The annual Medical Student Research Conference is an opportunity for the Carver College of Medicine community to enjoy learning about research projects conducted by medical students in the college. Medical students from all four years of study are eligible to present their research.

The 2026 Medical Student Research Conference will be held in the Medical Education and Research Facility (MERF) on September 16-17, 2026. Juried events begin on Wednesday with concurrent oral presentations starting at 8 am and running through 10 am.  Posters of medical students' research will be on display both Wednesday and Thursday in the MERF Atrium, with half these students presenting their work from noon-1 pm each day.  Presentations in both oral and poster sessions will be judged by two CCOM reviewers; all presenters are eligible for cash awards sponsored by various departments and University of Iowa Foundation donors.

2025 Medical Student Research Conference Program

2025 Medical Student Research Conference Abstracts

2025 Medical Student Research Conference Awards

An Awards Ceremony and Dinner will be held on Friday, September 18th for student presenters and their mentors.  Presentation award recipients will be announced during this event.

2025 Keynote Speaker for Awards Ceremony (2026 TBD): 

Mark Santillan, MD, PhD, FACOG, FAHA

Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Associate Director for Special Populations

Co-Director, Clinical-Translational Core

Clinical Research Director, Women’s Health Tissue Repository

Co-Director, OB/Gyn Resident Research