Abstracts will be accepted for consideration through January 31, 2021 with top five finalists announced February 2021.

Merz Aesthetics is launching its first-ever Innovation Forum with a call for abstract submissions seeking the most creative and inventive medical aesthetics abstracts from the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals.

 The author of the winning abstract will have the opportunity to present his or her work on the main stage at the highly anticipated Merz Aesthetics Expert Summit (MEXS), scheduled for Fall 2021 in Vienna. 

The Merz Aesthetics Innovation Forum provides a unique opportunity for newer researchers and healthcare providers, including senior residents, fellows or clinicians in practice for fewer than five years, to share novel research and findings from their work in medical aesthetics, and can range from pre-clinical or clinical work, to innovations in the field of anatomy or novel observations from daily clinical practice. 

Those interested in submitting their work can do so via the official Merz Innovation Forum website through January 31, 2021. 

“Merz Aesthetics is thrilled to offer the next generation of talented researchers and clinicians in the space a new and exciting opportunity to showcase their work in medical aesthetics through the Innovation Forum,” says Terri Phillips, M.D., Chief Medical Affairs Officer, Merz Aesthetics, in a news release. “Our ultimate goal is to spark creativity, encourage unique thinking and drive innovation in medical aesthetics.”

An panel of independent international experts will serve as the Scientific Committee, and will evaluate and announce the top five submissions in February 2021. The Scientific Committee is comprised:

·         Dr. Niamh Corduff (Australia), Clinical Director and Founder, Cosmetic Refinement Clinic

·         Dr. Sonja Sattler (Germany), Director, Founder and Physician, Rosenpark Clinic

·         Dr. Carla de Sanctis Pecora (Brazil), Physician, Dermatologie Clinica

·         Dr. Wilson Ho (Hong Kong), Owner and Physician, Wilson Ho, MBChB - Private Practice

·         Dr. Jeremy Green (United States), Physician; Sub-Investigator, Skin Associates of South Florida

·         Dr. Cheryl Burgess (United States), Founder, Medical Director and President, Center for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery

·         Dr. Rolf Bartsch (Austria): Owner and Physician, The Aesthetics

The five finalists, selected based on their abstracts’ level of innovation, practical relevance, potential and applicability, will have the opportunity to compete by each creating a video about his or her submission. The Scientific Committee, along with an online community of healthcare professionals, will then have the chance to vote for their favorite presentation through a new medical affairs platform by Merz Aesthetics, launching early next year. 

The winner of the Merz Innovation Forum will be announced in June 2021. The four runner-ups will also be invited to experience MEXS in-person in Vienna.