IFM's Annual International Conference Poster Session:
Requirements & Commitments

All proposals submitted to present at IFM's Annual International Conference (the “Event”) must meet the requirements set forth herein, and any applicant selected to present agrees to deliver content that complies with the requirements and to meet the obligations set forth in this document.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Poster session topics must align with functional medicine (FM) clinical and research approaches and principles.
(We are looking for topics that involve the FM model or root-cause, systems biology approaches).

Poster topics must be broadly applicable for a functional medicine clinical audience.
(We are looking for topics that are likely to be of interest to a broad slice of conference attendees).

Therapeutic modalities featured in the poster (if any) have a clear reporting of the benefits vs. risks.
(If any treatments are present, we are looking for a transparent discussion of the clinical benefits and risks of harm, such that conference attendees have clear means of assessing the appropriateness of these treatments for their patient population).

The presentation must be free of any overt promotional inference or attempts to advertise products or services, including corporate or institutional logos. However, poster topics may feature industry-funded research or other projects. Products, services, and diagnostic assays must feature generic or scientific names only and avoid mention of commercial or brand names. Industry funding sources must be transparently disclosed.
(We are looking for posters that do not overtly promote a product, service, or lab test).

Preference will be given to candidate submissions that incorporate the theme for the current year’s conference in their poster topic.

MANDATORY ACTIVITIES
Applicants who are selected to present will be responsible for meeting the following commitments:

  • Register and attend the Event (at least one member of the author group).
  • Give a short, live, one-time presentation (10 minutes or less) and answer questions from attendees. The presentations will be scheduled during the conference breaks. Presentation schedules will be finalized and distributed to accepted poster authors by mid-May unless such other date is communicated by IFM.
  • Attend a poster orientation meeting in the late afternoon on May 29 or such other date communicated by IFM. Exact date and time of day will be confirmed and provided in the acceptance communication. This orientation will enable presenters to preview the poster venue, receive a tour of the digital poster platform, and meet the IFM poster support staff.

ACCEPTABLE POSTER CATEGORIES

  • Research studies, especially those that feature FM model concepts such as a systems approach, antecedents, triggers, mediators, modifiable lifestyle factors, and personalized interventions
  • Clinical case reports
  • Literature reviews on a topic that features an FM perspective
  • FM clinical implementation discussions, including:
    • Novel FM therapeutic approach(es) for a given condition, dysfunction, or disease
    • FM-oriented reviews of how FM may serve at-risk or underserved populations
    • FM-oriented reviews of new or emerging technologies

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
In order to be considered, proposals to present must:

  • Include an abstract and clear topic that meets the below abstract structure.
  • Be submitted by the application deadline established by IFM.
  • Provide a complete preview of the poster content, including results that pertain to the abstract’s objective(s). Applications that defer results to the completed poster will not be accepted. (An exception will be made for study protocols).
  • Exhibit mastery of the subject. Content must be logically presented and supported by current science, cited evidence, and clinical reasoning.
  • Disclose sources of funding and potential conflicts of interest (if applicable).
  • List all contributing co-authors.
  • Provide evidence in the form of a concise sample of citations that supports the safety and effectiveness of therapeutics, intervention, and/or key takeaways.
  • Report a sample of the benefits vs. risks for included therapeutic modalities included (if any).
  • Clinical case reports must not be autobiographical.
  • Include a disclosure regarding current relationships with IFM, including but not limited to: educator, industry partner, conference exhibitor, board of directors member, or other.

ABSTRACT STRUCTURE
Each abstract submission will have a maximum of 3,000 characters and should be formatted using the following headings: 

  • Title

  • Objectives/Statement of Opportunity: State the specific objectives or hypotheses to be tested. Abstracts of literature reviews and clinical implementation discussions will describe what problem or opportunity is addressed with this new procedure, program, or protocol.

  • Methods/Case Description/FM Approach: Clearly and concisely describe the specific methods, protocols, research design, or patient case. For clinical implementation abstracts, describe how this approach embodies or advances functional medicine practice.

  • Results: Report the most important findings, including results of statistical analyses. Research study and case reports abstracts without results will be rejected. Study protocol and FM clinical implementation abstracts can include "n/a" in the Results section of the abstract body text. Report safety data related to interventions, if applicable.

  • Takeaways/Conclusions: Briefly summarize the relevant takeaways of the research, including meaningful implications for future work (research, clinical practice, or public health) to the field. Conclusions must be valid and supported by the results.

  • Funding Sources/COI: Disclose any funding sources for the research included in the abstract. Transparently disclose all potential conflicts of interest.

  • Citations: Present a sample of citations to support methodology, the safety of any proposed interventions, and/or the abstract takeaways and conclusions.

MULTIPLE POSTER SUBMISSIONS

  • Only one poster submission per lead author will be accepted
  • Multiple poster submissions from the same co-author group will receive a lesser acceptance priority.
  • Multiple posters on the same topic per author group will not be accepted

POSTER INCENTIVE AWARD
In consideration for the accepted poster and the live presentation, IFM will award one (1) year of complimentary IFM membership. Authors or co-authors are eligible to receive the award. Only one award will be provided per poster. One author must register and attend the Event.

Apply