Annual TB Conference: The Union - NAR

The Union-North America Region (NAR) is the regional arm of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), a global public health organization with the vision to provide health solutions to the poor.  BC Lung is an organizational member of The Union and acts as the Secretariat, organizing and hosting The Union-NAR's  annual conference in consultation with the Executive Committee.  

The next annual conference will be held April 16-19, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA


2024 NAR/NTCA Tuberculosis Conference

 

April 16-19, 2024

Baltimore, MD

CALL FOR POSTER ABSTRACTS  

Deadline for Submissions: November 28, 2023 

 

POSTER ABSTRACT SUBMISSION 

 

We welcome the submission of poster abstracts containing research on all aspects of tuberculosis prevention and care, including epidemiological, clinical, basic science, nursing, social, behavioral, psychosocial, and educational studies, as well as outcomes of program initiatives to address issues like health equity/health disparities and the programmatic response to the recent influx of immigrants into North America. Abstracts must be submitted in accordance with these guidelines.   

 

 

Poster Presentations 

  • All poster abstracts submitted will be reviewed and scored by two reviewers. 
  • The highest-ranked abstracts will be considered for oral presentation; all other abstracts will be accepted for poster presentation. 
  • Abstracts of limited quality and those lacking results will not be accepted. 
  • At least one author of the abstract must register for the conference by February 29, 2024 and attend the conference. 

 

 

Abstract Content  

  • Abstracts may be written in English, French, or Spanish; however, we encourage posters to be in English. 
  • Abstracts must be a maximum of 300 words*, excluding title, headings, and authors’ names and affiliations (*Please note this is a change for 2024 - previously, NTCA accepted abstracts of 350 words and NAR requested 250 words.) 
  • The body of the abstract should contain the following sections (Note: section names should be included in the abstract, and written in all CAPITAL LETTERS): 

 

  • TITLE 
  • AUTHORS (last names and initials only, omit degrees), institutions, city, country (omit street address and zip/postal code); underline the name of presenting author 
  • BACKGROUND 
  • DESIGN/METHODS or INTERVENTION/RESPONSE 
  • RESULTS (Give both numbers and proportions where applicable) 
  • CONCLUSION 

 

Abstracts that do not adhere to the required format and work limit will be excluded from consideration.  

 

Abstracts may involve scientific research or public health practice, in the following categories: 

 

Category 1: Scientific research 

This category includes clinical, programmatic translational, and operational research. 

 

It is recommended that the abstracts in Category 1 be organized using the following sections: 

  • Background: State study objectives, study questions, or a description of the challenge addressed by the research. 
  • Design/Methods: State the setting, methods, desired outcomes, procedures, and techniques used to collect and analyze information. Include a description of participants, procedures, measures, and appropriate statistical analyses. 
  • Results: Present specific findings to date. 
  • Conclusion: State the implications of the results and key recommendations. Present specific findings on how the research addressed the study, question, or challenge. Highlight opportunities for future research as well as implications for further research for TB prevention and care programs. 

 

Category 2: Public health practice/education and training 

This category includes, but is not limited to, the following: TB clinical care, including new treatment regimens, TB epidemiology and surveillance, TB nurse case management, LTBI reporting and surveillance, TB outcomes of program initiatives, TB diagnostic and laboratory updates Contact investigations and large outbreak reporting, use of eDOT and other technologies to deliver care

 

It is recommended that the abstracts in Category 2 be organized using the following sections (if an abstract cannot address these sections, it is not eligible for submission): 

  • Background: What is the reason for implementation? What is the problem being addressed? Identify the context and the specific challenges to program implementation. Describe the activity, program, or policy by which the issue was addressed. Describe target populations, geographic sites/locations and scale and type of activity or service. 
  • Intervention/Response: How was the challenge overcome? Detail the methods, activities and implementation steps used to overcome the challenge. Describe the methods, procedures and techniques used to collect and analyze information that informed your conclusions. Identify the course of action used to address program implementation issues.  
  • Results: What are the lessons learned? Describe the results and impact of the project. Explain the potential application or benefit to other programs. Describe what worked and what did not work and the evidence that led to this determination. 
  • Conclusions: State the implications of the effective public health practice and key recommendations. Highlight opportunities for future program practice, as well as implications for other programs or settings. 

 

Scoring Criteria 

NoteThe 2024 TB Conference Abstract Committee has elected to embrace The Union (IUATLD) scoring criteria. The scoring rubric can be found here.   

