Abstracts and Case Reports

Nomination-Based Awards
On acceptance, your abstract or case report may be considered for an award. Abstract- and case report-based awards are given to the first author of the abstract or case report. All authors of an abstract or case report will be notified if their submission receives an award. For more information, contact SCCM Customer Service.
 
Star Research Award Recipients
The top-scoring abstracts are selected for Star Research Presentations in Connections Central (Exhibit Hall). From these selected abstracts, the In-Training and Early-Stage Researcher awards are given. These awards require an application. Applications are available online within the abstract submission system. Recipients of the In-Training and Early-Stage Researcher awards receive $2,500 and a personalized commemorative plaque.

Early-Stage Researcher Award: Criteria

• Applicant must have completed a training program at least 18 months (but not more than three years) before February 2027.
• Applicant must complete the application and upload a verification letter on official letterhead signed by a program director by September 3, 2026. Please include the abstract title.

In-Training Award: Criteria

• Applicant must be in a critical care training program or have ended training not more than one year before Congress.
• Applicant must complete the application and upload a verification letter on official letterhead signed by a program director by September 3, 2026. Please include the abstract title.

From the remaining abstracts, the following awards are given:

• Gold Medal Award: This is awarded to the applicant with the highest abstract score of the remaining submissions. Only one Gold Medal Award is given per year. The awardee receives $2,000 and a commemorative plaque and should consider submitting the manuscript for publication in Critical Care Medicine.
• Silver Medal Award: This is awarded to the applicant with the second-highest abstract score of the remaining submissions. Only one Silver Medal Award is given per year. The awardee receives $1,000 and a commemorative plaque and should consider submitting the manuscript for publication in Critical Care Medicine.
• Bronze Medal Award: This is awarded to the applicant with the third-highest abstract score of the remaining submissions. Only one Bronze Medal Award is given per year. The awardee receives $500 and a commemorative plaque and should consider submitting the manuscript for publication in Critical Care Medicine.
• The recipients of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medal Awards are not eligible to receive the Early-Stage Researcher or In-Training awards.
• The remaining submitters in this category receive a Star Research Award certificate of achievement and $100.

Research Snapshot Awards
Authors of abstracts that were not accepted for Star Research Presentations make short presentations facilitated by a moderator in the Research Snapshot Theaters in Connections Central (Exhibit Hall). Additionally, the abstracts with the top 30 scores in this category receive the following awards:

• Gold Snapshot Award: This is awarded to 10 people per year with the highest-ranking abstracts in this category. The awardee receives a certificate.
• Silver Snapshot Award: This is awarded to 10 people per year with the highest-ranking abstracts in this category. The awardee receives a certificate.
• Bronze Snapshot Award: This is awarded to 10 people per year with the highest-ranking abstracts in this category. The awardee receives a certificate.

Case Report Snapshot Awards
Authors of accepted case reports make short presentations facilitated by a moderator in the Research Snapshot Theaters located in Connections Central (Exhibit Hall). Additionally, the top three case reports receive the following awards:

• One First-Place Award certificate
• One Second-Place Award certificate
• One Third-Place Award certificate

Hector R. Wong Award for Precision Medicine in Sepsis
First authors of abstracts submitted in the precision medicine in sepsis category who are SCCM members will be considered for this award. The award recipient will be recognized during the Abstracts Award Presentation at Congress and will receive a plaque and $1000.

Congress Scholarships
SCCM specialty sections offer a $500 scholarship for a section member. The application is completed during the submission process. The applicant must:

• Be an SCCM member
• Be a member of the section to which the applicant is applying
• Be an early-career investigator
• Attend the 2027 Congress
• Be the first and presenting author of an accepted abstract
• Be multidisciplinary, if multiple recipients

Additionally, the research should:

• Support emerging science in the applicant’s specialty
• Demonstrate excellence based on the submission’s score
• Demonstrate the importance of the work to critically ill patients and families
• Be relevant to the section specialty

Members of the section leadership are ineligible to apply for the scholarship.

Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology Section Awards

Patient Safety and Early-Stage Researcher Award: Criteria

• Applicant must be a pharmacist who is in residency or fellowship training or who has completed training within five years before the application date.
• Applicant must be a member of the SCCM Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology (CPP) Section, be the first author of the submitted project, and have no current employment with the pharmaceutical industry.
• Multiprofessional collaboration with physicians, nurses, information technologists, administrators, and other healthcare professionals is welcome and strongly encouraged.
• SCCM members who have served as chair or chair-elect of the SCCM CPP Patient Safety Committee or who have served on the SCCM CPP Steering Committee are not eligible to apply until three years after their term has ended. These members must also not be senior authors on submitted abstracts.
• Collaboration on the project with an SCCM member who has served as chair or chair-elect of the SCCM CPP Patient Safety Committee or who has served on the SCCM CPP Executive Committee does not affect the eligibility of an applicant who meets all other criteria.
• Applicant must upload a verification letter on official letterhead signed by a program director or current employer by September 3, 2026. The letter must include the applicant’s name, abstract title, qualifying criteria, dates of fellowship/training, and director’s name.

Innovations in Patient and Medication Safety Award: Criteria

• Applicant must be a pharmacist who is a member of the SCCM Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology (CPP) Section, be the first author of the submitted project, and have no current employment with the pharmaceutical industry.
• Multiprofessional collaboration with physicians, nurses, information technologists, administrators, and other healthcare professionals is welcome and strongly encouraged.
• SCCM members who have served as chair or chair-elect of the SCCM CPP Patient Safety Committee or who have served on the SCCM CPP Steering Committee are not eligible to apply until three years after their term has ended. These members must also not be senior authors on submitted abstracts.
• Collaboration on the project with an SCCM member who has served as chair or chair-elect of the SCCM CPP Patient Safety Committee or who has served on the SCCM CPP Executive Committee does not affect the eligibility of an applicant who meets all other criteria.

Submission

Can I submit more than one abstract or case report?
Yes, you may submit multiple abstracts or case reports. Each submission must be completed separately and meet all requirements.

Is there a submission fee?
SCCM members enjoy complimentary abstract and case report submission for the Critical Care Congress. The fee for nonmembers is $45 per submission and is nonrefundable.

What are the format and word count requirements?
Formatting guidelines and word count limits are provided within the submission site. Please review these instructions carefully before submitting.

Is there a limit to the number of authors?
Yes, a maximum of 20 authors may be listed. This limit is outlined in the Author section of the submission site.

Can a submission be made under an organization’s name?
No. Submissions must be made under the name of an individual, not an entity or organization.

Can I save my submission and finish later?
Yes, you can save your progress and return before the deadline.

How can I confirm that my submission was received?
You will receive a confirmation email once your submission is complete. The email will include your submission ID, author list, and abstract or case report details.

Can I edit my submission after submitting it?
Yes, you may edit your submission at any time before the submission deadline, even after it has been submitted.

Can I add or change authors after submitting?

• Add an author: Yes, authors may be added up until the submission deadline.
• Change the first author: Yes, the first author can be changed before the submission deadline, but not after. If the change relates to presentation at Congress, a presenter change form may be submitted.

Can I withdraw my submission?
Yes, submissions can be withdrawn prior to the review or acceptance decision. Instructions are available in the submission system.

Can I submit or present my abstract or case report elsewhere?
No. Abstracts or case reports that have already been published or presented at another association are not eligible for SCCM’s Congress.

How are submissions reviewed?
Submissions are peer-reviewed based on criteria such as originality, scientific quality, and relevance to critical care.

Presentation

How do I upload my presentation if accepted?
If your submission is accepted, a link to the Speaker Ready Room will appear in your My SCCM account, where you will complete speaker tasks and upload your presentation materials.

Do I need to register for Congress to present?
Yes, all presenters must register for Congress.

Can I invite a guest to view my presentation?
Yes, guests and children may visit Connections Central (Exhibit Hall) where presentations are held but must always be accompanied by a registered Congress attendee. Please visit the Help Desk on site to obtain a guest badge.