Overview
The 44th Annual Kalamazoo Community Medical and Health Sciences Research Day will be held on April 2, 2026, at the W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus in downtown Kalamazoo. This is an opportunity to highlight the breadth of research and scholarly activity accomplished by our scientific community.
The theme for Research Day 2026 is:
“Translating Discovery into Practice: From Lab to Clinic, From Classroom to Implementation"
The program this year is focused on projects that will feature discussions on several topics that include, but are not limited to, basic and translational science, clinical research, public health, medical ethics and law, social and behavioral sciences, scholarly activities, and education-related research.
Research Day 2026 Important Dates
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- Oral and Poster Submission Opens
- Oral submissions must follow guidelines found on wmed.edu/researchday
- Poster submissions must follow guidelines found on wmed.edu/researchday
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- Traditional poster and ePoster submission deadline.
- All posters will be reviewed by the committee for guidelines criteria.
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- Poster Hanging
- Presenters will be responsible for finding their poster in the Auditorium and hanging it next to their assigned abstract number on the gator boards (push pins will be provided).
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- Oral presentations submission deadline
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- Research Day
- Poster Pick Up
- Presenters will be responsible for tearing down their own posters after 5:00 p.m.
- Any unclaimed posters will be available for pick-up at the 2nd floor Upjohn Campus outside of Student Affairs Office
- The deadline for poster pickup is Friday, April 16 at 10 a.m.
Research Day Resources
Keynote Speaker
Jayme E. Locke, MD, MPH, FACS, FAST
Vice President, Medical Development, Xenotransplantation | United Therapeutics
Professor of Surgery | NYU Grossman School of Medicine | NYU Langone Health
Member, American Society of Clinical Investigation
Dr. Locke is a nationally and internationally respected abdominal transplant surgeon who has dedicated her career to studying chronic disease prevention and reversal and access to and outcomes after transplantation through policy change and translating innovative therapies from bench to bedside, including the development of the Parsons Model which has catapulted xenotransplantation into the realm of reality. She is also an accomplished leader and mentor known for building highly effective teams defined by a collaborative spirit, discovery-driven learning, and integrative decisions. Her prolific career has directly impacted the field of transplantation, improving the lives of countless patients.
All potential Research Day participants also have access to additional resources for creating scientific abstracts via the Medical Library. Please contact the Office of Research at researchday@wmed.edu with any questions.