 

Relevance (Weight 1.0) 0-5 points 

Methods/Intervention or Response (Weight 1.0) 0-5 points 

Results/Impact (Weight 1.0) 0-5 points 

Clarity of the Message (Weight 0.5) 0-5 points 

Originality (Weight 0.5) 0-5points

Total: 20 points 

 

Top Scoring Abstract Award 

This award will be given to the abstract with the highest score based on the scoring system and submitted by a student, trainee, fellow, or a junior professional (with < 5 years of professional experience in TB Care and Prevention). This includes nurses, physicians, epidemiologists, public health professionals, researchers, etc. 

 

Submission 

We are developing an online portal for submission of the 2023 poster abstracts.  We anticipate that the portal will be open by early November. Deadline to submit is November 28, 2023. 

 

Use of Non-stigmatizing Language 

The Union-NAR and NTCA are committed to promoting patient-centered, non-stigmatizing language in conference abstracts and presentations, and therefore requests that you follow the guidance laid out in the Stop TB Partnership’s publication: Suggested Language and Usage for Tuberculosis (TB) Care, Communications and Publications. 

 

Deadline for Submission: November 28, 2023 

 

Notification 

  • We will notify the submitting author of acceptance for oral (if requested) or poster presentation or rejection no later than December 20, 2023. 
  • Abstracts may be accepted immediately, or conditionally. If accepted conditionally, we will contact you with instructions for revisions needed, or to provide assistance. If you may need assistance, we encourage you to submit your abstract early (at least 2 weeks before the deadline) and request assistance. 
  • All accepted abstracts will be published in the meeting proceedings. 
  • Please note: If the abstract is accepted for oral presentation, authors will be required to submit presentations for review by February 29, 2024. Oral presentations will be limited to 7 minutes in length, with 3 minutes for discussion. Presenters of abstracts selected for oral presentation must also sign a conflict-of-interest disclosure form. This form will be provided to the authors and must be submitted along with the presentation. 

 

In addition to the opportunity to submit poster abstracts, the 2024 TB Conference will also include opportunities to discuss challenging clinical cases and challenging programmatic issues facing TB programs with a panel of TB experts. Additional information about this opportunity will be shared soon.   

 

 

For Additional information, contact:  

Menn Biagtan, MD, MPH Conference Secretariat 

T: 604.731.5864 

E: biagtan@bclung.ca 

 

Sherry Brown 

NTCA TB Conference Coordinator 

T: 678-503-0503 

E: sbrown.ntca@gmail.com 


2023 NAR Conference Archive:

 

POSTGRADUATE COURSE 1:

The Knowledge Management Loop: From Hard-Core Research to the 2-minute Elevator Pitch (Lena Faust, Petra Heitkamp, Kate O'Brien)

A New Tool You Can Use to Enhance Your Literacy (Ms. Jennifer Woolley)

How to Have a Powerful Meeting with Decision Makers (Ms. Leigh Raithby, Dr. Elizabeth Rea)

POSTGRADUATE COURSE 2:

Introduction to Implementation Science and Why It Is Relevant to TB (Dr. Christopher Hoffmann)

Implementation Science to Improve TB Prevention among Immigrant Communities in California (Dr. Amy Tang, Dr. Priya Shete)

Implementation Science and TB Preventative Therapy (TPT) (Dr. Patrick Sullivan)

Panel Discussion: Bringing Implementation Science to Public Health Programs

Dr. Laura Vonnahme

THE GEORGE COMSTOCK LECTURE:

The Spectrum of TB in Pregnancy - Increasing Awareness in Hope of Better Outcomes (Dr. Barbara Seaworth)

STOP TB SESSION: Implementation in a Post-Pandemic World:

The Updated Global Plan to End TB (Dr. Paula Fujiwara)

Pakistan's Experience with Building an Enhanced Digital TB Surveillance System (Dr. Syed Karam Shah)

Using Public-Private Partnerships to Help End TB (Ms. Petra Heitkamp)

Oral Abstract Presentation #1: Uniting Innovation with Implementation: An Evidence Synthesis of Implementation Strategies to Increase the Uptake and Impact of Molecular WHO-Recommended Rapid TB Dagnostic Tests (Dr. Abarna Pearl)

Industry Sponsored Satellite Symposium (QIAGEN)

Nursing and Allied Health Sponsored Session: Community Engagement to Build Trust & Transform Health Systems:

Prevention and Treatment of Tuberculosis in Indigenous Communities: Highlights from the 8th Edition of the Canadian Tuberculosis Standards (Mr. Jonathan Dunn)

