Call for Abstracts: RCPharm Annual Conference 2026

1) Overview

We invite abstract submissions for the RCPharm Annual Conference 2026. Abstracts should showcase work that advances pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical science, health systems, education and workforce development, or the implementation of innovation.

2) Important dates

3) What you can submit

Select one main category and the most appropriate sub-category at submission. This ensures your abstract is directed to the most suitable reviewers and reaches the right conference audience.

Category A — Practice & Patient Care

• A1. Patient Care & Clinical Therapeutics (clinical services, prescribing, long-term conditions, specialist practice);
• A2. Medicines Optimisation, Safety & Stewardship (medicines safety, pharmacovigilance, antimicrobial stewardship, adherence);
• A3. Practice Innovation & Implementation (implementation projects, service redesign, pathways, adoption, scale-up).

Category B — Science & Industry

• B1. Pharmaceutical and Biomedical sciences (pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, analytical science);
• B2. Medicine development, Regulation, and Access (industry R&D, manufacturing, regulatory science, real-world evidence strategy, Adoption and Patient Access).

Category C — Systems & People

• C1. Health Systems, Policy & Population Health (policy, commissioning, public health, inequalities, service models at scale);
• C2. Education, Workforce & Professional Development (training, supervision, career development, leadership, mentoring).

If your work spans multiple areas, choose the category and sub-category that best matches the primary aim and intended audience.

4) Abstract submission requirements

• Two versions of abstracts: authors are required to submit both anonymised and un-anonymised versions. Anonymised abstracts should have the names of authors and affiliations removed, including any identifying information within the main text, to avoid conflicts of interest during the peer-review process;
• One abstract per presenting author: one abstract per presenting author will be enforced during submission checks;
• Use of the RCPharm template: submissions must use the RCPharm template and include all required headings in the correct order
• Word limit: abstracts must not exceed 500 words (excluding sub-headings, keywords, and references);
• Clarity and completeness: abstracts must include a clear aim, methodology, results, and discussion aligned with the findings;
• Governance / ethics statement: include details of the relevant approval route where applicable;
• Funding and conflicts of interest: declare relevant funding and any conflicts of interest;
• Non-promotional tone: submissions should be written in a neutral, academic style;
• Decision outcomes: authors will receive one of three outcomes — Accept, Invitation to resubmit, or Reject.

You do not need to be an RCPharm member to submit an abstract; however, non-members will be required to pay the full conference registration fee if attending the conference.

Download Abstract template and Author guidance .

5) How abstracts are assessed

Abstracts are assessed through a structured process to ensure fairness, consistency and quality.

Step 1 — Initial screening (template compliance)

• Submissions are reviewed to ensure they meet compliance requirements;
• Submissions that are incomplete or do not comply with the required template may be returned for revision or rejected, depending on the severity of the issues and whether they can be resolved within the review timelines.

Step 2 — Peer review

• Each abstract is reviewedindependently by two reviewers using the agreed judging rubric. Paired reviewers agree a final recommendation;
• Round 1 decisions are: Accept, Invitation to resubmit, or Reject.

If invited to resubmit

• Authors will have 10 working days to submit a revised abstract addressing the requested changes;
• The revised abstract will be reassessed, after which a final decision will be issued.

Judging criteria

• Relevance and significance: importance of the topic and its potential impact on pharmacy, pharmaceutical science, practice, policy, education, or patient outcomes;
• Methodological appropriateness: design/approach is appropriate and sufficiently described;
• Results and conclusions: results are interpretable and conclusions are supported by findings;
• Transferability/learning: learning is applicable beyond a single local context (where relevant);
• Clarity and professionalism: clear writing, completeness and neutral academic tone.

6) Posters and presentation format

Successful abstracts may be assigned to either a poster or oral presentation, depending on the final programme design and available capacity. Guidance on poster preparation (format, dimensions and any upload requirements) will be shared with successful authors after decisions are released.

7) Abstract supplement (IJPP/OUP)

The abstract supplement will be published in the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice (IJPP) after the annual conference. Opt-in or opt-out options will be provided via the submission portal.

8) How to submit

Submission must be made through the official RCPharm submission platform. 

9) Support and queries

If you have questions about eligibility, categories, or submission requirements, please contact the Science & Research Team.