IT’S ALMOST TIME TO ‘MEET US IN ST. LOUIS…’
With only 3 months before we gather in St. Louis, SIVB is busy preparing for your arrival. Are you ready to join us for our annual meeting from June 8 – 12?
MAKE YOUR ARRANGEMENTS NOW AND SAVE!
Final deadlines for hotel room reservations and early event registration are coming up! Don’t miss your opportunity to save time, money, and reduce your stress by ensuring all your arrangements are made in advance.
World Congress Registration
When you register in advance, your arrival process will be streamlined and more enjoyable. On-site registration rates are higher, so register now to save money for all the wonderful restaurants and places of interest St. Louis has to offer!
Hotel Reservations
The Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch is the official hotel of the 2024 World Congress on In Vitro Biology, and we can’t wait to welcome you there! Space is running out quickly in our block of rooms. Don’t delay in making your reservations, as these rooms will be available at this group rate until May 9 or space is filled, whichever comes first.
This exceptional hotel is nestled on the waterfront of the Mississippi river and offers impressive views of downtown St. Louis and the tallest monument in the U.S.: the iconic Gateway Arch. The Hyatt provides you will easy access to the most desirable attractions, including Busch Stadium, Enterprise Center, and the Mississippi Riverfront. You can take advantage of:
- Three wonderful restaurants showcasing the city’s local flavor.
- The 24-hour fitness center with cardio machines, strength training equipment, and exercise mats. Ask the fitness concierge about nearby jogging and walking trails.
- Walkable distance to take a tour of the Anheuser Busch Brewery or catch a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium.
- And so much more!
ON-DEMAND ACCESS
For those who are unable to travel to St. Louis, SIVB is offering an On-Demand Limited Access version of the program which will provide access to pre-recorded presentations from some of the key highlights of the 2024 program. This will include the daily plenary sessions, the joint session, a student-organized symposium, select animal and plant symposia, and the Keynote Presentation by Dr. Mark Settles. These pre-recorded presentations will be made available for your viewing approximately 2 weeks after the live 2024 World Congress concludes and will remain available through September 30, 2024. On-Demand Access is also provided with all in-person registrations. Sessions that are planned for inclusion in the on-demand content will be marked by an asterisk (*) on the program page of the 2024 World Congress. Please note that this selection is subject to change.
KEYNOTE SYMPOSIUM
Synthetic Biology to Support Human Exploration of Deep Space
Join your SIVB colleagues on Sunday, June 9 for a very special Opening Ceremony and Keynote Symposium presented by Mark Settles, PhD. Dr. Settles is the Synthetic Biology Investigator at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center and Emeritus Professor at University of Florida, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program and Horticultural Sciences Department. See the full article in this issue for more information.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The Local Organizing Committee of the 2024 World Congress on In Vitro Biology has made great efforts to arrange very exciting activities for the education and enjoyment of all attendees. Learn about these special events below and purchase your tickets as soon as possible. You can purchase tickets when you register for the meeting or you can reserve your space separately if you’re already registered. Don’t delay, as one of the events has already reached capacity! Space is limited for the remaining events and you won’t want to miss out on these special experiences.
Making Music at the National Blues Museum
Join us on Tuesday evening, June 11, from 5:45 pm – 9:30 pm as we make it sing at the National Blues Museum, the only museum in the nation where you can dive into the Blues, the foundation of all modern American music. Get your groove on at this private dinner event and learn with a beat, mixing fun with interactive features and exhibits full of unforgettable artifacts. The National Blues Museum preserves the legacy and honors the history of the music that gave voice to generations. Travel back to the early days of the blues, where it all began, and see how this beautiful music has touched and influenced every corner of the U.S. and beyond. What’s more, you’ll have a chance to get down and get your hands dirty by making your own blues tune.
The cost of this private experience is only $105.00 and includes round-trip transportation, admission to the museum for the duration of our event, access to the gift shop, music, and dinner. A limited number of discounted tickets will be made available to student registrants at the rate of $55.00.
