Frontiers Retreat
Brussels, October 2023

Abstract Submission

Although abstract submission is not mandatory to attend the meeting, we encourage you to submit an abstract on original work, to be delivered as either an oral or poster presentation. Please note that having an accepted abstract will be a selection criteria in the case of registration limitations and is also taken into consideration when deciding on allocation of bursaries.

Since this meeting is dedicated to early career scientists, we will also ask you to provide the following information to offer us insights into demographic:

• Highest academic qualification
• Current position
• Affiliation

Note that there are no specific age restrictions to attend but we do recommend that the Retreat is most relevant for those within 8 years of their most recent qualification.

The Abstract Submission form is available below. Submissions for oral presentations will be accepted until July 12^th 2023. Submissions for posters presentations will be accepted until August 31^st 2023. Successfully submitted abstracts will be acknowledged with an electronic receipt. Abstract acceptance will be notified as soon as possible, usually late August/early September.

Abstract preparation guidelines:

• Abstracts must be submitted in English (.doc(x) files)
• Maximum abstract length is 400 words
• Abstracts should include relevant and detailed information about the work to be presented, divided into the following sections: i) background and novelty; ii) experimental approach; iii) results and discussion.
• Use our file template to write your abstract and name the file with your name and category code (i.e.: Surname_Forename_CODE) Click here to download our abstract file template.
  • Codes for Categories:
    • VVV tag for “Vaccines and viral vectors”
    • CLDE tag for Cell line development and engineering”
    • PDO tag for “Process development and optimization”
    • NMA tag for “New methods and analytics in cell culture”
    • CTD tag for “Cells for toxicology and drug screening”
    • SCRM tag for “Stem cells & regenerative medicine”
    • DAM tag for “Digitalization and Modeling”
  • Note: If your abstract matches with different categories, please include them all in the file name of your abstract (i.e.: Surname_Forename_CODE1_CODE2) and select the main one from the drop-down menu in the submission form.

Abstracts will be anonymised and reviewed and scored by a Scientific Committee according to their quality and will be proposed for oral or poster presentation in the different scientific sessions.

The 4^th ESACT Frontiers Retreat will take place from 18^th to 21^st October 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. Conference and accommodation will be at the same place for you to make the most of your time to enjoy the sessions, the workshops and to network with your peers.

Hotel Bedford

135-137 Rue du Midi

B-1000 Brussels

Registration fee (applies to all delegates, irrespective of abstract submission)

Early Registration – 300 euros: August 1^st  to September 30^th 2023
Late Registration – 350 euros: October 1^st to October 11^th 2023

The registration fee includes participation in the meeting and social activities as well as hotel accommodation for the nights of  18^th, 19^th, and 20^th of October 2023 in shared room. A single room upgrade will add an additional fee of 150 euros.

We know meeting fees can be a limitation for ECSs and the ESACT Frontiers team have worked hard to reduce the registration fee as much as possible and include the Retreat program, hotel accommodation, and meals in the fee.

If the cost remain prohibitive for you, please contact us. The European Society for Animal Cell Technology (ESACT) strives to encourage and facilitate the participation of ECSs in all ESACT-related meetings and events by sponsoring conference bursaries.

Eligibility criteria

• Abstract submission is not mandatory but highly encouraged. Applicants with an abstract submission will be prioritized for bursaries.
• Applicants must be a Ph.D./Master’s student (proof of affiliation will be required) or an early career Post-Doctoral researcher/Industrial Scientist/Engineer within 8 years of their most recent qualification (a copy of a diploma/certificate will be required).
• A letter of support is also required from an applicants supervisor/manager to qualify the need for a travel bursary.
• Limited bursaries will be awarded, and the Frontiers team reserves the right to rank bursary applicants according to the scientific quality and relevance of the work to the Advancing Cell Technology field.
• Bursary applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Application deadline: 30^thJune 2023

Application process

Please email frontiers@esact.org with the following documentation:

• Proof of affiliation or copy of qualification certificate
• A letter from your supervisor
• Details on the travel for which a bursary is requested (predicted transport costs, number of extra hotel nights required, if any, etc)