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Congress
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Abstract Submissions


2024 submissions will open December 15, 2023

Submission Guidelines

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Abstract Submission Guidelines

The abstract submission deadline was March 15, 2022, 11:59PM CST.
An individual may be the first author on a maximum of three (3) abstracts.
An individual may be a contributing author on an unlimited number of abstracts.
All submitted abstracts become the property of MDS.

Format

Text limit of 2,500 characters (including spaces). The size limit includes characters and spaces in the Abstract Title and Abstract Body. Please note that spaces are included in the overall character count. The size limit does not include author information.

Abstracts should be arranged as follows:

  • Objective
  • Background
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Conclusions
    *You may submit a case report using the standard abstract format

Do not include any identifying information directly on the abstract.

Only non-proprietary (generic) drug names should be used and should be written without capitals.

Do not include branded product names in the abstract. If the abstract is found to contain marketing, rather than scientific content, the abstract will be rejected.

Select one (1) category under which the abstract should be reviewed. If the abstract covers more than one topic, please choose the most appropriate category and indicate additional related topics via corresponding keywords. This will aid online searches and further organization of your abstract within the listed category (see “Review and Categorization” regarding re-categorizing a submitted abstract).

The use of standard abbreviations is desirable. A special or unusual abbreviation should be placed in parentheses after the first appearance of the full word for which it stands.

Please note there is a separate upload field for tables and graphs. To include tables or figures, enter the appropriate ID tag within the abstract body where the tables and/or figures should appear. Tags must be entered as shown - [table1] for your first table; [table2] for your second table; [figure1] for your first figure; [figure2] for your second figure.

To list references, enter the appropriate ID tag. [1] for your first reference, [2] for your second reference, [3] for your third reference, etc.

 

Submission and Eligibility

Abstract submissions are now closed.
The sole means of submission is via the Internet. Please do not e-mail, fax, or mail abstract submissions.


Abstracts must be submitted and presented in English.
MDS members and non-members are eligible to submit abstracts.
There is no fee for submitting an MDS abstract.
MDS does not offer CME credit for poster viewing or submitted abstracts.
MDS International Congress faculty are not required to submit an abstract.


All accepted abstracts will be published and included on the Congress virtual platform, regardless of in-person attendance status at the 2022 International Congress in Madrid. However, MDS strongly recommends attending in-person for the exceptional networking and collaboration opportunities. If accepted, all abstract presenters are responsible for their own registration and other fees associated with attending the International Congress.

 

Previously Published Abstracts and Plagiarism

All submitted abstracts will be run through an online plagiarism detection software. Should plagiarism be detected, the abstract will be rejected.

Abstracts that have been presented at other meetings may be submitted if they have not been previously published. Submitted abstracts that have been presented at other meetings must include the previous meeting name and presentation date cited accordingly in the abstract body, after the Conclusion.

If the abstract is found to have been previously published in another MDS publication or a previous edition of the Movement Disorders journal, the designated contact person will be notified and required to revise the abstract, or the abstract will be rejected.

All abstracts presented at a previous MDS International Congress have been published by MDS.

MDS does not republish previously published International Congress abstracts.

 

Review and Categorization

The MDS Congress Scientific Program Committee will review all abstracts in March of 2022. The Committee shall be directed to reject abstracts for the following reasons:

  • Plagiarism detected
  • Marketing detected
  • Subject not related to the field of Movement Disorders
  • Does not meet basic requirements

All submitted abstracts will be run through an online plagiarism detection software. Should plagiarism be detected, the abstract will be rejected.

If it is determined by the Congress Scientific Program Committee that a submitted abstract is not entered in the optimal abstract category listing, MDS reserves the right to re-categorize the abstract on behalf of the author(s) without prior notification. The new category placement will be confirmed in the official abstract notification letter.

If it is determined that the abstract should be re-categorized, MDS will ensure that the new category placement is in the best interest of the work and easily searchable by International Congress attendees as well as online researchers.

 

Notification and Correspondence

All notifications regarding a saved or submitted abstract will be sent only to the person identified as ‘Contact for Official Abstract Correspondence’. It is expected that the designated contact person will circulate updates regarding the abstract as needed.

All successfully submitted abstracts will receive a confirmation e-mail to the designated contact person. If the confirmation e-mail has not been received within 24-hours of submitting the abstract, please log in to the abstract submission site to verify the status of the submission.

Abstract acceptance notifications will be sent to the designated contact person via e-mail in June 2022. An official abstract notification letter will be available through the submission site and can be downloaded and printed at any time after notifications have been sent in June 2022.

All confirmed abstract submissions will be reviewed for acceptance by MDS.

Abstracts with a status of ‘saved’ are not confirmed submissions and will not be reviewed by MDS.

Please ensure that Omnipress is designated as a “safe sender” to ensure timely correspondence regarding the abstract submission.

Please check your spam and junk e-mail folders before contacting MDS regarding the status of your abstract. Abstract notices will come from Omnipress. Abstract status can also be checked directly on the submission site in June 2022.

 

Withdrawing a Submitted Abstract

March 15 – July 15, 2022
Requests to withdraw a submitted abstract after the submission deadline (March 15, 2022) must be received in writing by July 15, 2022 to congress@movementdisorders.org.

July 16, 2022 – Onward
After July 16, 2022, your abstract cannot be withdrawn and will remain a part of the 2022 MDS published abstracts. All submitted abstracts become the property of MDS.

 

Publication of Accepted Abstracts

All accepted abstracts will be published in an electronic supplement to the Movement Disorders journal online edition. All submitted abstracts become the property of MDS.

MDS only accepts original work. By submitting your abstract, you affirm that your abstract is your own, either individually or as a group. Should plagiarism be detected, the abstract will be rejected.

