7 – 10 June 2026 Salzburg, Austria
Abstract Submission
Share your research with us
Poster abstract submission extended until 01 April 2026!
What are we looking for?
Submitting an abstract at the meeting is an excellent way to communicate the outcomes of your research project with fellow practitioners, researchers and educationalists. Presenting will also support your personal development, showcase your skills and help grow your CV.
Abstracts submitted must follow the submission scheme to be considered. Please take extra care and effort to make your abstract as informative as possible, as the evaluation of the quality of your submitted abstract by the scientific committee is an important criterion for:
- Oral Presentations: speakers for the oral sessions will be selected based on the quality, relevance and novelty of the submitted abstracts
- Poster Award: of those accepted as posters, only the 100 top rated posters will participate in the poster award competition
- Bursaries: if you qualify for a bursary (student or PostDoc up to 4 years after graduation), and you require support to be able to attend the meeting, please indicate so during abstract submission. ESACT2026 will provide a limited number of bursaries, strictly based on the ranking of submitted abstracts. These bursaries will consist of free registration and accommodation (double room shared with another student) during the meeting. Travel expenses need to be covered by other sources. We expect bursary recipients to help with the organization of the meeting, such as assistance during registration, attendance at microphones or providing directions during the outing.
- Bursary recipients will be notified from 9 March 2026 on.
Important Dates
Call for Abstract Submissions Opens
Your ideas shape the future – submit now!
Abstract Submission Deadline
Submissions received by 21 January 2026 will be considered for oral presentations or for participation in the ESACT Poster Award competition.
UPDATE: Notification of Abstract Acceptance in Week 10
Check your inbox: abstract results available.
Second abstract submission deadline
Submissions received after 21 January and by 1 April 2026 will be considered for poster presentation.
Accepted Authors: Deadline to Confirm Attendance
Ready to present? Confirm your spot!
Program Available Online
Discover what’s ahead – program online!
Themes
Abstracts are welcome in any one of the following six categories. Full descriptions for themes 1 to 5 are shown below. Theme 6 is intended to cover aspects that are not readily definable as fitting into themes 1 to 5.
1. Computational and Digitalization Frontiers – From Prediction to Production
As therapeutic molecules become more complex, it becomes a challenge to capture the complexity of the multifaceted interactions between molecules, cells, products, and bioprocesses, requiring innovative solutions in the design and engineering of cell factories and biomanufacturing. This session explores the transformative power of computational tools, artificial intelligence, machine learning, systems biology, and the data infrastructure underpinning these approaches, bridging the gap between research and manufacturing. By embracing advances in computational tools and big data, this session envisions a fully integrated, predictive manufacturing ecosystem. This session may include, but is not limited to:
- predictive modelling of molecular interactions
- establishment of robust big data ecosystems to enable rapid, reproducible, actionable, and cost-efficient solutions.
- cutting-edge innovations such as virtual cell models, LLMs, and actionable omics that enable smarter decision-making and data sharing across researchers and industries.
- In silico design of drug molecules, production cells, and manufacturing platforms.
- AI, ML, and hybrid models for predicting molecular interactions, cell responses, and drug manufacturability.
- Data-driven decision-making through actionable omics and big data sharing.
