Call for Application: AIDS 2018 Abstract Support

Amsterdam Youth Force, Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) and AFEW International invite applicants from Eastern Europe and Central Asia region (EECA) to submit drafts abstracts for XXII International AIDS Conference 2018 in Amsterdam (AIDS 2018) to board panel of experts for review. 

We would like to invite Eastern European and Central Asian (EECA) researchers, clinicians, scientists, community activists and young people to submit their abstracts to our EECA AIDS 2018 Abstract Support team. Boosting the representation of academics in this region is important as this is the only region in the world where the epidemic is still growing. To increase the chances to present their work at the conference for researchers, clinicians, community activists and young people from EECA who may have less experience in writing scientific abstracts in English, we will be facilitating scientific and English language assistance. We will link you to a researcher or a professional in your field which can provide you with scientific feedback on how to improve the quality of your abstract. To specifically support young researchers and community activists, we also offer a feedback session via Skype to discuss the suggested changes to your work.

If this sounds like something you could benefit from, please read further about the eligibility criteria and review process.

Eligibility criteria

You can submit your abstract to aids2018@afew.nl for a professional review if you are:

• A (young) researcher, scientists, clinician, community activist or representative of community based organization or NGO; and
• Planning to submit an abstract to 22^nd International AIDS Conference 2018 in Amsterdam, 23-27 July 2018 (AIDS 2018); and
• Working in one of the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan;

The review process

• We will be accepting submissions from the 1^st of December 2017 until the 10^th of January 2018 in both English and Russian languages. The feedback to the submitted draft abstracts will be provided in two subsequent rounds. The first round panelists will provide in-depth feedback on the initial content, and the second round will allow for the final feedback on the adjusted version.

First round feedback will be sent out to applicants within 10 days after the submission. The timing for in-person communication shall it be needed, will be coordinated individually with each applicant.

• Limited translation and editing services will occur between the 22 January and 2 February 2018.

For those who submit in Russian language, you will first receive feedback on the academic quality of your written piece. Following this, a limited number of abstracts will also be translated into English. This is based on the need, so please indicate your capacity for translation in the letter of motivation.

For the abstract submissions written in English, you will receive feedback on the scientific quality of work, and limited number of abstracts will get assistance with English editing. Again, please indicate your English skills and need for editing in the motivation letter.

• Due to the limited capacity of the panelists, in total up to 110 abstracts will be able to receive feedback. Therefore, the rule “first come – first served” will apply. First 110 abstracts submitted from eligible applicants will be forwarded to a relevant panelist based on his/her expertise and academical background, for feedback and in some cases for personal communication.

Please send your abstract in Word format, include a brief letter of motivation, which scientific track you will be submitting to and details about yourself including your age if you would like to apply as a young researcher or community activist.

Below you will find links to materials on how to write conference abstracts, available in English and Russian.

Requirement to abstracts

• The abstract should be written in accordance with the official requirements of the AIDS Conference.
• The draft abstract should be written in Russian or English.
• The content of the abstract should be in line with one of the conference scientific tracks. The scientific track must be specified under the heading of the abstract.
• There is a maximum of two abstracts per applicant.
• Those applicants who want to receive language support either the translation into Russian, or editing of the English abstract, will have to submit a short motivation letter to explain why they need such support.

Confidentiality

AFEW International, EHRA and Amsterdam Youth Force form a Steering Committee and the secretariat of the EECA Abstract support project. Only people designated to serve within Steering Committee and the secretariat and the reviewers assigned to each abstract will have access to the abstract submissions as well as the contact details of the applicants. We will not release any information on who has received assistance for their submissions at any point unless we have consent to do so.

Useful resources

1. Abstract writing module available in Russian and English

An Abstract writing module is developed in collaboration with the International AIDS Society (IAS) – the organizer of the AIDS conferences, and written by editors of the Journal of the International AIDS Society, an open-access platform for essential and innovative HIV/AIDS research. It is available for everybody in English and translated into Russian by AFEW International.

2. Online training on abstract writing

AFEW International has conducted a training on community based participatory research and abstract writing. This training was steamed live and records as well as hand outs and presentations are available in Russian here:

Abstract writing: structure, review criteria, submission tips

Good abstract title

On the road to AIDS2018: practical guide

Presentations and handouts (downloadable, please scroll down)

If you want to receive English presentations and handouts, please refer to the email address below.

3. Tips and trick on how to write a good abstract.

AIDS2018: Preparing for registration and submitting abstracts. An Article was written by a young researchers Anna Tokar, in Russian is available here, and in English here

You can follow us on https://afew.org/aids2018eeca/ and https://www.facebook.com/AFEWInternational/ for all the updates on the available resources and opportunities.