Abstracts

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Abstracts showcasing novel research in epidemiology and public health, will be presented at WCE2024 as oral or poster presentations. Abstracts will be chosen based on their scientific significance, relevance, data quality and methodology. Abstracts should be submitted via the Abstract Submission Portal by the specified deadlines. For a comprehensive list of submission deadlines, please consult the Abstract deadlines section below. 

Abstract deadlines

 

All abstract submissions open: 1 October 2023
Fast track submission deadline:
1 December 2023		 Fast track dispositions:
8 January 2024
General submission deadline:
16 February 2024		 General dispositions:
25 March 2024
Final submission deadline:
31 May 2024		 Final Abstract dispositions:
24 June 2024

Fast track abstracts: 
These undergo a rapid review process, making them ideal for authors who require early acceptance for visa and/or funding applications.

General abstracts:
These undergo the standard review process, making them suitable for most abstract submissions.

Final abstracts:
These undergo a rapid review process, and typically feature significant, late-emerging findings that contribute to the latest developments in epidemiology.

Abstract types

We accept two types of abstracts for WCE2024: Research abstracts and Programmatic abstracts.  Both types of abstracts serve as a way to communicate research findings or programme details to a broader audience within the field of epidemiology.

Research abstract: provides a concise summary of an epidemiological study. 

Key components of the abstract include:

  • Background: A brief description of the research problem, its significance, and the gap in current knowledge that the study aims to address.
  • Methods: An overview of the research design, data collection, and analysis methods used in the study.
  • Results: A summary of the main findings or outcomes of the research.
  • Discussion: A statement of the study’s implications, significance, and potential applications.

Programmatic abstract: describes an epidemiological programme, service platform or training initiative. Information presented in programmatic abstracts may not be findings of an epidemiological study; instead these abstracts present the unique features and/or learning from a programme in the field of epidemiology. 

Key components of the abstract include:

  • Background: An overview of the public health issue or problem being addressed and the rationale for the program.
  • Description: Details about the design, implementation, and evaluation of the programme, including any innovative approaches or strategies used.
  • Outcomes: Presentation of the program’s results, including information on its effectiveness, impact on health outcomes, and any relevant findings.
  • Impact & Lessons: Interpretation of the results and their implications for the field of epidemiology and public health more generally.

Abstract submission guidelines

Please keep in mind the following guidelines when structuring your abstract for submission:

  • Abstracts are to be submitted via the Abstract submission portal with both fast track and general submission deadlines. Research data analysed emerging after the general submission deadline can still be submitted as a late-breaking abstract. For a complete overview of submission deadlines and important milestones, kindly refer to the important dates.
  • Each section  of the Research and Programmatic abstract should be presented as a single paragraph, and section headings (see under Abstract types) should not be included within the text.
  • The total word limit for both the Research and Programmatic abstract 350 words.

Abstract categories

All abstract submissions should be categorised under one of the specified tracks to streamline the abstract review process. If you are uncertain about which track best suits your abstract, please feel free to reach out to the WCE Scientific Coordinator for guidance. Alternatively, you may choose to submit your abstract under the ‘Epidemiology and Public Health’ section, which can serve as a suitable default category. This will ensure that your submission is considered for review while ensuring it finds its appropriate place within the conference program. We encourage authors to select the most relevant track to enhance the precision of the review process and to align with the thematic focus of their research.

Subject areas Description
1. Aging epidemiology Includes multifactorial changes associated with aging and health impact of aging societies.
2. Applied and field epidemiology Includes the application of epidemiologic methods and concepts in public health systems, including disease surveillance as well as investigations of disease outbreaks.
3. Behavioural epidemiology Includes research focused on health-related behaviours (such as smoking, alcohol, sleep, exercise, and risk factors related to diseases of lifestyle).
4. Cancer epidemiology Includes continuum of cancer epidemiology, prevention and control; and all malignancies (breast, colorectal, lung, nasopharyngeal, hematologic, ovarian, endometrial and prostate cancers).
5. Cardiovascular and metabolic disease epidemiology Includes research related to obesity, cardiovascular conditions, metabolic disorders (including metabolic syndrome).
6. Climate epidemiology Includes climate change epidemiology as well as major determinants of climate-disease associations (eg, extreme heat, precipitation, floods, drought).
7. Clinical epidemiology Includes the application of epidemiologic methods and concepts to study the diagnosis, natural history, management and outcomes of specific health conditions; global surgery topics and epidemiologic applications within health services evaluation are included here.
8. Environmental and occupational epidemiology Includes chemical, physical, and occupational exposures, including aspects of the built environment; molecular epidemiology of exogenous exposures are included here.
9. Epidemiologic methods Innovations in or applications of epidemiologic and/or biostatistical concepts and methods.  This also includes data sources and data repositories.
10. Epidemiology and population health Includes burden of disease, application of epidemiology in public policy; any topics that may not fit into other abstract categories may be submitted here.
11. Epidemiology in media and communications Includes approaches to and experiences in communicating population health issues and/or study findings in popular media; scientific communication in public health are included here.
12. Genetic epidemiology Includes the interplay between genetic and environmental components associated with diseases as well as statistical genetics.
13. Infectious disease epidemiology Includes research related to HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, SARS-CoV-2, emerging infectious diseases as well as issues of drug-resistance.
14. Injury and violence epidemiology Includes the mechanisms of injury and violence including opioid overdose, motor vehicle crashes, falls, homicide, suicide, and natural and human-induced disasters.
15. Lifecourse epidemiology Includes long-term biological, behavioural, and psychosocial processes linking adult health and disease risk to exposures acting during gestation and early life.
16. Neuroepidemiology Includes organic brain disease, dementia, disorders of cognition, epilepsy, developmental disorders and related issues.
17. Nutritional epidemiology Includes nutritional determinants of disease and methods of nutritional assessment.
18. Pharmacoepidemiology Includes patterns of utilisation and adherence, safety signal detection, comparative effectiveness and cost-benefit/risk- benefit of drugs, vaccines, biologics, medical procedures, and medical devices utilisation.
19. Psychiatric epidemiology Includes the epidemiological study of psychological phenomena as well as research related to mental health services.
20. Reproductive, perinatal and paediatric epidemiology Includes patterns and determinants of health and disease in reproduction, maternal health and child development.
21. Respiratory epidemiology Includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and chronic lung disease (respiratory infections may be submitted here or in the infectious disease epidemiology track).
22. Social epidemiology Includes the impact of social, economic and/or structural conditions (eg, social inequalities, social relationships, social capital, and work stress) on states of health.
23. Teaching and training in epidemiology Includes pedagogy and curriculum development in epidemiology; design and operation of training activities; as well as general aspects of epidemiology workforce planning.
24. Veterinary epidemiology Includes One Health research and animal health related data.

