*Call for Proposals*
14th ACT Research Symposium
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Treatments: Impact on Cognitive Decline and Dementia Risk
March 9 & 10, 2027
University of Washington
The call for abstracts and proposals from junior researchers is open now through October 27, 2026!
The Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) study began in 1994 and has actively shared data with external collaborators to advance innovative projects in aging research. We are excited to host the 14th ACT Symposium to bring together researchers and other interested individuals to discuss research related to ACT and brain aging science.
ACT Symposium details: March 9 & 10, 2027. This year’s symposium will be held in-person at the University of Washington.
Eligibility: Any junior researcher (defined as assistant professor equivalent or below – including post-doctoral scholars, graduate students, or undergraduate students) who plans to attend the ACT Symposium is eligible.
Submission details:
Please use this form to submit either an abstract with research results or a proposal with a new study idea. Submissions should use or propose to use data from the ACT study or an ACT-affiliated study (e.g., research from a different project that developed out of ACT).
All submissions should include the following information:
· Presenter name (must be a junior researcher as defined above) and academic degree(s)
· Presenter email address
· Presenter’s institutional affiliation
· Names of co-authors/collaborators (if applicable)
· Title of abstract or proposal
· In 400 words or less:
o Abstracts structured in sections to include Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. Abstracts should include study results, not simply a statement implying that results are forthcoming.
o Proposals structured in sections to include Specific Aims, Background, and Proposed Methods. Proposals must leverage the ACT study data in some way.
Selection process: Abstracts will be reviewed by a committee and rated on scientific merit, innovation, appropriate methods, relevance to ACT study, overall quality, and relation to the Symposium theme. Presenters will be notified in December 2026.
If selected: You will be asked to present your abstract or proposal in person at the ACT Symposium on March 9 or 10, 2027 and will receive a travel award for attending the conference. You will receive feedback on your work from faculty and partners with expertise in aging and dementia.
Regardless of whether you are participating as a presenter or not, you are invited to attend the Symposium. There is no cost associated with registration.
Special Instructions for Selected Proposals only
To support the development of high-quality Proposals, accepted Proposals will complete two brief steps in preparation for presentation at the Symposium (Note: these do not need to be done prior to submitting):
1. Consultation with an ACT Researcher – We will connect presenters with an ACT-affiliated researcher for a short meeting to discuss their proposal and receive feedback.
2. Completion of the ACT Proposal Form – Presenters will submit a draft of the ACT Study Publications and Proposals Committee Data Request form, which outlines key elements such as the analytic plan and required variables. The form can be downloaded here.
The aim of this requirement is to help presenters refine their proposals, maximize the value of their Symposium feedback, and prepare for potential future use of ACT data. Completion of the form is also a prerequisite for accessing ACT data should the project move forward. Researchers may use the ACT study Data Query Tool to obtain numbers and information about data availability, and more information on the process of working with ACT data can be found here.
Additional information about the Symposium will be posted on the ACT Website Symposium page.
For questions, please contact kpwhri.actsymposium@kp.org.
Sent on behalf of the ACT Study 2027 Symposium Organizing Committee: Tyler Barrett, Paul Crane, Nicole Gatto, Lynn Fleckenstein, KatieRose Johnson, Andrea LaCroix, Linda McEvoy, and Alison Pak.
Funding for this conference was made possible, in part by 5R13AG057087 from National Institute on Aging. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention by trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government