2023 Annual Meeting Abstracts Due Next Wednesday; Meeting to Include New Abstract ‘Spotlight Sessions’

The deadline to submit abstracts for the 2023 AABB Annual Meeting is next Wednesday, May 3. AABB encourages researchers whose work addresses critical aspects of the blood and biotherapies field to submit an abstract for the meeting, which will take place Oct. 14-17 in Nashville, Tenn. Additional information regarding submissions is available in AABB’s Abstract Preparation and Submission Guidelines.

During the Annual Meeting, AABB will recognize Top Poster Award winners in a designated Top Poster area on site and in a virtual poster hall. Additionally, AABB will issue a Best Biotherapies Abstract Award and up to 10 Outstanding Abstract Awards for Trainees.

This year, AABB introduced an expanded abstract submission timeline to provide significantly more time for researchers to finalize their data and prepare their submissions. To allow for this expanded timeline, however, AABB will not publish the abstracts as a supplement to the September issue of Transfusion this year. Instead, abstracts will be available online and on the AABB Annual Meeting app. In addition, AABB will offer a printed version on site in Nashville.

New Abstract ‘Spotlight’ Sessions to Discuss State of the Science on REDS Program, Biotherapies, CEO Panel  

The updated abstract submission timeline is the first in a series of initiatives designed to improve the abstract submission process and expand the quality, content and diversity of scientific research at the AABB Annual Meeting. During January and February, the AABB Annual Meeting Scientific Program Task Force met weekly to discuss additional recommendations to enhance the AABB Annual Meeting scientific program.

After extensive deliberation, the Task Force elected to double the number of oral abstract sessions this year, offer live curated tour of Top Poster Award winners, and introduce new “Spotlights Sessions” at the 2023 Annual Meeting.

During these 90-minute sessions, speakers will share the stage with renowned experts in the field as they discuss current issues and the "state of the science” on the selected topic, followed by related abstracts.

Michael P. Busch, MD, PhD, will host a session focused on 30 years of the Recipient Epidemiology and Donor Evaluation Study (REDS) program. The second, hosted by Donald L. Siegel, MD, PhD, will highlight the rapidly changing field of biotherapies. During the third and final “spotlight session,” David Green (Vitalant), Harpreet Sandhu, MSHS, MBA (Stanford Blood Center), and Graham Sher, MD, PhD (Canadian Blood Services), will host a CEO panel discussion.

Member registration for the 2023 AABB Annual Meeting will open May 31. Additional information is available online.