ISHLT 46th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions

Wednesday, 22 April – Saturday, 25 April, 2026
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Toronto, ON Canada

Research Abstracts

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Deadline for submission in all areas is Tuesday, 14 October at 11:59 p.m. ET / Wednesday, 15 October at 3:59 UTC.
Submitted abstracts can be edited until the deadline.

Abstract submission for ISHLT2026 is now closed.

A Research Abstract is a concise summary of a research study, designed to give readers a quick overview of the essential aspects of the work. The abstract should be clear, concise, and informative, providing enough detail to help readers determine the relevance and value of the full study.

Research Abstract content should include:

  • Purpose: Provides the rationale and objectives of the study. It explains why the research was conducted and what specific question or problem the study aims to address.
  • Methods: Describes the research design, procedures, and analytical techniques used to conduct the study, including details about the sample population, experimental setup, data collection methods, and statistical analyses.
  • Results: Presents the key findings of the study, including data and statistics that support the outcomes such as numerical results, tables, or figures. The results should be concise and focus on the most important findings without interpreting them.
  • Conclusion Interprets the results and explains their implications. It summarizes the main findings and their significance, discusses the study’s limitations, and suggests potential future research directions.

Research Abstract Size Limits

  • 2,140 characters (spaces are ignored)
  • Includes characters in the Abstract Title, Abstract Body, Table(s), and Image(s).
  • Includes characters in the research abstract default headings Purpose, Methods, Results, and Conclusion.
  • A Table or Image removes 320 characters from the limit. The amount of data in the table does not impact the character count.
  • Author names and institutions are not counted in the character limit.

A research abstract submission is divided into the following steps:

1. Title

Your research abstract title should clearly indicate the main focus and reflect the scope of your research. Include key terms, keep it concise, and avoid jargon. Remember, characters in your title are included in the size limit.

2. Author

Author information does not count towards the character limit.

The Submitting Author is automatically listed as first and presenting author. You may change this after adding authors. Submitting authors should ensure that any co-authors included are aware they are being listed on the abstract.

The Presenting Author will serve as the primary contact for the abstract and will receive all communication, including notification of acceptance or rejection on 19 December. It is their responsibility to inform all co-authors of the submission's outcome. If the abstract is accepted, the presenter will receive a presentation invitation on 5 January, 2026 and will have until 30 January to confirm or withdraw the abstract, or change the presenter to another co-author if needed. The presenter (if not also the submitter) will be required to disclose any financial relationships with ACCME-defined ineligible companies. The presenter is required to register for and attend the Annual Meeting in person. Registration fees are not waived for presenters.

Co-Authors included should be those who contribute significantly to the intellectual content of the abstract (maximum 50 authors). You can use the ISHLT database search tool on the submission site to find and add your authors. Authors will be listed in the author block in the order they are added but can be rearranged after adding.

3. Category

Research abstract categories are organized into four core therapy areas to help guide your category selection:

  • HEART (Advanced Heart Failure & Transplantation)
  • LUNG (Advanced Lung Failure & Transplantation)
  • MCS (Mechanical Circulatory Support)
  • PVD (Pulmonary Vascular Disease (PAH & CTEPH)

Your abstract can be submitted only once. Submitting the same abstract multiple times, or splitting one study into multiple submissions, is not allowed. If submissions are found to be too similar or duplicated, they may be rejected. Taking the time to select the most appropriate category will help ensure your work is reviewed by experts in the relevant field.

You will choose only one of the following categories:

