New for 2008

The American Heart Association has modified their policy regarding abstracts accepted for presentation at the 2008 AHA Scientific Sessions and other scientific meetings including the HFSA. This is for early career Investigators only.

"If early career investigators feel compelled to increase their opportunity of scientific interaction, then the abstract submission to the AHA must have incremental information from the abstract submitted elsewhere to justify submission and presentation at the AHA, should the investigator’s work be accepted at both meetings. Each investigator will determine, in good conscience, what constitutes incremental information and should notify AHA staff."

Complete Call for Abstracts

To read the complete rules for abstract submission you can download the call for abstracts here. (PDF 681 KB)

Electronic Submission

The online electronic submission method works optimally with Netscape Navigator Communicator 7.0 or higher; Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.2 or higher, and Mozilla Firefox version 1.0 or higher. The electronic Call for Abstracts screen provides links so that you can download this free software.

On-line submission will allow you to create a user name and password, enter your abstract and save it and then return to it from anywhere you have Internet access to edit and update it (until you have submitted the abstract).

The web site is available 24 hours a day until 11:59 PM (CT) on Monday, April 07, 2008, from any location that has access to the Internet.

Multiple authors can easily review and/or work on the abstract from different sites (not at the same time).

The Web site supports graphic images, tables (with special characters/symbols), Greek characters and special symbols.

Follow the on-screen instructions for on-line submission. If technical assistance is needed, please contact Marathon Multimedia at (507) 334-5212, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday-Friday (CT).

Abstract Deadline

Abstracts must be received electronically no later than 11:59 PM (CT), Monday, April 07, 2008. Paper submissions or faxed abstracts are not acceptable. You will receive notification by e-mail (if address is provided) or by fax within 2-3 business days that your abstract has been received. Notification of acceptance or rejection of abstracts will be mailed on or about May 23, 2008.

Acceptance:

A few accepted abstracts will be selected for presentation in oral abstract sessions. If your abstract is chosen for oral presentation, notification will be included with the abstract acceptance letter.

1. Abstracts accepted are embargoed for release at the time of presentation at the Heart Failure Society of America's Scientific Meeting; information may not be released before then.
2. Abstract grading is blinded. Abstracts are selected on the basis of scientific merit.
3. Acceptance notifications will be sent on or about May 23, 2008.
4. Abstracts accepted for presentation will be published as a supplement to the Journal of Cardiac Failure. Authors whose abstracts are accepted give HFSA permission and the authority to submit and have published his/her abstract, without compensation in the Journal of Cardiac Failure. Authors will be expected to attend the meeting and present their posters. Selected abstracts may be chosen for moderated posters or oral presentations.
5. All abstracts submitted must comply with the guidelines to be considered for acceptance.

Rules for Submission:

Author Name(s)

1. If an author's name appears on more than one abstract, it must be identical on each abstract.
2. The submitting author is designated as the presenting or primary author. You may re-arrange the order of the authors; however, the senior author must always be listed last.

Abstract Data

1. The Heart Failure Society of America is a forum for presentation of novel research findings. Therefore, work covered by the abstract must not have been published (manuscript or abstract), prior to March 31, 2008.
2. Abstract data may not be presented at a national meeting or world congress in the United States prior to July 1, 2008.
3. Authors should not "split" data to create several abstracts from one. If splitting is judged to have occurred, scores of related abstracts will be reduced.
4. Abstracts containing identical or nearly identical data submitted from the same institution and/or individuals will be disqualified.
5. Informed consent: Any studies involving human subjects must conform to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association (Clinical Research 1996; 14:103) and must meet all of the requirements governing informed consent of the country in which the study was performed. Any procedures performed must meet with prevailing ethical standards.
6. Use of Animals: All studies involving the use of animals must conform with the 1991 revision of "Guiding Principles in the Care and Use of Animals" (American Physiological Association).

Abstract Withdrawal:

Withdrawal of accepted abstracts must be received, in writing, by HFSA no later than June 20, 2008 to avoid publication in the Journal of Cardiac Failure supplement.

Rules for Preparation of Abstracts

Title:

1. An abstract must have a short, specific title (no abbreviations) that clearly indicates the nature of the investigation.

Text:

2. Briefly describe the objectives of the study unless they are contained in the title. If applicable, include a brief statement of methods. State findings in sufficient detail to support conclusions. Abstracts should not describe research in which the chemical identity or source of the reagent is proprietary or cannot be revealed.
3. Use generic names wherever possible. Product-based names are to be used only when necessary.
4. Avoid beginning sentences with numerals.
5. Standard abbreviations may be used without definition. Nonstandard abbreviations (minimum number) should be placed in parentheses after the first use of the word or phrase abbreviated.
6. No references, credits or grant support should be included in the abstract.
7. No identifying information about patients participating in a study or trial should be used (name or personal information).
8. Check category for submission carefully to assure proper scientific consideration.
9. Proofread abstracts carefully to avoid errors before submission. No corrections will be allowed once abstract has been submitted.

Writing an Abstract

1. Title: make the title dynamic and conclusive, rather than descriptive.
2. Structure: A well written abstract should have the following identified sections: Introduction, Hypothesis, Methods, Results and Conclusions.
3. Category: Carefully choose the correct category for submission of your work.
4. Length: Maximum length is 2,800 characters including tables and graphs.

Award Competitions

If also submitting for an award competition, please check the appropriate box and complete information as required.

Co-Author Approval

The submitting author will be required to check a box verifying that all co-authors have read and approved the submission of the abstract. This will replace downloading and faxing a signed copy of the submitted abstract.

Disclosure Form

A disclosure form identifying commercial relationships for all co-authors will need to be completed online for each abstract by the submitting author. When the box is checked, the submitting author is signing and verifying disclosure on behalf of all co-authors. Disclosure information for accepted abstracts will be made available to the 2008 HFSA Scientific Meeting Attendees.

For questions, contact:

Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA)
Court International, Suite 240 South
2550 University Avenue West
St. Paul, MN 55114
Phone: 651.642.1633
Fax: 651.642.1502