Wednesday Scientific Tour: Human Genomes, Development and Therapeutics
On Wednesday, June 12, from 12:45 pm – 5:30 pm, SIVB will offer a unique opportunity to explore two facilities internationally known for their expertise in research involving human health, drug, and therapeutics development. The first stop will be MilliporeSigma’s extensive Laclede R&D facility which opened in 2001 and houses about 100 research scientists and staff. MilliporeSigma, a part of Merck KGaA, is a leading supplier to the research community, offering a wide range of biotechnology capabilities in exciting and cutting-edge areas such as genomics, gene editing, gene therapy, proteomics, and cell sciences research. This part of the tour will focus on the later stages of the development and manufacturing of therapeutics, including the performance of applied research/pilot studies. Some of the specific areas we will explore include cell line establishment to support the manufacturing of recombinant therapeutic proteins, the production of viral vectors for use in gene therapy, cell culture media development for standard and specialized applications, and the development of products to support gene engineering.
Next, the tour will visit the McDonnell Genome Institute (MGI) on Washington University’s campus. MGI focuses on drug discovery and early phase drug development. The Institute’s state-of-the-art ‘omics technologies include NGS & 3rd gen sequencing, proteomics, and spatial omics platforms. MGI also possesses deep expertise in functional genomics, leveraging stem cell and genome editing technologies, and high content imaging for deep cellular phenotyping and screening. Since its inception in 1993, the MGI has played a vital role in the field of genome sequencing, receiving over $1.3 billion in research funding. The institute began as a key player in the Human Genome Project – an international effort to decode all 3 billion letters of our genetic blueprint – ultimately contributing 25 percent of the finished sequence. In 2008, this institute became the first to sequence the complete genome of a cancer patient and to trace her disease to its genetic roots. The cost for this tour is $50.00 and will include visits to both facilities, boxed lunch, and bus transportation.
*SOLD OUT* Wednesday Scientific Tour: A Firsthand Look at the Past, Present, and Future of Agriculture
PLEASE NOTE: This tour is currently full and is no longer accepting registrations. We are offering a waitlist and those on the waitlist may be able to attend if additional space becomes available due to the cancellation of existing registrants. We also highly encourage participants to register for the Wednesday Human Genomes, Development and Therapeutics tour, described above.
IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED: Please review all tour requirements to ensure you are able and willing to follow them. If you determine that you no longer are able or interested in participating in this tour, please contact the SIVB Business Office at [email protected] to cancel your registration before May 15, 2024.
Join us on Wednesday, June 12 from 12:45 pm – 5:30 pm for a one-of-a-kind tour during which we will visit both the Bayer Innovation Experience and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. The first stop on the tour will be a visit to Bayer Innovation Experience. Housed in their North American Crop Science Research and Development Headquarters in Chesterfield, Missouri, the Bayer Innovation Experience offers an immersive and engaging look into the research and breakthroughs that are shaping the future of agriculture. This experience provides a comprehensive look into how innovations in agriculture benefit humanity and the planet as a whole, combining the many historic and ongoing developments that nourish our growing world. Next, guests will travel to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. You won’t want to miss this exclusive tour of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, where groundbreaking research comes to life! The Danforth Center has a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Their scientists seek to feed the world while sustaining the planet. Explore their cutting-edge core facilities, greenhouses and growth chambers, the Bellwether Foundation Phenotyping Facility, the Advanced Bioimaging Laboratory, Plant Transformation, Data Science, and more. Gain valuable insights into genomics, imaging, phenotyping, and bioinformatics driving the forefront of innovation in plant science. Please review all tour requirements before registering for this event.
ABSTRACTS AND MORE…
Final Abstract Submission Deadline: March 31
The final submission deadline to have your abstract considered for Contributed Paper, Interactive Poster, Virtual Poster, or Poster presentation is March 31! Don’t miss the opportunity to share your research with hundreds of scientists working in the fields of in vitro tissue culture and biotechnology.
Want to Learn More About This Year’s Program?
The World Congress Program continues to be updated as we receive information, so check back for details on speakers, titles, topics and more.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in St. Louis, the River City this June!