HEART
Advanced Heart Failure & Transplantation (AHFTX)
  • HEART-Basic Science-Immunology/Inflammation/Biomarkers
  • HEART-Basic Science-Models of Organ Preservation/Perfusion/Regeneration/Graft Injury
  • HEART-Basic Science-Translational Research/Genetics/Multiomics
  • HEART-Basic Science-Xenotransplantation/Artificial Organs/Cell Therapy
  • HEART-Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy
  • HEART-Critical Care Medicine/Peri-operative/Intra-operative Management
  • HEART-Donor Evaluation and Management (including DCD and DBD)
  • HEART-Donor Heart Procurement/Preservation/Perfusion
  • HEART-Health Equity/Economics/Ethics/Public Policy
  • HEART-Healthcare Delivery and Quality Improvement
  • HEART-Immunology/Inflammation (Clinical)
  • HEART-Infectious Diseases-Diagnostics/Management/Therapeutics
  • HEART-Multi-Organ Transplant
  • HEART-Nursing/Allied Health/Other
  • HEART-Organ Allocation/Policy/Utilization
  • HEART-Other-Clinical
  • HEART-Outcomes-Effectiveness
  • HEART-Outcomes-Other
  • HEART-Outcomes-Safety/Risk Prediction/Modelling
  • HEART-Outcomes-Survival (Short- and Long-Term)
  • HEART-Pathology/Diagnostics/Imaging
  • HEART-Patient Centered Outcomes/Psychosocial/Quality of Life/Palliative Care
  • HEART-Pediatric Heart Failure and Congenital Heart Disease Management
  • HEART-Pediatric Other
  • HEART-Pediatric Outcomes
  • HEART-Pediatric Patient Selection/Organ Allocation/Donor Management
  • HEART-Pharmacology/Therapeutics/Immunosuppression
  • HEART-Primary Graft Dysfunction
  • HEART-Rejection-ACR or AMR
LUNG
Advanced Lung Failure & Transplantation (ALFTX)
  • LUNG-Artificial Intelligence/Digital Health/Health Technologies
  • LUNG-Basic Science-Ex-Vivo Perfusion
  • LUNG-Basic Science-Immunology/Inflammation/Biomarkers (Animal/Experimental)
  • LUNG-Basic Science-Immunology/Inflammation/Biomarkers (Human/Observational)
  • LUNG-Basic Science-Models of Organ Preservation and Graft Injury
  • LUNG-Basic Science-Translational Research/Genetics/Multiomics
  • LUNG-Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (Management/Therapies)
  • LUNG-Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (Monitoring/Diagnosis)
  • LUNG-Clinical Ex-Vivo Perfusion
  • LUNG-Clinical Immunology/Inflammation
  • LUNG-Clinical Immunosuppression and Desensitization Strategies
  • LUNG-Clinical Organ Preservation
  • LUNG-Donor Management and Organ Allocation
  • LUNG-Extra Corporeal Life Support (ECLS)
  • LUNG-Health Equity/Economics/Ethics/Public Policy
  • LUNG-Infectious Diseases-Diagnostics/Complications
  • LUNG-Infectious Diseases-Management/Therapeutics
  • LUNG-Multidisciplinary Team Care Delivery-Protocols/Quality Improvement/Service Development
  • LUNG-Nursing/Allied Health/Other
  • LUNG-Outcomes-Survival (Short- and Long-Term)
  • LUNG-Pathology/Clinical Diagnostics/Imaging
  • LUNG-Patient Centered Outcomes/Psychosocial/Quality of Life/Palliative Care
  • LUNG-Pediatrics
  • LUNG-Perioperative Management
  • LUNG-Primary Graft Dysfunction
  • LUNG-Survival/Prognostication/Risk-Stratification
  • LUNG-Recipient Selection for Transplant and/or Advanced Therapies
  • LUNG-Rejection (Antibody Mediated Rejection)
  • LUNG-Rejection (Cellular and ALAD)
  • LUNG-Surgical Aspects of Lung Transplantation
MCS
Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS)
  • MCS-Adverse Events (Infections/Arrhythmias/Stroke/Bleeding)
  • MCS-Basic Science-Translational Research/Genetics/Multiomics
  • MCS-Cardiogenic Shock (Biventricular/Right Temporary Circulatory Support)
  • MCS-Cardiogenic Shock (Left Temporary Circulatory Support)
  • MCS-Cardiogenic Shock (Management Across the Globe-Scenarios/Resources/Networks/Referrals)
  • MCS-Cardiogenic Shock (Outcomes Research/Clinical Trials/Patient Management)
  • MCS-Cardiogenic Shock (Pharmacotherapy/Physiological and Immunological Impact of MCS)
  • MCS-Durable MCS-Outcomes (Survival Short- and Long-term)
  • MCS-Health Equity, Economics, Ethics, Public Policy
  • MCS-Myocardial Recovery (Assessment/Pharmacotherapy/Weaning Strategies)
  • MCS-Novel Devices/Engineering/Miniaturization/Surgical Techniques
  • MCS-Nursing/Allied Health/Other
  • MCS-Patient Centered Outcomes/Psychosocial/Quality of Life/Palliative Care
  • MCS-Pediatrics/Congenital Heart Disease
  • MCS-Pre-Shock Precision Diagnostic (Biomarker/Wearable Monitoring/AI Guidance)
  • MCS-Selection/Pre- Peri- and Post-operative Management in Durable MCS
PVD
Pulmonary Vascular Disease (PAH & CTEPH) (PVD)
  • PVD-Artificial Intelligence/Innovations/Digital Health/Health Technologies
  • PVD-Basic Science/Translational Research/Genetics/Multiomics
  • PVD-Clinical Trials (Groups I II III IV or V) - not Late Breaking
  • PVD-Health Equity/Economics/Ethics/Public Policy
  • PVD-Nursing/Allied Health/Other
  • PVD-Other
  • PVD-Patient Centered Outcomes/Psychosocial/Quality of Life/Palliative Care
  • PVD-Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension
  • PVD-RV Physiology and Imaging including Right Heart Failure (Acute or Chronic)
  • PVD-Surgical/Interventional/Perioperative Considerations
  • PVD-WHO Group I Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
  • PVD-WHO Group II PH Left Heart Disease
  • PVD-WHO Group III PH Lung Disease
  • PVD-WHO Group IV CTEPH (including CTED)
4. Practice Areas