IMPORTANT: Abstract data and content can NOT be updated after it has been accepted (notifications will be sent in June 2022). Submissions must include all data as it will be published, without need for updating after submission. Please review all content prior to submitting; including author listing and spelling.

If the abstract data will not be available until after the submission deadline, then it is recommended to submit as a Late-Breaking Abstract (opening in June 2022).

 

Abstract Presentation

Abstract presenters have several options and can choose any or all of the following presentation formats. To provide the best user experience possible, all accepted abstract presenters are encouraged to participate in all virtual and in-person presentation options:

  1. Present an accepted abstract as an e-poster in Madrid during scheduled poster sessions
      - High-ranking abstracts may also be selected for additional oral platform presentation
  2. Present as a 5-minute pre-recorded video (oral) presentation on the MDS Congress virtual platform
  3. Present as an e-poster on the MDS Congress virtual platform

Poster specifications and details will be provided with the acceptance notification letter in June. Presenters that want to begin preparations can anticipate that e-posters will be a one-page PDF file not to exceed 150 MB in horizontal orientation (to best fit the monitor screen). Video presentations for the virtual platform must be in MP4 format, and not to excel 150 MB file size. Video presentation must not exceed 5 minutes duration. E-poster and video presentations will be collected in June 2022, after abstract acceptance notifications have been sent.

MDS strongly encourages all abstract presenters to participate in all presentation formats. Accepted abstract presenters should plan to attend the Congress to present the poster during the scheduled poster session(s). Attendance is not mandatory, and does not affect abstract acceptance or publication.

 

Support for Abstract Presenters

Travel Grant Awards 

MDS is offering up to 250 Travel Grant Awards to support delegates in financial need to attend International Congress.  

Applications have closed. 

Learn more »

Junior Awards 

Junior Award recipients selected for significant contribution to the field will present their abstract at the Presidential Lectures Plenary Session. 

Applications have closed.

Learn more »

 

Preparing to Submit an Abstract

Planning to submit an abstract? Here are some helpful submission tips and FAQs to help you prepare.
 

Abstract Submission FAQs

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Is there a submission fee to submit my abstract? There is no fee to submit an abstract. However, if your abstract is accepted, all abstract presenters are responsible for their own registration and other fees associated with attending the International Congress, whether in-person or virtually
Do I have to have an active membership with MDS to submit an abstract?

You do not have to be an MDS Member to submit an abstract, but current members do receive additional points on their cumulative application score. Apply for or renew your MDS Membership. 

In what order should authors be listed on my submission, and on how many abstracts may an author be listed?

The order in which you arrange author names on the submission website is how they will be published upon acceptance.

You may be the first author on a maximum of three (3) submitted abstracts; there is no limit to how many abstracts you may be a contributing author.

May I submit a case report?

Yes, if you use the standard abstract format.

May I submit an abstract that has been previously presented?

Yes, if the presentation information is included in your citation. See submission guidelines for further information

May I submit an abstract that has been previously published?

You may NOT submit an abstract that has been previously published, even if it was published by MDS. Abstracts determined to have been previously published will be rejected

What if I cannot travel to the in-person meeding due to travel restrictions or other issues related to COVID-19?

All accepted abstracts will be published and included on the Congress virtual platform, regardless of in-person attendance status at the International Congress. However, MDS strongly recommends attending for the exceptional networking and collaboration opportunities.

Submission Tips

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1. Prepare your author listing
  • All abstract correspondence (including acceptance/rejection notifications) will be directed solely to the contact person indicated in the contact tab of the submission site
     
  • The first author is not presumed to be the contact person — only the designated contact person will receive notifications and updates regarding your submitted abstract; it is expected that the contact person will disseminate information as needed
2. Determine the main contact
  • All abstract correspondence (including acceptance/rejection notifications) will be directed solely to the contact person indicated in the contact tab of the submission site
     
  • The first author is not presumed to be the contact person — only the designated contact person will receive notifications and updates regarding your submitted abstract; it is expected that the contact person will disseminate information as needed
3. Proofread your data
  • Be sure to review spelling and grammar before submitting (including the accurate spelling of all contributing author names) – after the submission deadline, you will not be permitted to make any changes to your submitted work
     
  • Character limit is 2,500 (including spaces) for the title and body of the abstract; there is no character limit on the other sections of the abstract
4. Determine if an MDS-owned Rating Scale has been used
  • If so, be prepared to indicate which scale(s) were used
     
  • Be prepared to indicate the study protocol or identification number associated with your approval to utilize the scale
5. Determine if you will apply for a Travel Grant or Junior Award
  • Only the first author of an accepted abstract is eligible for a Travel Grant or Junior Award
     
  • The first author must fulfill all eligibility criteria to qualify, please see guidelines included on the submission website for further information
     
  • The sole means of applying for an International Congress Travel Grant or Junior Award is in conjunction with the abstract submission process
     
  • Travel Grants and Junior Awards are not transferrable – if the intended recipient is unable to attend the International Congress, then the award/grant is forfeit and will be reallocated by MDS to the next qualified candidate
6. Ensure that your abstract has been submitted, not only saved
  • By clicking ‘Save’ you may return to edit / proof-read your abstract at any time prior to the submission deadline 
     
  • By clicking ‘Submit’ you are confirming that your work is finished and ready for review
     
  • Abstracts that are saved will not be submitted for review until they have been submitted

International Congress Abstract Publication

International Congress abstracts are published in a supplement to Movement Disorders, the official Journal of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society (MDS). 

Visit the searchable MDS abstracts website to view full text of abstracts from previous years.  

Browse abstracts

Questions? Feel free to contact the MDS International Secretariat at congress@movementdisorders.org

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