Description

Overview

The EDCTP Forum 2027 Programme Committee invites researchers and global health stakeholders to submit abstracts presenting original research on innovations and impact in global health research. Selected abstracts will be presented as oral or poster presentations at the 13th EDCTP Forum, taking place from 5–9 April 2027 in Madrid, Spain.

Researchers supported through EDCTP2, Global Health EDCTP3 and related Horizon Europe programmes are particularly encouraged to participate, alongside stakeholders worldwide conducting health research relevant to Africa.

Research Areas

Abstracts should fall under one of three main categories:

A. Advancing Biomedical Innovations

• Vaccines and neutralising antibodies
• Drug development and antimicrobial resistance
• Diagnostic development
• Coinfections and comorbidities

B. Knowledge Translation and Implementation Science for Public Health Impact

• Implementation science and national health research systems
• Maternal and child health
• Climate crisis, pandemics/epidemics and health
• Policy development and equitable access

C. Research Capacity Strengthening, Equity and Ethics

• Ethics, regulatory and pharmacovigilance frameworks in Africa
• Innovations in capacity strengthening, including digital technologies
• Partnerships and alliances
• Ethics, human rights, community engagement and participatory research

Who Can Submit?

Submissions are welcomed from researchers and stakeholders worldwide working on health research in Africa.

Researchers involved in projects supported by EDCTP2, Global Health EDCTP3 and other related Horizon Europe programmes are specifically encouraged to submit new developments and research results.

Abstract Requirements

Abstracts must:

• Be submitted in English
• Be no longer than 300 words
• Have a title of no more than 25 words
• Follow the structure: Background, Methods, Results and Conclusions
• Present original research that has not already been published or submitted to another national or international meeting, subject to the stated resubmission exceptions
• Contain no images, tables or graphics
• Include the research funding source in the submission
• Have approval from all authors

Clinical trial research must comply with the specified trial-registration requirements, and research must meet applicable ethical standards.

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships are available for early- and mid-career investigators with high-ranking abstracts and limited research funding.

Scholarships cover:

• Transport
• Accommodation
• Visa costs
• Access to Forum sessions
• Meals as indicated in the Forum programme

Applicants must request the scholarship when submitting their abstract and provide a CV and career summary, motivation letter, and institutional support letter.

Scholarship selection considers abstract and application quality, relevance, significance of results, potential benefits of attendance, geography and gender balance.

Publication and Presentation

Accepted abstracts may be selected for either an oral or poster presentation, with the final format determined by Global Health EDCTP3 and the Programme Committee.

Global Health EDCTP3 also aims to publish accepted abstracts in the Forum programme booklet and as a supplement in BMJ Public Health, subject to the relevant publication agreements.

Presenters are expected to attend the Forum in person.

Key Dates

Abstract submission deadline: 2 September 2026 at 17:00 CEST (Brussels time)
Notification of results: December 2026
EDCTP Forum: 5–9 April 2027
Location: Madrid, Spain

How to Submit

Abstracts must be submitted through the EDCTP Forum online abstract submission system. Applicants may save an incomplete application as a draft before submitting it.

For questions regarding abstract submissions, contact [email protected].