- Generative AI for accelerating solution discovery
- Digital twins for biomanufacturing optimization
- High-throughput data generation, big data analysis, and diverse data integration
2. Engineering Tomorrow’s Cell Factories
In this session, we will explore and expand the opportunities and challenges in producing standard and novel therapeutics using animal cells. Through visionary scientific and engineering strategies, we seek to harness cells, organelles, pathways, and gene expression patterns to meet the demands and reach new heights in biopharma production
Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
- Engineering pathways, PTMs, secretion and organelles
- Advances in synthetic biology such as gene expression, regulation, and control
- Production of new modalities such as multispecifics and viral vectors
- Expression of de novo synthetic proteins
- Systems biology and epigenomics
- Data-driven cell design and machine learning techniques to improved cell formats
- Vector engineering, artificial chromosomes, genome editing, and transposase-mediated or other gene integration techniques
- Minimal cells
- improving productivities and refining cell line stability
- HTP screening and automation
- Accelerated product development – shortening time from design to patient
- Drug-conjugates and introduction of non-canonical amino acids
- Cell free synthesis
- Streamline regulatory compliance for current and next-generation therapeutics
3. Analytics and Automation
Analytical Methods are a prerequisite for product understanding and process monitoring, as well as control and automation through PAT. Despite considerable progress over the last decades, there is still, and more than ever, a need for meaningful, fast, and reliable methods, as well as automation of analytics and data processing. Over decades, process robustness has been favored compared to implementation of feedback control strategies, which require validated real-time analytics and control. Will this continue or will new applications become an industrial reality and for which type of biologics? We invite presentations in the fields of protein production, vaccines, gene therapy vectors, cell therapy, etc. about the following (but not restricted to):
- New analytics for faster, more actionable insights, especially for complex biologics, cell and gene therapeutics
- Advanced PAT systems for real-time process automation, monitoring, and control
- Disruptive technology for sensors and feedback loops
- Defining, understanding, monitoring and controlling CQAs for complex biologics.
- Dealing with the variability of starting materials to achieve robustness in cell therapy manufacturing
- Regulatory aspects of novel methods and process control strategies
- Acceleration potential through automation, better product and process understanding
- PAT and digital twin to support manufacturing
- Case studies of implementation of PAT in commercial biomanufacturing
- Examples of accelerated or real time drug substance release based on novel methods or PAT
4. Sustainable Bioprocessing – Greener and Affordable Biomanufacturing
This session explores the vital intersection of sustainability, affordability, and efficiency in biomanufacturing. It aims to spotlight innovative, scalable, and economically/environmentally viable solutions to address the challenges of modern bioprocessing. These advancements are expected to make bioprocessing more eco-friendly and accessible, while also meeting the growing demand for biologics and further innovative cell culture applications. Ultimately, these innovations should help ensure that new therapies and products reach patients and markets faster. We are focusing on spotting advances in bioprocessing technologies to revolutionize biologics production (e.g. recombinant proteins, vaccines), accelerate cell and gene therapy applications, and drive innovation in cultured food and meat solutions. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Streamlining the interface of upstream and downstream processing operations
- Transitioning to continuous or hybrid manufacturing
- Incorporating renewable resources and innovative ways of “reutilizing” process components into production pipelines
- Cross-project and –product learnings to simplify and expedite process scalability, validation activities, and technology transfers
- Reducing production facilities footprints through balanced scale utilization and flexible, modular unit operations (e.g. container-sized “Mini Factories”)
- Standardizing manufacturing platforms to accelerate the development and approval of new therapies and products
5. Expanding the Horizons of Animal cells – new applications and therapeutic formats
Bringing together insights from cell and developmental biology, immunology, materials science, biofabrication, bioprocessing, and data sciences, this session delves into groundbreaking applications of animal cells. Key discussions will focus on overcoming manufacturing and economic challenges, unraveling mechanisms of action, improving potency and addressing immuno-compatibility for therapeutic uses, and ensuring safety in both therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications. The session will also explore the practicalities of transitioning innovative concepts from research to real-world applications, including regulatory considerations for these emerging technologies.
Topic examples:
- Advancements in organoid/assembloid technology and micro-physiological systems as tools for drug testing, disease modeling, and reducing reliance on animal testing.
- Enabling affordable and accessible cellular medicines and engineered tissues/organs
- Next generation cell factories for complex secretory products (e.g., extracellular vesicles and implantable delivery devices)
- Animal cells as information processors: biosensors and computational systems
- Making cellular agriculture feasible: cultured meat, cells as food ingredients, and cell-cultured materials.
6. Disruptive Technologies and Visionary Frontiers
This session focuses on revolutionary innovations and ideas shaping the future of animal cell technology. With visionary keynotes from pioneers across diverse fields, this session seeks to inspire bold new directions for research and biomanufacturing. On purpose we do not restrict the topics that can apply, but we are looking for ideas that have highly disruptive or innovative potential.