You will be asked to select the Primary Practice Area most relevant to your research abstract even if it is different from your own primary area of practice, and additional relevant practice areas, from the following list:

  • Anesthesiology and Critical Care
  • Cardiology
  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Nursing and Allied Health
  • Pathology
  • Pediatrics
  • Pharmacy
  • Pulmonology
  • Research and Immunology
5. Awards

Each year, ISHLT offers two research abstract awards to promote excellence in research: the Philip K. Caves Award and the Early Career Scientist Award. Presenting Authors who are in the early stages of their careers (whose formal professional training was completed six or less years ago) may be eligible for these awards. Questions on the submission site will determine eigibility. For more information, visit theScientific Abstract Awards page.

6. Funding

To ensure transparency and maintain the integrity of our scientific program in accordance with ACCME accreditation standards, several questions will be asked regarding funding sources and affiliations. This information allows us to implement appropriate mitigation strategies, meet reporting requirements, and accurately acknowledge the support behind the research—whether from industry, ISHLT, or ISHLT-managed registries.

  • Is the presenting author an employee or owner of a company whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients? (Yes/No). If yes, identify the company.
  • Is this abstract being funded (in part or in whole) by industry? (Yes/No). If yes, identify the company.
  • Does this abstract involve data from an ISHLT Registry? (Yes/No). If Yes, identify the Registry (ISHLT Thoracic Transplant Registry or IMACS Registry)
  • Is this abstract based on work that was funded entirely or in part by an ISHLT grant/award? (Yes/No). If Yes, identify the grant/award.
7. Abstract

In this step, the body of the abstract and any tables or images are entered. Follow the links on the site to enter each element.

8. Payment

A $25 (USD) processing fee must accompany each abstract. ISHLT accepts payment only in the form of MasterCard, Visa and American Express. Purchase orders, checks, and electronic bank transfers will not be accepted. This fee is non-refundable and used to cover the cost of submission and processing.

9. Review My Work 

Once you've finished all steps, this page will indicate the submission is COMPLETE and no further action is required. However, we strongly encourage you to review your Submission carefully, including the list of authors and all content, to ensure everything is accurate. You can make corrections to any portion, including authors, by the deadline of Tuesday, 14 October, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET / Wednesday, 15 October, 2025 at 3:59 UTC.

Abstract Submission

Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract! Submission is now closed. You may still login to using the button below to view or print your submitted abstract(s) and author block.

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