The Catchment Area Data Excellence (CADEx) Planning Committee currently soliciting abstracts for the 2026 AACI CADEx Conference. The 2026 meeting theme will be Bringing Data to Life: Connecting Catchment Area Science to People. Abstracts and posters may highlight best practices in data collection, catchment area cancer surveillance, public-private collaboration, technology innovation, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of data analysis within the catchment area.
Abstracts will be submitted and organized via six categories:
Three abstracts will be selected for oral presentation at the meeting. Up to two authors of each winning abstract will receive a complimentary meeting registration or a refund for a previously paid meeting registration fee. While AACI encourages collaboration with external organizations, only employees of AACI member cancer centers are eligible for complimentary meeting registration.
Abstract authors are encouraged to submit a poster to illustrate the themes of their abstract. Posters accompanying accepted abstracts will be displayed during the conference poster session and will be featured on the AACI website.
September 3, 2025
Abstract requirements available
October 13, 2025
Online submission tool opens
December 1, 2025 | 5:00 pm Pacific time
Deadline to submit abstracts
February 2026
Abstracts selected for oral presentation; notifications sent to submitting authors
February 13, 2026 | 5:00 pm Pacific time
Deadline to submit an electronic copy of your poster to [email protected]
Please note: all dates are subject to change.
Faculty, staff, and students/trainees from AACI cancer centers, state cancer registries, and community sites are able to submit an abstract. Industry or corporate sponsors must partner with an AACI cancer center to submit an abstract. Authors from more than one center or organization may collaborate. For all authors, please list full first and last names. If the first author and co-author(s) are from different institutions or organizations, please indicate each investigator's institution using a superscript number, as in the example below:
Rachel Jones1; Jill Smith2; Brandon Lee3
1Cancer Center A; 2Cancer Center B; 3Cancer Center C
You must use the AACI CADEx abstract template to draft your submission. The abstract word limit is 500 words, not including the abstract title, author and institution names, and abstract template section titles. AACI is providing access to its institutional style guide to help authors standardize the format of all abstracts to simplify their review.
Authors will submit abstracts to a specific category. Please select the category that is the best fit for your abstract:
Why should I submit an abstract?
An abstract tells a story about how your organization has addressed a catchment area data science problem. Since many AACI cancer centers face similar obstacles, sharing your story helps promote practices leading to better efficiency and quality at other AACI cancer centers.
Who can submit an abstract?
Faculty, staff, and students/trainees from cancer centers, state cancer registries, and community sites are able to submit an abstract. Industry or corporate sponsors must partner with an AACI cancer center to submit an abstract. Authors also may collaborate with other centers or external organizations to submit an abstract if they wish.
What should I include in my abstract?
You must use the provided CADEx abstract template and describe the following:
Background of the problem
Goals or metrics
Solutions and methods implemented
Results or conclusions from the steps implemented (positive or negative)
Recommendations, lessons learned, or next steps
Your abstract should include specific details that can provide a roadmap for other cancer centers to replicate your success.
Do I have to use the AACI CADEx abstract template?
It is highly recommended authors use the abstract template, as the template requires the same information that will be collected in the online submission tool.
May I submit an abstract presented at a past meeting?
Yes. However, if the abstract was submitted at the 2025 CADEx Conference, the abstract must be significantly updated from the initial submission. Changes may include project expansion, new or updated results, and/or completion of next steps.
Can I submit an abstract with research that is in progress/interim analysis?
Yes, as with all abstracts, a description of data analysis helps to support your conclusions. However, if you are providing an abstract where the data analysis is not available but other findings can support your solutions and/or lessons learned, the committee is interested in reviewing those abstracts as well.
How do I submit my abstract?
Beginning in October, authors will be able to enter information online using AACI's submission tool.
Can I make changes to a submitted abstract?
No. Abstracts will be submitted for review in the format they are received, so please make sure that your abstract is a final version when you submit it to AACI.
How are abstracts scored and selected for presentation?
Abstracts are evaluated by the CADEx Planning Committee, consisting of leaders from AACI cancer centers across the country. The three top scoring abstracts are chosen for oral presentation that address an issue that provides relevant solutions that can be shared or adapted by other AACI cancer centers.
When will applicants be notified of their review outcome?
Abstract applicants will be notified in February 2026.
What is the size requirement for the poster?
Posters may not exceed 24” x 36” (portrait) or 36” x 24” (landscape). If using an institutional template, please ensure the template sizing meets the AACI size requirement.
What format or program should I use to develop my poster?
You may format your poster using a program of your choice. If using an institutional template, please ensure the template sizing meets the AACI size requirement of 24” x 36” (portrait) or 36” x 24” (landscape). Submitted posters that do not meet this size requirement may be resized by the printer, which may affect formatting.
A set of poster templates is available for use in PDF format. (PowerPoint slide templates are available upon request.)
Does AACI CADEx require a hard copy of my poster?
A hard copy is not required.
How will posters be displayed?
Poster authors will be responsible for bringing their poster to the conference. Poster boards will be made available for you and/or a co-author to hang and share your poster with attendees during the Poster Session on Monday, March 9.
Do I need to submit an electronic copy of my poster?
Attendees enjoy viewing posters prior to the meeting. Your poster must be emailed to [email protected] by 5:00 pm Pacific time on Friday, February 13 for it to be displayed on the conference app. Please email a full-sized, 24” x 36” (portrait) or 36” x 24” (landscape) version of your poster.
What happens to my poster after the meeting?
Your abstract and poster (if submitted) will be live on the CADEx Abstracts and Posters webpage for one year and archived on the AACI website for up to five years. By submitting an abstract and poster, you give AACI permission to publish these materials. You are welcome to take your poster home after the meeting.
Please refer to the AACI Style Guide for punctuation and formatting guidance when preparing your abstract.