The Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) are pleased to announce an open Call for Session proposals for its upcoming Symposium, Trustworthy Translation – Stories of Today, Visions of Tomorrow. We invite researchers, collaborators, and educators to submit session proposals showcasing innovative work that advances health.
Submissions must address one of the following focal topic areas:
- Community-Led or Community-Engaged Research
- Programs to enable people who are members of community groups outside of academic institutions to lead and collaborate on research projects
- Data Democratization
- Projects to make research and health data more accessible to researchers and community members while still protecting patient privacy
- Dissemination and Implementation
- Research on how to improve the reach and impact of studies
- Health Access
- Projects to make health care and clinical trials available to everyone
- Learning Health Systems
- Projects where health systems learn from research and community to improve processes
- Team Science
- Research on how teams can work better together
- Trustworthy AI
- Projects to evaluate AI potential within healthcare while ensuring accuracy and ethical use
- Workforce Innovation
- Projects to educate and advance future and existing researchers of all kinds
Session descriptions should clearly indicate which one of these topics the work addresses.
Who Should Submit: This inclusive call seeks a range of perspectives from academia, healthcare, and the community, in keeping with our mission of team science and broad engagement. We welcome submissions from Duke, NCCU, and Durham Tech faculty, staff, and students; and members of community-based organizations involved in health research or practice.
Collaboration is encouraged – proposals that include co-authors or presenters from multiple disciplines, professions, or institutions are highly desirable.
Group presentations, panel sessions, and workshops must include more than one presenter or facilitator.
Session Format Options
Submitters must select one of the following session formats. A summary table is provided for quick reference, followed by detailed descriptions:
|
Session Format |
Duration |
Presenter Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
Group Presentation / Panel |
45 minutes (30 min presentation, 15 Q&A) |
≥ 2 presenters. Must include multiple contributors; interdisciplinary and cross-institutional team strongly encouraged. |
|
Individual short talk Presentation |
5 minute presentation, 5 minutes for Q&A |
1 presenter. Single speaker shares insights in a concise, engaging talk (TED talk-style). |
|
Interactive Workshop |
45 minutes |
≥ 2 facilitators. Must include multiple facilitators; interactive format with interdisciplinary team strongly encouraged. |
|
Poster/ Oral Poster Presentation |
Poster session (time TBA) |
1 or more presenting authors: at least one author present during session. Submitters may be asked to give an oral poster presentation |
Additional Information
Format Descriptions:
- 45-Minute Group Presentation / Panel: A collaborative oral presentation session led by multiple presenters (two or more). This format is ideal for showcasing a project or topic from several perspectives or institutions. Panel sessions may consist of short presentations by each panelist with a moderated discussion or Q&A portion included. Interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration is emphasized – panels should represent a range of expertise (e.g. clinical researchers, data scientists, community stakeholders) to embody team science. This format allows presenters to delve into a topic in depth and engage in dialogue with each other and the audience. (Example: a panel of researchers and community leaders co-presenting on improving health access, offering complementary insights.)
- 10-Minute Short Individual Talk: A concise, TedTalk-style presentation by a single presenter, perfect for spotlighting a novel idea, case study, or insight in a dynamic way. In 5 minutes, the speaker should deliver a focused, compelling narrative or argument related to one of the symposium themes. This format encourages engaging storytelling and clear key messages, to spark fresh thinking among the audience. Visual aids are welcome to enhance the talk. (For these individual talks, a short Q&A may be included at the moderator’s discretion, or talks may be grouped into a lightning-talk session due to their brief length.)
- 45-Minute Interactive Workshop: A longer session emphasizing audience interaction and skill-building. Workshops are facilitated by multiple leaders (at least two co-facilitators), ideally from different disciplines or organizations, who guide participants through exercises, discussions, or demonstrations. This format is suited for hands-on learning or deep dives into methods and tools (for example, a training exercise or tool demo). Interprofessional facilitation is encouraged to enrich the experience. The 45-minute timeline should include participant engagement (Q&A, breakout activities, etc.) in addition to any presentation content.
- Poster Session: A traditional scientific poster presentation visual format. Accepted posters will be displayed during a dedicated poster session at the symposium (exact timing to be announced in the program). Each poster will have at least one presenting author available to discuss the work with attendees during the session. The posters may be presented as oral poster presentations rather than printed posters, which will be communicated to poster submitters by the symposium organizers upon acceptance. This format welcomes submissions from individuals or small teams. (Please note any specific size or orientation requirements will be provided to accepted poster presenters in advance.)
Submission Guidelines:
- Summary Content: Submissions should include a concise summary of the work or session proposed. Clearly state the background, methods or format of presentation, and the specific topic area from the list that the submission addresses. For group/panel or workshop proposals, outline the roles of the presenters/facilitators and how they will incorporate multiple perspectives. All abstracts must be focused on one of the seven symposium themes listed above; submissions outside these topics may not be considered. Please do not submit the same concept to multiple formats.
- Summary Format: The summary text must follow the guideline on the submission form. Please use a descriptive title and list all authors/presenters with affiliations. Indicate your preferred session format (from the options above) and the relevant topic on the submission form. If the work involves multiple presenters, list a contact person for correspondence. Figures or tables are not permitted.
- How to Submit: Submit your session proposal via the online submission portal. Abstracts may be submitted in English or Spanish. Abstracts are due by March 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Late submissions will not be accepted, so please plan accordingly.
Review Process
All submitted session proposals will undergo a peer review by a committee convened by the symposium organizers. Each proposal will be evaluated for relevance to the stated symposium topics, clarity of objectives, quality of content, and alignment with the chosen format. The review committee will also consider the diversity of presenters and institutions, especially for group and workshop proposals, in line with our goal of interdisciplinary collaboration. Every effort will be made to accommodate the submitter’s preferred format, but the committee may recommend a different presentation format based on the fit of the content.
Notification of Acceptance: Authors of selected proposals will be notified approximately three weeks after the abstract submission deadline Detailed instructions for presenters (e.g. slide deck deadlines, poster dimensions, etc.) will be provided upon acceptance.
Symposium Details
The Symposium will convene on May 26, 2026 in the Great Hall of the Duke Trent Semans Conference Center. It will be an in-person event featuring plenary talks, the above-listed sessions, and networking opportunities. All presenters are expected to register for the event (registration details will be communicated with acceptance). Presenters will have the opportunity to share their work with a diverse and engaged audience, including peers across academia, healthcare, and community sectors.
We look forward to your innovative contributions. By bringing together different session formats and participants from various professional backgrounds, we aim to spark meaningful discussions and new partnerships that will drive our field forward.
For questions or further information, please contact Stephanie Freel at freels@duke.edu. We appreciate your interest and effort in advance.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We eagerly anticipate your submissions and hope to welcome you at the symposium!