Clinical and academic medicine is constantly changing and advancing. As clinical medicine strives to keep up with the challenging demands of an ageing population and chronic disease, the importance of innovative and novel research is clearer now than ever before. The student's role in this should not be underestimated - as many as 10% of publications affiliated with university faculties are contributed towards by students.

The Southampton Inspire Academic Society (SIAS) 6^th National Conference: Growing Advances in Medical Academia aims to celebrate and recognise the importance of students in producing novel and innovative research throughout the country every year. The conference will provide the opportunity for medical students to present original, cutting-edge research and the chance to learn, engage and network with leading clinicians through inspiring talks and workshops.

This conference aims to inspire medical students to continue to push the boundaries within medical academia with the knowledge that this may impact upon clinical medicine.

Abstract Submission

Abstract submissions for the poster competition are welcome. The following criteria must be met for abstract submissions to be approved:

1. Projects can be clinical or non-clinical (including lab-based projects, medical education and ethics) and can be on any topic or speciality. Projects may include research, audits, service evaluations and systematic reviews.
2. The project must have been conducted by an undergraduate medical student. This may be completed as part of an integrated or intercalated BMedSci/BSc/MSc/MMedSci degree or summer/vacation studentship.
3. Abstracts must be no longer than 300 words (excluding the project title and author(s)) and must include the following information: Introduction/Aims; Methods; Results; Discussion/Conclusion.
4. No more than two abstracts may be submitted by the same individual. However, only one submission, if successful, would be considered for an oral presentation.
5. If more than one attendee submits the same abstract (i.e. a group project), it will be considered as one single submission. Multiple authors of the same project would be awarded the same prize.
6. Abstracts for ongoing projects may be submitted, but sufficient information must be provided (please refer to section 3) for the submission to be considered. All posters will be subject to the same marking criteria by assessors.
7. If an abstract submission is successful, the submitter must be present on the day of the conference and must register to attend to receive a certificate of participation or a prize.