Abstract Guidelines and Tips

ASGCT provides the best opportunity to share targeted CGT research through our abstracts. Here's how to produce the best-possible submission.

General Requirements

• All Abstracts are capped at 3,500 characters INCLUDING spaces
• All abstracts must be submitted in clear and concise English. Spelling may be in U.S. English or UK English.
• Remove all track changes before submitting your abstract; these changes can be picked up with copy-and-paste functions, making the abstract incoherent.
• The title should be entered exactly as it is to appear online—titles should be submitted in title case in AMA formatting. You may use this text converter to help create the perfect title.
  • Title case rules include capitalizing all “major” words (nouns, adjectives, verbs, pronouns) and leaving articles (a, an, the) and conjunctions (and, but, for) lowercase unless it is the first word in the title.
  • Here is an example of a title case abstract title: From Darkness to Light: CIB2 Gene Delivery Rescues Age-Related Macular Degeneration-Like Phenotype in a Preclinical Model
• The names of all co-authors and their institutional affiliations must be provided at the time of submission.
  • Any names excluded in submission will not be listed in the author block of the publication.
  • Co-authors will be asked to complete their financial disclosures and update their profiles.
• It is the responsibility of the submitter to proofread the abstract and author list carefully. Abstracts will be published as submitted.
• Tables and figures may be uploaded via a photo file, .jpeg or .png.
  • Each abstract is limited to 2 uploads.
  • Images should include any labels or footers needed.
• The abstract may be structured (i.e. Divided into sections: introduction, methods, results, conclusions) or unstructured.
• Do not use bold or underline formatting—italic type is acceptable.
• Changes to abstract content and author block may be made by the submitter before the close of the submission deadline.
   
• Edit requests to submissions following the submission deadline are not guaranteed. No changes will be made after the withdrawal deadline.
   
• All authors must submit their ORCiD number during submission. If you do not yet have an ORCiD, please visit https://orcid.org/ to create your free identification number.
   
• The presenting author of abstracts selected for oral or poster presentation must attend the event in person. If the original designated presenting author cannot attend, a co-author may be designated as an alternative presenter.
   
• ASGCT does not accept abstracts that have been published before or that are overly commercial or proprietary in nature.

Tips for Submitting the Best Abstract

• Clarity is vital.
  • It does not need to be subdivided into Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions sections, but any well-written abstract should contain the elements in that basic order
• If applicable, choose your category wisely.
  • Make sure your abstract is competitive in the choice category – abstracts deemed “off-topic” may receive lower scores.
• Highlight new and novel aspects and be clear about what advancements you have made.
• Clarify the problem, then describe how your work solves the problem or how it fills a gap or an unknown in the field.
• Clearly describe the model system(s) used.
  • Technical innovations should be contextualized with relevant model systems so that reviewers can understand the value of these important studies.
• Highlight the results found.
• Avoid too many background details—get to the point.
• Keep in mind the audience that is reviewing your abstract (scientific researchers, clinicians, industry scientists, and academics who specialize in their category). Make sure there is enough data in the abstract to be reviewed by this audience.
• Do not simply describe your conclusions; place your findings within the context of the field. How does your work impact past, present, and/or future research? 
• Edit and proofread your abstract—if needed, use English editing support.

Late-Breaking Abstracts

The ASGCT Annual Meeting also includes a late-breaking abstract submission process.

Late-breaking abstract submissions are solely for abstracts with late-breaking data and are not for abstracts submitted “late.” The late-breaking abstract deadline is not an extension of the general submission deadline.

Applicants will be asked to answer the question: “What makes your abstract news-worthy, ground-breaking, or high-impact?” and ‘Why were you not able to submit in time for the general abstract deadline?” during the submission process.

Due to the timing of the late-breaking submissions, accepted late-breaking abstracts are not eligible for withdrawal.

ASGCT allows for including 14 late-breaking oral abstract presentations at our Annual Meeting. ASGCT does not guarantee that late-breaking abstracts will be given poster presentations. The decision on late-breaking posters is at the discretion of the Abstract Advisory Group for that year. If the decision to include late-breaking posters is made after the submission form opens, presenters will be given a grace period to withdraw their abstract.