RDF26 Call for Abstracts

The R&D Forum Programme Content Group is inviting abstracts for posters for RDF26: The 2026 R&D Forum conference. The conference will be held from 10^th to 12^th May 2026 in Birmingham.

The R&D Forum Programme Content Group is inviting abstracts for oral and poster presentations for RDF26: The 2026 R&D Forum conference. The conference will be held from 10^th to 12^th May 2026 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.

The R&D Forum conference is the annual flagship event for the UK health and care R&D community and as ever, we want the programme to reflect your achievements, challenges and priorities.

Suggested Themes:

With the above in mind, we invite submissions of abstracts for oral and poster presentations on how you are creatively and innovatively responding in the dynamic R&D environment under the following themes:

R&D delivery and management
R&D workforce (all roles)
R&D integration, partnerships and collaborations
Patient and community voice

We have curated these themes to provide structure and ensure that attendees can navigate the key priorities facing our community. The themes have been deliberately set at a high-level – this is so we can reflect what these themes mean to you and to be as inclusive as possible.

Representation & Collaboration:

To ensure representation from across the UK, we actively encourage submissions from all four nations. Similarly, colleagues from non-NHS organisations engaged in health and care research are actively encouraged to submit.

Based on feedback from RDF25 delegates, for RDF26 we strongly encourage combined submissions for oral presentations and sessions by multiple presenters from different organisations coming together in collaboration. We may also suggest, once all oral abstracts have been considered, for individual submissions to be combined into a larger session – where it is felt there could be greater impact. Support will be provided if this is the case.

We also expect all oral presentations to use interactive elements for the audience to support group discussion, practice and learning.

New for RDF26:

We will be awarding one fully funded place to RDF26 for what we judge to be the best abstract from a new entrant. The definition of a new entrant in this instance is any member of the community delivering, managing or leading research in any UK health and care setting, appointed in the last 3 years. For applications where there are multiple presenters, all should meet the criteria to qualify. Please indicate on the on the submission form if you wish to be considered.

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Please carefully read the abstract submissions guidelines before beginning the submission form.

Language
Number of Presenters

You can have up to four presenters for the oral presentation/poster. The lead applicant should be listed first and should also be the main point of contact. Each presenter’s full name and professional address including employing organisation should also be submitted.
Number of Abstracts

You can submit more than one abstract either as lead, or part of another team. Should more than one oral abstract be accepted, we will ensure the presentations are scheduled to ensure there are no time conflicts.

Please do not submit the same abstract more than once.
Abstract Selection

All submitted abstracts will be reviewed and selected on criteria including content, relevance, inclusivity and shared best practice to the UK health and care R&D community.

Notification of acceptance or rejection of oral abstracts and poster abstracts will be sent in due course. It is the responsibility of the lead presenter to notify others who were involved in the submission.

If the lead presenter or author hasn’t heard from us, it simply means decisions are still being finalised. We kindly ask that you wait for our notification before getting in touch to ask about the status of your submission.

If you are unsuccessful for the oral abstract, there is still the opportunity to be considered for a poster abstract. Please indicate on the submission form if you would like to accept this opportunity
Event Registration and run up to the Event

Successful applicants will be offered the early bird rate. The timelines for submission and notice of acceptance allow for applicants to take advantage of the early bird offer.

If your application is successful, all presenters commit to present, register to attend and engage fully with the conference organisers to ensure that, on the day, the session and conference will run as smoothly as possible for everyone involved.
Abstract Template
Length
Speaker Information (Oral Abstracts Only)

Prospective speaker headshots (not AI Generated/edited, at least 400×400 pixels) and short bios (80-150 words) will be required at the time an abstract is submitted. Oral abstracts without supporting information will not be considered.

Submissions must also include information about how the proposed presentation or session will be structured to encourage audience interaction, as directed in the form. Creative approaches to interaction are strongly encouraged.

Oral Abstract Submission

Open until Friday 17th October

Abstracts for oral presentations or interactive workshops that are accepted by the Programme Content Group will be invited to present in person during the conference. Presenters will engage with delegates, share insights, and participate in discussions during their session. Oral sessions are an excellent opportunity to explore a topic in depth, inspire new thinking, and influence practice across health and care research.

Please note that in some cases, abstracts may be combined with others covering similar topics to create a single session by the Programme Group. This ensures a rich and diverse discussion for delegates.

Submitting an oral abstract gives you the chance to showcase your work, share innovative ideas, and contribute to shaping the future of UK health and care research at RDF26.

Poster Abstract Submissions

Open until Friday 14th November

Abstracts for posters that are accepted by the Programme Content Group will be invited to display their poster throughout the event. Authors should be prepared to stand by and discuss their poster with delegates during the breaks. This provides presenters with an excellent opportunity to interact with delegates and to see other posters in the same theme. As a general rule, posters should be vibrant and visually stimulating with clear aims, objectives and a take home message for the community.

Submitting a poster abstract provides you with an opportunity to share your experience and knowledge with the wider community in health and care research at RDF26.

Submit your Abstract below

Before submitting your abstract, please take a moment to read all the guidance and information provided to make the most of this opportunity and ensure your submission meets the requirements.

RDF26 Call for Abstracts

Your Details

Please provide the details of who is submitting the abstract. This does not have to be the person who would be presenting/attending at RDF26.

First Name

Surname

Organisation

What would you like this abstract to be considered for?

Oral presentation

Interactive Workshop

Poster

Check all that apply

If you are a new entrant (appointed within the last 3 years), would you like your abstract to be considered for the fully funded place at RDF26?

No Yes

To qualify for this you need to have been delivering, managing or leading research in any UK health and care setting for less than 3 years. If there are multiple speakers for this presentation, all must qualify.

If you are human, leave this field blank.

Awards and Recognition

All accepted abstracts are automatically considered for the RDF26 Awards. These include Best Overall (poster and abstract), Delegate’s Choice (poster and abstract), and Sponsor’s Choice (poster and abstract).

Winning an award is a prestigious recognition of your contribution to health and care research. It’s a chance to showcase your work to a national audience, gain visibility among peers and leaders, and celebrate the impact of your research with the wider community.

See RDF25's Award Winners