Rich Data: ARP Abstracts at ACR Convergence 2025

This year, rheumatology professionals in the U.S. and across the world will descend on the Windy City (Chicago) for ACR Convergence 2025. This meeting is the premier gathering place for up-to-date rheumatology education. Although the education sessions provide rich syntheses of evidence you can apply to your next patient, the real treasure is in the oral abstract presentations and the poster hall. The latest findings from scientists across rheumatology are presented and become evidence presented in education sessions in future years.

Unfortunately, the number of abstracts submitted to the ARP categories has dropped precipitously over the past decade. In this article, I revisit the value in submitting an abstract to the ARP, summarize the recent decline in ARP abstract submissions and review the actionable ways you can contribute to an excellent scientific program this year.

The Value in Abstract Submission

See it here first

Conference abstracts are often the first place new scientific discoveries and results from long-awaited clinical trials are publicly reported. We can only advance the care of people with rheumatic conditions by improving the evidence to guide care. Research from rheumatology professionals takes many shapes and sizes, including testing the effectiveness of interventions for specific populations, gaining insight from patients and clinicians to improve patient-centered care, and advancing rheumatology research methods.

Gain momentum & feedback

Abstracts also serve as a stepping stone toward publication. In fact, the editor and associate editors of Arthritis Care & Research are often found placing notes on promising posters to encourage their submission to the journal. I love using the presentation to gather feedback on a project prior to manuscript submission and gain new perspectives that drive future projects.

Get recognized

Top abstracts are recognized in several ways. They are selected for oral presentation, providing an extended platform to share the research results and discuss the implications of the findings. Top posters also receive recognition with an ARP President’s Award blue ribbon. Outstanding abstracts by trainees and early career researchers in each category are recognized with an Emerging Investigator Award. 2024 awardees can be found on the ACR Convergence website.

ARP Abstract Numbers Decline

From 2014 to 2020, there was a 70% drop in the number of submissions to ARP abstract categories, with a marked drop from 2016 to 2017, then again in 2020 with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the submission numbers have recovered some post-pandemic, we remain far short of the number of submissions from a decade ago. In 2023, submissions to the ARP categories accounted for only 2.5% of all abstract submissions. The Annual Meeting Planning Committee, ARP Executive Committee and Committee on Research Taskforces continue to explore strategies to return to a deep scientific program.