Presentation Type
Abstracts can be submitted for presentation at the meeting as one of the following categories:
- Oral presentation
- Poster presentation
At the review stage, the program committee will select submissions for oral presentations based on the quality and relevance of the topics submitted. All accepted submissions not selected for oral presentation will automatically be offered a slot for a poster presentation.
Poster format
If accepted as presenters, authors will be asked to prepare a poster. Posters will be on display throughout the meeting. Presenters are asked to take note of the following guidelines when producing their poster:
- Maximum poster size is A0 (0.84m x 1.19m | portrait orientation)
- Keep text to a minimum
- Ensure any text is in large font
- Use graphs, charts, and/or tables
- Ensure contents have a logical flow
- Make it colorful
Removal and collection of posters at the end of the meeting is the responsibility of the presenter. Any posters that have not been taken down will be removed and disposed of.
Submission Process
The abstract submission process for ESACT 2026 will be made through an online submission portal.
Important information on the submission process
- Abstracts must be submitted by the individual who will present the work in oral or poster format. This individual will be the corresponding author for that abstract.
- All abstracts must be received by the submission deadline (21 January 2026) to be included in the review.
- Whilst registration for the meeting can be undertaken at the same time as submission of the abstracts, it is not compulsory to do so.
- All abstracts will go through a blind peer-review carried out by reviewers selected by the ESACT MEETING 2026 program committee.
- Notification of acceptance or rejection will be sent to the submitter before 1 March 2026.
- However, authors of accepted oral abstracts must register to confirm they will present by 27 March 2026.
- The author will be provided with a link to register at the rate mentioned in your acceptance e-mail. If a presenter fails to register by 27 March he/she:
• will be removed from the program and
• will be removed from all ESACT MEETING 2026 related publications - If you need to withdraw the abstract or change the presenting author contact moc.6202tcase@ofni by 20 March 2026.
Who submits the abstract?
The presenting author must submit the abstract and will act as the main point of contact for the abstract with organizers.
Once you enter the online submission portal, start by creating an account. Please keep a record of the details you use to set up the account as you will require these details to log into the ESACT MEETING 2026 abstract submission portal. Upon successful submission of the abstract a confirmation email will be sent to the presenting author.
If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check that your abstract is not left in draft format and is fully submitted by logging in back into the portal and checking on the Edit/View Abstracts page.
How to edit a submitted abstract?
You can save your submission as a draft and edit it later. Editing is only allowed until the abstract submission deadline. After the scientific evaluation board begins its review, no modifications can be made. However, once the abstract is submitted, no further changes are possible. Please ensure your abstract is submitted before the deadline, as drafts will not be reviewed. If you need to change details such as the presenting author after that date, please contact us directly.
Abstract template
Please read the guidelines carefully – abstracts that are not structured accordingly will not make it amongst the top rated.
Please structure your abstract using the four designated text fields. Make sure to insert a blank line between each section. We also kindly ask you to adhere to the specified word count:
Novelty and/or relevance: Please briefly explain the unmet need that you address in your work or its novelty (80 words limit)
Approach taken / methods used: Briefly state the experimental approach or methods (no details, 80 words limit)
Results: Summarize the outcome of your research (max 180 words)
Conclusions: Short statement of confirmed outcome (60 word limit)
Submission guidelines
It is ESSENTIAL that you read the guidelines below before you submit.
Abstracts which do not adhere to the guidelines will not be reviewed.
The online abstract submission is a simple step-by-step process and will ask you to enter the following details:
- Abstract title: Maximum 15 words
- Abstract word limit: 400 words
- Abstracts must be submitted in English
- Presentation type: oral or poster, poster only
- Theme: chosen from the theme list above
- Presenting Author: name, affiliation, and job title of presenting author (this person must be listed as the first author)
- Co-Authors: name, affiliation, and job title of co-author(s)
- Graphs and tables cannot be included
- Special characters are not supported. Only plain text is allowed.
Abstracts will not be edited and will be added to the ESACT MEETING website and/or ESACT MEETING app as submitted.
