We invite submissions for the Stony Brook Women’s Health Conference, a multidisciplinary gathering that advances science, practice, and policy to improve the health and well-being of women across the lifespan. This year’s conference will be focused on the health of Women in midlife and beyond, including the transition to menopause, menopause, and healthy aging. We welcome original research, innovations in care or education, art, budding research studies, and community-based initiatives that address disease and health conditions unique to, prevalent, or differently experienced among women.
While submissions on midlife will be prioritized, additional topics of interest include:
- Sex-related biological mechanisms and their role in disease development, progression, and treatment response
- Gender-related societal mechanisms impacting health behaviors, care access, and health equity
- Reproductive and gynecologic health, including menstruation, contraception, menopause, endometriosis, polyendorcrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (formerly PCOS), and pre-invasive conditions and malignancies
- Maternal health, including fertility, prenatal care, perinatal outcomes, postpartum recovery, and lactation
- Psychiatric and neurological health issues disproportionately affecting women, including depression, and anxiety, and Alzheimer's disease
- Impact of sex and gender on the presentation, diagnosis, and outcomes of chronic, infectious, autoimmune, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases
- Clinical, translational, social science, policy, and STEM research advances relevant to women’s health
- Healthcare delivery, patient engagement, community-based participatory research, innovations addressing women’s lived experiences
We Encourage Submissions From:
- Stony Brook faculty, staff, students or trainees
- Clinical and translational researchers
- Basic and biomedical scientists
- Public health and social scientists
- Health equity scholars and community-based organizations
- Early-career investigators, students, and trainees
Submissions may include completed studies, policy-driven projects, works-in-progress, or conceptual art with clear relevance to women's health.
Abstract and art submission guidelines
Important Dates
Call released: 9.15.2026
Abstract Submission Deadline: 12.15.2026
Notification of Acceptance: 2.15.2027
Presenter Registration Deadline: 3.1.2027
Submission types
Three types of submissions will be accepted:
- Oral Presentation (12-minute presentation + Q&A)
- Original completed research projects
- Top-scoring abstracts will be selected for oral presentation
- Research Award will be presented to the highest-ranked oral presentation
- New and Upcoming Oral Presentation (8-minute presentation + Q&A)
- Early-stage, pilot, budding, or developing research studies
- Designed to promote collaboration, feedback, and mentorship
- Seed Grant Award will be presented to the top-ranked New and Upcoming presentation
- Poster Presentation
- Research posters, works-in-progress, and community-based initiatives
- Posters will be displayed during the two conference sessions
- Best Poster Award will be presented and commended during the late afternoon session
- Creative Expression
- Visual art relevant to women's health
- Artwork will be displayed during the two conference sessions
- Best Art Award will be presented and commended during the late afternoon session
All submissions must be submitted via the submission portal by 12.15.2026.
Eligibility and Policies
Submitting authors and artists may submit up to two first author abstracts.
At least one author must register and be present at the conference.
Works-in-progress will only be accepted as New and Upcoming or Poster.
1) Scientific Abstract Submission Requirements
Title: Clear and concise, no more than 20 words
Authors & Affiliations: List all authors with institutional affiliations
Abstract Length: Maximum 2,000 characters including spaces (excluding title and authors)
Format: Use structured headings (see below).
Abstract Structure
Background: Rationale and context
Objective(s): Clear research aims or hypotheses
Methods: Design, setting, population/sample, analytic approach
Results: Key findings; indicate if results are preliminary
Conclusion: Summary of significance, implications for women’s health
*Alternate Formats Accepted
We welcome submissions that do not follow traditional empirical formats, including:
- Some types of community-based or participatory research
- Health equity or policy analyses
- Innovation in education, clinical care, or advocacy
Scientific Committee Review Criteria
Each abstract will be peer-reviewed by two independent reviewers based on scientific merit, innovation and originality, relevance to Women’s health and conference themes, impact and implication, and clarity of abstract.
Top-ranked abstracts will be considered for oral presentation. All accepted abstracts will be included in the conference program and proceedings.
The top-ranked oral presentation will receive a monetary award.
2) Call for Art Submission Requirements
Title: Clear, evocative, and no more than 15 words.
Artist & Affiliation: List the artist’s name and affiliation
Format: Submissions should include:
- A high-resolution image of the artwork (JPEG or PNG, minimum 300 dpi).
- An accompanying description (maximum 1,500 characters) explaining the inspiration, concept, or story behind the piece.
- Medium and dimensions of the artwork.
Artwork Themes
Submissions should reflect themes related to women’s health, healing, resilience, identity, community, or equity.
Art may include, but is not limited to:
- Paintings, drawings, or mixed media
- Photography or digital art
- Small sculpture
Alternate Formats Accepted
We welcome submissions that explore nontraditional mediums or narrative-driven visual art, including:
- Graphic storytelling
- Patient or healthcare provider perspectives
- Collaborative or community-based art projects
Art Review Criteria
Each submission will be reviewed by two reviewers based on creativity and originality, relevance to women’s health and conference themes, emotional or narrative impact, and clarity of the accompanying description.
Selected artworks will be displayed in the conference’s poster session and featured in the online program.
3) Call for “Upcoming and New” Submission Requirements
We invite submissions for the “Upcoming and New” oral presentation session, for researchers, clinicians, educators, and innovators to present new and emerging project ideas in women’s health research. This session is designed to foster collaboration, spark dialogue, and connect researchers with potential partners to advance innovative initiatives.
Title: Concise and engaging, no more than 20 words.
Authors & affiliations: List all contributing individuals with institutional affiliations.
Abstract length: Maximum 2,000 characters including spaces (excluding title and authors).
Format: use structured heading below
Abstract Structure
- Background and rationale: Briefly describe the problem or gap the project aims to address.
- Proposed innovation or research: Outline the new idea, concept, or approach, emphasizing what makes it unique or high-impact.
- Next steps and needs: Describe early plans for implementation and specify the types of expertise or collaborators being sought (e.g., clinical partners, data analysts, community organizations).
- Potential Impact: Highlight anticipated outcomes or contributions to women’s health.
AI Policy
Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, validity, originality, and integrity of all submitted work, including any content developed with the assistance of generative AI. AI tools may be used for supporting tasks such as data analysis, coding, translation, and grammar or language editing, but may not substitute for authors’ intellectual contributions by generating the primary research plan, abstract, substantive scientific content, or conclusions.
Review Criteria
Submissions will be reviewed by the conference’s Scientific Committee based on originality and creativity of the project idea, relevance to women’s health and conference themes, feasibility and potential for impact, and clarity of collaboration needs.
The top-ranked Upcoming and New Presentation will receive seed grant money to help facilitate this research.