Special Sessions

Risk factors in national and regional populations with limited data

This session invites submissions that reveal cardiometabolic and renal risk factor patterns including overweight and obesity, short stature, high blood pressure, heart rate and glycaemia, non-optimal lipid profiles and poor kidney function in national and subnational populations. We encourage submissions based on nationally representative and community-based studies that have measured risk factors where data are least available. The abstracts should go beyond a snapshot of a single risk factor and focus on multiple risks, trends in risk factors, or on inequalities in risk factor exposure. Abstract selection will prioritise countries/datasets that are underreported in NCD epidemiology, and datasets that have measured risk factors where data are least available.

We encourage submissions from early career researchers from lower income countries.

Click to submit

Preventing, predicting, preparing for, and responding to epidemics and pandemics

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
Session will be a reflection of the roles and responsibilities of epidemiologists during the course of the pandemic, as well as lessons learnt will be important for management of future pandemics.

Meet the editors

Session type: Panel discussion
Session will involve engagement of Editors of epidemiology journals on how they promote inclusive publishing on their platforms and how far have they gone to include the rest of the world in their publications.

Old risk factors in the new era: tobacco, alcohol and physical activity

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
Session will delve into the evolving landscape of traditional risk factors amid contemporary health challenges. The aim is to explore how the dynamics of tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and physical activity have transformed in the modern era, considering technological, societal, and cultural shifts.

Shafalika Goenka
(Public Health Foundation of India, India)

Katherine Keyes
(Columbia University, USA)

Lekan Ayo Yusuf
(University of Pretoria, SA)

Is it risky for epidemiologists to be advocates?

Session type: Debate
In the current climate, epidemiologists risk becoming non-neutral actors hampering their ability to do science as well as making them considered to be less reliable to the public.

Kalpana Balakrishnan
(Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, India)

Neal Pearce
(London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK)

The role of epidemiology in building responses to violence

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
Violence has been given insufficient attention and priority in the arena of public health policy, partnerships and interventions. Session will explore what role can and will epidemiology play in improving responses to violence?

Zinzi Bailey
(University of Minnesota, USA)

Rodrigo Guerrero-Velasco
(Violence Research Center of Universidad del Valle, Columbia)

Rachel Jewkes
(South African Medical Research Council, SA)

Ethics and epidemiology: conflicts of interest in research and service

Session type: Panel discussion
This session aims to dissect the complexities surrounding conflicts of interest in both research and public health practice, emphasising the critical need for transparency, integrity, and ethical decision-making.

Racial and ethnic classifications in epidemiology: global perspectives

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
Session will explore the continued predominance of certain types of studies which influence global practice despite the lack of racial, ethnic and geographic diversity is a major weakness in epidemiology.

Critical reflections on epidemiology and its future

Session type: Panel discussion
Session will explore where is epidemiology headed, particularly given what field has been through in recent times? Is the field still fit for purpose? With all the new emerging threats, important to establish whether field is ready.

Teaching epidemiology: global perspectives

Session type: Panel discussion
Understanding how epidemiology is taught in different parts of the world is essential. Session will unpack why is epidemiology taught differently? Is it historical? Implications of these differences?

Na He
(Fudan University, China)

Katherine Keyes
(Columbia University, USA)

Noah Kiwanuka
(Makerere University, Uganda)

Miquel Porta
(Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Spain)

Pharmacoepidemiology: new insights and continuing challenges

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
This session aims to explore recent advancements in studying the utilization and effects of medications on populations, addressing methodological innovations, and novel data sources.

Are traditional cohorts outdated?

Session type: Panel discussion
Session will explore the landscape of traditional cohort studies, touching on their continued relevance in the contemporary research landscape. What are the limitations of traditional cohorts, challenges in data collection, evolving research questions, and potential advancements in study designs.

Karen Canfell
(The Daffodil Centre, Cancer Council NSW/University of Sydney, Australia)

Mauricio Lima Barreto
(Center of Data and Knowledge Integration for Health, Brazil)

Naja Hulvej Rod
(University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

Yuan Lin
(Nanjing Medical University, China)

Have DAGs fulfilled their promise?

Session type: Debate
Critical reflection on why despite their importance in the Methods community, DAGs are not widely included in publications. Session will provide perspective on their utility in future research

Peter Tennant
(University of Leeds, UK)

Margarita Moreno-Betancur
(University of Melbourne, Australia)

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