Most rejections don’t happen because the research is bad.
They happen because the submission is unclear.
Here’s what matters:
1. Your abstract is everything
Reviewers often decide in minutes. Make sure your abstract clearly answers:
• What is the research question?
• What data did you use?
• What methods were applied?
• What are the main results?
• Why does it matter?
If one of these is missing — your chances drop.
2. Be realistic about your results
Avoid:
– “Results will be presented”
– vague conclusions
– overstatements
Even preliminary results are better than no results.
3. Follow the format strictly
Word limits, structure, keywords — these are not suggestions.
Small formatting mistakes can hurt your chances more than you think.
4. Choose the right category
Submitting to the wrong track is a common mistake.
For example:
– infectious disease vs global health
– methods vs applied research
Wrong category = wrong reviewers.
5. Get feedback before submission
Ask:
– a supervisor
– a colleague
– someone outside your field
If they don’t understand your abstract, reviewers won’t either.