation as abstracts will be published as submitted, subject to reformatting that may be required by the Conference Organisers.
10. Accepted abstracts may be published in the Final Programme and Book of Abstracts, the Conference website, and CD-ROM. Selected abstracts may be published in manuscript form in a proceeding of the Conference. All copyright will be transferred to the Organisers. The Conference Organisers reserve the right to reformat abstracts to ensure publication uniformity.
11. Conference delegates must be made aware of any affiliation or financial interest that may affect the speaker’s presentation(s). All speakers must provide information on any conflict of interest. Disclosure statements must be provided by speakers to delegates at the Conference.

Guidelines for Submission of Abstracts

Please note that ONLY THE ABSTRACTS OF THE REGISTERED PRESENTERS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL PROGRAMME AND BOOK OF ABSTRACTS – no exceptions will be made. Presenting authors must therefore register for the conference no later than June 30, 2006.

Please read the following guidelines carefully before submitting your abstract:

Abstract Specifications & Formatting

Language

All abstracts must be in comprehensible English, the official language of the Conference, or they will not be accepted.

Number of Abstracts:

There is no limit to the number of abstracts each author may submit. However, the maximum number of oral presentations at the conference is three per delegate.

Title:

Titles must use both Upper and lower cases and be in bold text.

Authors and Affiliations:

The first author listed should be the presenting author and have their name underlined. Use first name and last name, with initials for middle names.

On a new line list the author’s institutions, city, state and country. Capitalise words as required.

When more than one author is listed, use superscript numbers to match authors and institutions.

The email address of the presenter must be included in the abstract on a separate line after the affiliation.

Abstract Body:

The purpose of the abstract is to define the precise subject of the presentation to an audience. The entire abstract text should 250-words of text or less.

Leave one blank line between the presenting author’s email address and the beginning of the abstract text. A new line may be used for each paragraph in the body of the abstract.

The interdisciplinary nature of the Conference delegates should be kept in mind when writing the abstract and sub-specialty jargon should be avoided.

Abbreviations may be used only after first defining the term (list term in full when first mentioned, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses). Use generic names for medicines. Write numbers as numerals rather than words.

Tables, figures, literature references and acknowledgements should not form any part of the abstract’s content.

Format:

Font must be Times New Roman, size 11 point. All typing should be single-spaced.

Title, Author’s name(s), Affiliation (institution, city, and country) and presenter’s email address should all be centred, and the body of the abstract should be full justified.

The Title must use Upper and lower case letters and be in bold text

Please underline the name of the presenting author.

Leave one blank line between the presenting author’s email address and the beginning of the body of the abstract. A new line may be used for each paragraph in the body of the abstract.

All margins (top, bottom, left and right) must be set to 2.5cm.

Abbreviations may be used only after first defining the term (list term in full when first mentioned, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses). Use generic names for medicines. Write numbers as numerals rather than words.

Tables, figures, literature references and acknowledgements should not form any part of the abstract’s content.

It is the responsibility of the presenting author to ensure accuracy of content, spelling and presentation as abstracts will be published as submitted, subject to reformatting that may be required by the Conference Organisers.

Submission:

Abstracts can only be submitted via e-mail to: abstracts@longevity-international.com. Please type the title of your abstract in the Subject section of your email. Submission of abstracts should be made in MS Word or Mac Word formats only. Faxed or posted abstracts will not be considered.

When emailing your abstract, if it is for an Oral Presentation please include in the body of your email 3 educational objectives and the target audience for the proposed presentation (e.g. medical practitioner, scientists, policy makers, multidisciplinary, etc.). Please also submit a brief biographical sketch (200-words) of the presenting author stating the education and professional activities of the presenter.

When submitting an abstract, please indicate whether your abstract should be considered for an oral presentation or poster.

Technical Information

The auditoria in the Conference Centre will be equipped with laptop computers, LCD projectors, and screens for your use.

You are required to bring your presentation (as a Microsoft PowerPoint file) to the Speaker Preparation Room the day before or no later than 4 hours prior to your presentation. There will be no possibility for overhead slide presentation (projection of transparencies). Technicians will be able to provide you with assistance and will load your presentation onto the speaker’s computer network. Presenters are kindly requested to also send a copy of their PowerPoint presentations to the Conference Secretariat on CD-ROM or via email to abstracts@longevity-international.com .

Submit an Abstract

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