The New and The Next

Among the most popular sessions at AACC’s Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo are the five oral abstract presentations, during which authors of some of the most highly rated abstracts submitted as part of the Annual Meeting discuss their findings followed by a brief question-and-answer period. These well-attended sessions draw crowds because they typically reflect emerging science or technologies and often showcase the research of newly minted clinical laboratory professionals starting their careers, according to Annual Meeting Organizing Committee (AMOC) member Alex Chin, PhD, DABCC, FACB.

“The oral abstract sessions provide an additional avenue for young investigators and for researchers who have some interesting or late-breaking studies to get into the details of their findings,” said Chin. “There’s enthusiasm around the studies and support for the young investigators.”

Chin and Stephen Manzella, PhD, spearheaded AMOC’s abstracts review process for this year’s Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo and will moderate the five oral abstract presentations.

To make it to the point of being selected for an oral abstract presentation, proposals first must be accepted. This starts with a large team of volunteer abstract reviewers individually reading 30 to 40 abstracts matched to their professional interests and expertise based on keywords. Two reviewers read each abstract, grading it according to a common set of instructions on a 1-4 scale, with 1 being the lowest score and 4 the highest. A third reviewer then assesses any abstracts that have a 2-point or higher discrepancy from the initial reviews. Abstracts then are ranked by average score.

Abstracts selected for oral abstract presentations have the highest scores. From there, Chin and Manzella looked for particularly interesting submissions covering emerging topics or with practical implications for lab practice, according to Chin.

The five sessions of oral abstract presentations include:

• Clinical Outcome-Focused Patient Care (32104) July 28 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Endocrinology in Preventive and Chronic Care 33104 July 28 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Omics as the Gateway to Personalized Medicine 32221 July 27 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Laboratory Management and Healthcare Reform 34211 July 29 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Oral Abstracts - Technology-Driven Patient Care 34103 July 29 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

The oral abstract presentations are free and open to individuals with full or daily conference registration.