Please read the guidelines carefully – abstracts that are not structured accordingly will not make it amongst the top rated.
Abstract style:
- Abstracts must be written in a narrative format (not bullet points). Abstracts must be written using accurate grammar and spelling. Poor grammar or spelling may result in the abstract being rejected.
- All places, people and organizations must be anonymised within the submitted abstract text.
- Organism names should be presented using italics – first use should be genus name in full e.g. –Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and any subsequent use should be upper case initial followed by a full stop and the species name e.g. tuberculosis.
Abstract:
- Abstract word limit is 400 (word limit includes: references; excludes: title, authors and affiliations)
- Please use the abstract template above
Additional information
- Not previously presented
- Data consent agreement (Checkbox)
- Publication of abstract agreement (Checkbox)
Prizes
Based on the quality, relevance and novelty of the submitted abstract (sorry, but we have to select based on what is available as it is impossible to review all 350 + posters that ESACT usually has – so put some effort into your abstract to highlight the importance of your work), the top 100 ranked submissions will participate in the poster prize competition. The committee will judge and review these 100 posters. The top 10 candidates will be asked to give a short presentation on Wednesday. At the end of this top poster session the poster prizes will be announced.
Application for bursaries
Bursaries are to be awarded for students and post docs working in academia (up to four years from graduation).
What the bursary includes
- Registration fee
- Accomodation, twin room (room mate preferences can be made during registration)
What are the requirements
Please choose at least one document to proof your student or post doc status. The document must include your full name, the name of the university, and the period of enrollment. It must be an official and clearly dated document (pdf, scan, or high-quality photo). Please provide us with your date of birth, unless it is stated on your document.
- Certificate of enrollment for the current or upcoming semester
- Student ID card showing the current semester or academic year
- Enrollment confirmation or registration overview from your university’s online portal
- Letter of admission (for new students, if the program has not yet started)
- Post docs: Bursaries are available for young academics up to four years from graduation. Provide documentation of graduation date and current employment.
Abstract submission
- You have to submit an abstract here in order to apply for a bursary
- You MUST be the author of the submitted abstract
- Your abstract MUST be chosen as one of the top abstracts (Please read the guidelines carefully – abstracts that are not structured accordingly will not make it amongst the top rated.)
Bursary recipients are expected to help with the ESACT Meeting support:
- Workshop room support
- Microphone
- Bus transfer
- Poster setup
- etc.
What else you need to know
- The bursary does not include travel costs
- Bursary applicants shall register after notification of abstract acceptance (1 March 2026)
Your Bursary Application: A Step-by-Step Overview
- Step 1: Submit your abstract and make sure to note your abstract ID.
- Step 2: Fill out the bursary application form, entering your abstract ID where required.
- Step 3: Wait for the final decision, which will include a link for free registration (1 March 2026).
- Step 4: Once approved, use the provided link to complete your free registration to confirm acceptance of the bursary and presentation of the poster until 27 March 2026.
Apply here:
Please send us your application after submitting your abstract.
Terms & Conditions
- The abstract submitted adheres to the abstract submission guidelines outlined on the meeting website.
- The abstract must be written in English.
- This abstract has only been submitted once for ESACT MEETING 2026.
- It is the responsibility of the presenting author to submit the abstract. They are the main contact whose responsibility is to communicate with other co-authors.
- Conflicts of interest (if any) have been declared.
- The presenting author is available to present at the ESACT MEETING between 7 and 10 June 2026.
- The presenting author must register and pay in full by the deadline indicated in the abstract review outcome e-mail. If they do not register and pay in full, the abstract will be removed from the program and any associated publications.
- The text of the abstract, along with the names and affiliations, poster and/or additional documents as requested, will be published on the meeting website, in the abstract document and on the ESACT MEETING app, and this will not raise any copyright issues.
- A submission as a particular presentation type or theme may be changed to a different type following review in order to be accepted and included in the program.
If you have any queries regarding the above, please contact the ESACT MEETING 2026 professional congress organizer via moc.6202tcase@ofni.