AAN Annual Meeting Press Room Attendee Policies

Embargo Policy

The following policies apply to AAN Annual Meeting abstracts, not including late-breaking science abstracts, to be presented at the 2025 AAN Annual Meeting, being held April 5-9 in San Diego.

• Abstracts, not including late-breaking science abstracts, will be posted online at 4:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 6, 2025.
• Authors of abstracts featured in an AAN press release must abide by AAN Embargo Policies.

  • Authors will be notified at acceptance if their abstract has been selected for AAN press release. Embargo dates for these abstracts will be communicated to the authors.

  • The AAN strictly enforces its embargo policy for abstracts featured in AAN press release, which prohibits the distribution or publication of the contents of abstracts ahead of the embargo date and time.

  • When the embargo lifts for an abstract featured in an AAN press release, the embargo also lifts on additional research data related to but not included in the abstract. This includes data to be presented at the AAN Annual Meeting in presentations and posters. While additional data beyond the abstract may be included in an external press release after the embargo lifts, posters or slide presentations created for the AAN Annual Meeting must not be shared ahead of their presentation time at the AAN Annual Meeting.

• Embargoed press releases on newsworthy abstracts, not including late-breaking science abstracts, will be distributed to credentialed journalists by late February 2025.
• Authors may present an accepted abstract at a subspecialty meeting ahead of 4:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 6, 2025, if the abstract has not been selected for the AAN Annual Meeting press release program and is not a late-breaking science abstract.

The following policies apply to late-breaking science abstracts to be presented at the 2025 AAN Annual Meeting, April 5-9 in San Diego.

• The embargo for late-breaking science abstracts will be announced closer to the Annual Meeting. Late-breaking science abstracts will be posted online when the embargo lifts.

• All authors of late-breaking science abstracts must abide by AAN Embargo Policies.

• Authors who must report their findings publicly before the embargo date due to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations are asked to notify the AAN by sending an email to media@aan.com.

• When the embargo lifts for late-breaking science abstracts, the embargo also lifts for additional research data related to but not included in the late-breaking science abstracts. This includes data to be presented at the AAN Annual Meeting in presentations and posters. While additional data beyond the abstract may be included in an external press release after the embargo lifts, posters or slide presentations created for the AAN Annual Meeting must not be shared ahead of their presentation time at the AAN Annual Meeting.

• Late-breaking science abstracts are accepted from neurologists, neuroscientists, and other researchers whose work is of major scientific importance, warranting expedited presentation and publication. Key aspects of the research must have been conducted after October 15, 2024.

For questions regarding AAN Annual Meeting policies, please send an email to media@aan.com.

Additional information regarding embargo policies for members of industry can be found in the AAN Annual Meeting Press Room Policies for Industry.

Press Room Attendee Policies

What are the COVID-19 policies for the meeting in San Diego?

All press wishing to attend the meeting in San Diego must review our COVID-19 policies.

Which programs and sessions are registered press permitted to attend during the conference?

• Plenary Sessions

• Scientific Sessions

• Posters

• Invited Science

• Neuroscience in the Clinic Sessions

• Hubs for Interactive Learning
• Education Courses

Which programs and sessions are registered press not permitted to attend?

• Skills workshop sessions which are hands-on learning sessions for physicians

• Industry Therapeutic Updates

• Networking events and daily on-site happy hours 

The AAN reserves the right to change press access to any Annual Meeting programs or sessions, and/or change press room policies at any time. Any policy changes will be communicated by the AAN Media and PR team to registered press who will be required to follow any policy updates.

Failure to abide by the Press Room Attendee Policies will result in the suspension of AAN Annual Meeting press credentials for this and future AAN conferences, as well as the removal of privileges to receive embargoed content from the journal Neurology^® and embargoed abstracts presented at the AAN Annual Meeting.

What are the Press Room hours?

Hours will be announced closer to the meeting.

May we submit interview requests?

Yes, please send requests to interviews abstract authors or independent experts to media@aan.com.

Are still photography, screenshots, and video recording allowed?

The AAN has the following policies regarding still photography, screenshots, and video at the AAN Annual Meeting, both in San Diego and when watching the meeting as it is livestreamed or via recorded presentations. 

• These policies apply to still photos, screenshots, and video taken with professional equipment, mobile phones, and any other devices.
• For Plenary Sessions and education courses, still photos, screenshots, and video are strictly prohibited unless approved by the AAN.
• For scientific sessions, still photos and screenshots are allowed for notetaking purposes only. Video of scientific sessions is strictly prohibited unless approved by the AAN.
  • Publishing any images, including screenshots, of scientific sessions is strictly prohibited.
  • Journalists attending in person must receive clearance from the AAN Press Room staff to use their device for notetaking when registering on-site in San Diego.
  • When taking still photos for notetaking, please do not block the view of others attending the session.
• Still photos only are allowed in hallways and Poster Sessions. 
• When taking video, an AAN Press Room staff escort is required.
  • Video may be taken in hallways and Poster Sessions with a Press Room staff escort.
  • Journalists must sign up in advance for a Press Room staff escort and then meet them in the AAN Press Room to be escorted to their desired location to take video. 
  • The AAN will provide AAN backdrops on-site for interviews in the Press Room hallway.
  • Journalists bringing their own backdrop for interviews may place it in the hallway outside of the Press Room. It must face away from the flow of traffic. 
• Publishing, sharing, or rebroadcasting still photos, screenshots, or video of AAN Annual Meeting content that is available online, including livestreams or recordings, is strictly prohibited.
  

Failure to abide by the Press Room Attendee Policies will result in the suspension of AAN Annual Meeting press credentials for this and future AAN conferences, as well as removal of privileges to receive embargoed content from the journal Neurology^® and embargoed abstracts presented at the AAN Annual Meeting.

Requests for headshots of abstract authors may be directed to a presenting author who has shared their email address during a presentation. If an email address has not been shared, a request may be made by contacting AAN Media and Public Relations at media@aan.com who will reach out to the author with the request.

Usage of the AAN logo or an AAN Annual Meeting conference logo is strictly prohibited.

Is audio recording allowed?

Journalists wishing to audio record any part of the AAN Annual Meeting either in person or online may do so for notetaking purposes only.

• Journalists attending in person should receive prior clearance from the AAN Press Room staff when registering on-site in San Diego.
• Sharing, rebroadcasting, or publishing audio is strictly prohibited.

For questions regarding policies, please email media@aan.com.

Is posting to social media channels allowed?

The AAN encourages all Annual Meeting attendees, including press, to share their AAN Annual Meeting experience on social media using #AANAM.

Please review the AAN Social Media Policies for meeting attendees and then note the following additional policies for press:

• While journalists may take still photos and screenshots of scientific sessions for notetaking, they may not post images to social media channels
• Still photos taken in hallways and poster sessions may be posted to social media
• Photos of the AAN logo or an AAN Annual Meeting conference logo are strictly prohibited
• The AAN has the right to ask any AAN conference attendee or member of the press to remove a social post

For questions regarding policies, please contact AAN Media and Public Relations at media@aan.com.