AMA Research Challenge

The AMA Research Challenge is the largest national, multi-specialty medical research conference for medical students and residents to showcase and present research.

Register for the AMA Research Challenge poster symposium and semifinals being held Nov. 7-9. Explore research in a variety of topics and specialties, and score posters to help decide the five finalists who will compete for a $10,000 grand prize. Register for event access.

Learn how to elevate your research skills

Register to access the poster symposium and semifinals halls to explore research in a variety of topics and specialties, and score posters to help decide the five finalists who will compete for a $10,000 grand prize. 

• Register for event access

Poster symposium hall: Research from 800+ medical students, residents, fellows and international medical graduates with qualifying abstract scores will be featured in the poster symposium hall.

Semifinals hall: Research from the 50 top scored abstracts will be featured in the semifinals hall. AMA members and participants will have the opportunity to score research to help decide the five finalists to advance to the AMA Research Challenge finals.

Nov. 8, 2024, 3-5 p.m. Eastern

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort; Atlantic Ballroom C, Dolphin Lower-Level 

New in 2024, AMA will host an optional in-person event at the AMA Interim Meeting. The event will include a display of the semifinals posters and poster symposium participants will be invited to display posters and present. This event will be combined with the AMA Poster Showcase. Attendees must register for the AMA Interim Meeting to attend.

Virtual AMA Research Challenge finals

February 20, 2025, 2 p.m. Central

Five finalists present their research to expert judges and compete to win. Stay tuned for broadcast details.

Laurel Road is sponsoring the grand prize of $10,000 for the winner of the AMA Research Challenge. Laurel Road is not involved in the judging or scoring process to select the winner. Payment of the grand prize will be directly from Laurel Road. Read the official rules (PDF) for terms and conditions.

The submission deadline for the 2024 AMA Research Challenge was July 24, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Central. Abstracts were considered under one of six topics: basic science, clinical and translational research, clinical vignettes, health systems science, medical education, public health and health policy. Entrants who submitted an abstract were notified of their abstract status on Sept. 4, 2024. The opening for the 2025 call for abstracts will be posted once available.

Abstract submission resources

• Official rules (PDF)

Visit the winning posters page (members only) to review posters from past winners and find out what impressed the judges and tips on increasing your chances of submitting a winning entry.

Email [email protected] for any questions.

Hear from a resident expert on what judges look for in an abstract.

• Read the transcript.

Learn key elements for building a digital poster and how to keep your audience engaged.

• Read the transcript

2023 winner

Jesse Kirkpatrick, a third-year medical student from Harvard School of Medicine, was the winner of the 2023 AMA Research Challenge and will be awarded the grand prize of $10,000, presented by Laurel Road.

Watch the video and learn more about the finalists.

2023 participating institutions

Find the list of participating institutions from across the U.S. that participated in the 2023 AMA Research Challenge

2020-2022 winners

Read about the AMA Research Challenge winners from 2022, 2021 and 2020.

• Research Challenge education sessions (members only)
• Research Challenge FAQs
• Research Challenge participating institutions
• Research Challenge winning posters (members only)
• Latest news on research, including how to get started, the latest trends and more.

If you have any questions about the AMA Research Challenge, email [email protected].