The Union World Conference on Lung Health 2023 is pleased to host 6th edition of TBScience, an official event entirely devoted to basic and translational TB research. After three years of virtual conference format, TBScience will be held in-person during the Union Conference between 15-18 November 2023.

TBScience is devoted to basic and clinical science on tuberculosis. Abstracts should:

1. Respond to at least one of the 4 session themes:
   1. TB within the Global AMR fight: Preventing drug resistance
   2. Correlates of protection to guide vaccine and host-directed therapy discovery and development
   3. Earlier detection for easier treatment: Thinking outside the sputum pot
   4. Observing the unobservable: Tools, methods, and strategies for measuring transmission

Note: Abstracts outside of the above themes will also be considered. Please select “Other” in the submission process

2. Contain original data not published at the time of the abstract submission deadline
3. Focus on any of the following research fields:
   1. Basic research (microbiology, immunology, -omics, etc)
   2. Animal model studies
   3. Clinical research
   4. Epidemiology and transmission modeling

4. Not eligible are abstracts related to:
   1. Implementation, operational and programmatic research
   2. Descriptive epidemiology (e.g. prevalence surveys)
   3. Health economics, social science research

• All TBScience 2023 abstracts must be submitted online via the dedicated system that will be available from 2 May to 8 June. Abstracts submitted by email or any alternative method will not be considered.
• Persons submitting TBScience 2023 abstracts will be notified of acceptance or rejection of their submissions by late July 2023.
• If you represent a UN organisation, please select the name of the organisation from the list available in the drop down menu.
• A listed co-author other than the corresponding author may register and present the study at the conference. The corresponding author is responsible for the abstract content. S/he is the contact person for submission and communication purposes and is also responsible for disseminating information related to the session to the co-authors.
• The presenting author by submitting their abstract agrees to make themselves (or a colleague) available during the conference for a virtual question and answer session/ poster tour/ record a short presentation that can be placed online within the conference platform.
• The maximum number of authors and institutions is eight.
• If all authors belong to a single institution, you do not need to create new affiliations for each author.
• When submitting, click on “Institutes” to fill in the affiliation fields.
• Please note that alternate language interpretations of presentations will not be provided.

THEMES

Abstract submissions, either oral or poster presentations, should be aligned with one of the below listed four TBScience themes:

Theme 1: TB within the Global AMR fight: Preventing drug resistance  
Description: Whilst we can celebrate the availability of new compounds and treatment options for drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB, the rapid emergence of resistance to some new drugs is a major concern. In this session, we will review advances in regimen and drug development, companion diagnostics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics as well as the drivers of emerging drug resistance, threats to these new regimens, and explore mitigating strategies to protect them.  

Theme 2:  Correlates of protection to guide vaccine and host-directed therapy discovery and development   
Description:  Vaccine and host-directed therapy discovery and development are hampered by an incomplete understanding of host protection against TB infection and disease, and by a lack of clinical correlates of protection. This session will review knowledge of this host protection and include topics such as innate and acquired immunity against TB, pathogen-induced inflammation and damage, and ongoing efforts to identify clinical correlates of protection.  

Theme 3: Earlier detection for easier treatment: Thinking outside the sputum pot  
Description: Innovative and new methods for sampling and detection allow disease to be captured across the spectrum, including early, sub-clinical and extra-pulmonary TB. This session will explore new research into novel diagnostic tests and biomarkers, and how these advances could change how we approach therapy for prevention of progression and treatment of disease. 

Theme 4: Observing the unobservable: Tools, methods, and strategies for measuring transmission  
Description: Reducing transmission of M. tuberculosis is essential, yet determining whether and when transmission has occurred poses many challenges. This session will explore the latest advances for how to identify and measure infectivity (from host or pathogen perspectives), recent infection, transmission events, and patterns of transmission – as well as the design of trials and observational studies with transmission-related endpoints.    

• The abstract should be in English, and no more than 300 words.
• Type the title of the abstract in upper and lower case, using capitals only for the first word, acronyms and proper nouns.
• Titles of more than 25 words (110 characters and spaces) will be truncated.
• One table or one figure may be included with the abstract.
• If you wish to submit a table with your abstract, note that it should be no larger than 5 rows by 10 columns.
• If you wish to submit a figure with your abstract, note the maximum file size of each graph/image is 5 MB. The maximum pixel size of the graph is 600(w) x 800(h). You may upload graphs in JPG, GIF or PNG format.
• Recommended resolution: min. 150 dpi, 300 dpi for images, 600 dpi for line art (charts).
• Important: the graphic content must be clearly legible when previewing the abstract.
• Low-resolution images will not be included in the Abstract Book.
• Please note that tables and figures are reproduced in a single column with the abstract and that legibility is the responsibility of the author. We recommend that you use a sans serif (Arial or Calibri) font for clarity.
• Use the palette of characters provided to insert symbols, accents and special formatting (e.g., italics, bold, β, μ, etc.).
• Abbreviations and acronyms must be written out in full at the first mention in the text.
• Authors are responsible for proofreading and submitting an abstract without errors.

• Authors are given flexibility with regards to the structure of their abstract.
• No imposed abstract sections such as Background, Methods, Results and Conclusions are required.
• It is the responsibility of the author to present the abstract in a cohesive way.

• The Union is committed to promoting patient-centred language
• When drafting your abstract, please follow the guidance laid out in the Stop TB Partnership’s publication, Suggested Language and Usage for Tuberculosis (TB) Care, Communications and Publications.

SUBMITTING AN ABSTRACT

• To submit a new abstract, create a user account on the abstract submission platform
• Ensure that you carefully read all instructions given on the screen at each step of the process.
• Do not upload the text of your abstract as an attachment. Abstracts submitted as attachments will not be considered.
• Please refrain from submitting multiple abstracts on the same topic by varying the authors or under different titles with only minor word changes. In such cases, all of the submissions on that topic will be automatically rejected.

POST-SUBMISSION

• The corresponding author will receive an email confirming that the submitted abstract has been received successfully, with an attachment of the submission.
• After the abstract has been submitted, it can still be edited. However, please make sure that you submit it in its final version before the deadline.

REVIEW

• All submitted abstracts will be sent for peer review by a panel of international experts.
• The scores will then be submitted to a reviewing committee. Note that decisions of the abstract review committee are final and cannot be appealed.

NOTIFICATION

• Corresponding authors will be notified of acceptance of their abstracts by end of July.
• Abstracts that are  not  accepted  cannot  be  reconsidered for  review  or  presentation  at  the conference.

TO INCLUDE WITH APPLICATION:

• Confirmation that the work has not been previously submitted for consideration to the general portion of the Union World Conference.
• The address, phone and email address where the author may be contacted.
• Information if you require a scholarship to register for the conference.