Award Ceremony:

Dr. Charles Peloquin

Dr. Max Salfinger

Challenging Cases Pt. 1:

Case #1 (Dr. James Gaensbauer)

Case #2 (Dr. Imelda Villarosa)

Case #3 (Dr. William Connors)

TB and Pregnancy Session:

Case Presentation (Dr. Rachel Dwilow)

TB Infection in Pregnancy: Novel Insights into Immunology and Prevention (Dr. Jyoti Mathad)

Best Practices for the Care of Pregnant and Peripartum People with DR-TB (Dr. Jennifer Furin)

The Beyond TB Lecture: Novel Strategies for Wastewater Surveillance (Dr. Amy Kirby)

TB Science: What's Hot?

Making Cough Count in Tuberculosis (Dr. Simon Grandjean Lapierre)

Innovations in Non-Sputum-Based TB Diagnostics in Adults and Children (Dr. Tania Thomas)

Epidemiology of TB Transmission in the United States (Dr. Sourya Shrestha)

Oral Abstract Presentation #3: Incorporations of Clinical Factors to Improve the Diagnostic Accuracy of Artificial Intelligence-Based Chest X-Ray Analysis for Detecting Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Ms. Coralie Geric)

Challenging Cases Pt. 2:

Case #1 (Dr. Tine Vindenes)

Case #2 (Dr. Savio Nguyen)

Case #3 (Ms. Sarah Silverberg)

Subclinical TB: Challenges in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Transmission:

Overview: Subclinical TB and Its Global Burden (Dr. Emily Kendall)

The Role of Subclinical TB in Transmission (Dr. Barun Mathema)

Will Subclinical TB Hinder TB Elimination in North America? (Dr. Jonathon Campbell)

Oral Abstract Presentation #4: A Comparison of the Chest Radiographic and Computed Tomographic Features of Subclinical Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Dr. Angela Lau)

General Assembly (Dr. Kevin Schwartzman)

Clinical Trials Update:

TRUNCATE (2m DS-TB) (Dr. Nick Paton)

SUDOCU - A Phase 2b Trial of Sutezolid, Bedaquiline, Delamanid and Moxifloxacin for TB (Dr. Norbert Heinrich)

TB PRACTECAL: Final Clinical Trials Results (Dr. Bern-Thomas Nyang'wa)

STREAM Stage 2: Week 76 Results (Dr. ID Rusen)

Oral Abstract Presentation #5: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Identify the Optimal Dose of Levofloxacin for the Treatment of Rifampicin-Resistant TB (Dr. Patrick Phillips)


View the conference program HERE.

View the abstracts HERE.

View the conference evaluation form HERE.

A Message from Dr. Jonathan Golub, 2022 Program Chair/Vice President, The Union-NAR

We hope you will join us in Vancouver for the END TB: 27th Annual Conference of The Union - North America Region! Our multidisciplinary planning committee has assembled an engaging lineup of speakers that will cover timely topics in TB prevention and care, including the updated Global Plan to End TB, TB and pregnancy, subclinical TB, community engagement, recent therapeutic trials, and novel diagnostics. We are also thrilled to have Dr. Barbara Seaworth and Dr. Amy Kirby as our keynote speakers for the George Comstock Lecture and the Beyond TB Lectures respectively. This year we have expanded our programming on challenging clinical TB cases chaired by our multidisciplinary expert panel. We also hope you will join us early for our free pre-conference postgraduate workshops on research literacy and advocacy for clinicians, researchers and survivors, and an introduction to implementation science. We look forward to welcoming you in Vancouver, along with a diverse group of TB advocates, survivors, scientists, clinicians, and program managers, to network and discuss the latest in TB.


2023 Lifetime Achievement Awards

Congratulations to our Lifetime Achievement Awardees: Dr. Max Salfinger and Dr. Charles Peloquin


2023 Early Career Investigator Award

Congratulations to our Early Career Investigator Awardee: Dr. Simon Grandjean Lapierre


CALL FOR SPONSORSHIPS

Looking for sponsors for this year's NAR Conference. Connect exhibitors and sponsors with delegates leading the work in TB and lung health around the world. View our sponsorship packages to see what fits you best.

View Sponsorship Package


NAR CHARTER

This charter governs the North America Region (NAR) established by the General Assembly of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).

Read the NAR Charter

 

CONFERENCE ARCHIVES 

Page Last Updated: 24/10/2023