2-Page Proposal Guidelines
Everything required in your preliminary 2-page A4 PDF before the 10 December 2026 deadline.
Document Setup & File Rules
| Page Limit | Maximum 2 A4 pages (210 × 297 mm) including header, sections, any figure, and references. Page 3+ is truncated before review. |
|---|---|
| Font & Size | Arial, 11 pt body text (headings may use bold/italic emphasis; creative layout within bounds is welcome). |
| Line Spacing | 1.15 spacing in main prose (single 1.0 spacing allowed in Page 1 metadata, tables, captions, and references). |
| Margins | Minimum 0.75 in (1.9 cm) or 1.0 in (2.54 cm) on all four sides. |
| PDF Export | Flattened, text-selectable, non-password-protected .pdf under 10 MB. |
| Recommended Name | [ShortProjectTitle]_[CorrespondingAuthorLastName].pdf |
Quick PDF Filename Builder
Formats spaces & punctuation automaticallyShortProjectTitle_CorrespondingAuthorLastName.pdfTop of Page 1: Required Metadata Block
Include all six metadata details compactly at the top of Page 1 (single 1.0 spacing is allowed here to save space):
A4 Page 1 Specimen1. Project Title: Concise, specific biomedical research proposal title
2. Author(s) & Affiliation(s): Full legal names, medical school/university, and country of 1–3 MBBS/MD students
3. Faculty Advisor (Optional / Zero Penalty if Omitted): Full name, academic title, department, institution
4. Corresponding Contact: Institutional email address + mobile/telephone number (with country code)
5. Keywords: 3 to 5 relevant biomedical keywords
6. Selected Research Track: 1 of the 4 official tracks (Basic Sciences, Clinical Specialties, Public Health, MedTech & AI)
Six Mandatory Section Headings
Use these exact six headings in your manuscript body:
Section 1: Background & The Unmet Knowledge Gap
Articulate the clinical, biological, or public health burden, explain why current diagnostics, therapies, or models fall short, and define the specific unresolved knowledge gap.
Section 2: Novelty & Conceptual Innovation
Differentiate your proposed study from existing global biomedical literature (e.g., PubMed / MEDLINE) and highlight your original pathway, target, diagnostic tool, or cross-disciplinary angle.
Section 3: Research Question, Central Hypothesis & Objectives
State one focused primary research question, a testable and falsifiable central scientific hypothesis, and clearly defined Primary Objective and Secondary / Exploratory Objectives.
Section 4: Methodology & Study Design
Define study architecture and model, primary exposure and primary/secondary outcome variables, positive/negative controls, randomization, blinding, bias/confounding mitigation, statistical plan, and sample size or power rationale.
Section 5: Scientific Plausibility & Ethical Considerations
Justify biological, clinical, and technical plausibility alongside ethical safeguards: human protections (IRB / informed consent), animal welfare (IACUC / 3Rs), or biosafety and data governance.
Section 6: Anticipated Findings, Translational Linkage & Future Impact
25 pts (Domain 2B + 2C)Cover (1) concrete Anticipated Findings & Deliverables, (2) a clear Translational Linkage connecting results to clinical care or prevention, and (3) Future Impact & Next-Phase Horizon.
Key References (3 to 5 Citations)
Cite 3–5 foundational papers within your 2-page limit:
Optional Figure Rule (Max 1)
Figures are completely optional and carry 0 bonus points (they do not raise Domain 4 scores).
Text-only proposals compete at zero disadvantage. Include 1 compact study-flow or mechanistic diagram only if it clarifies a complex protocol within the 2 pages.
