The Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) will celebrate a remarkable milestone in 2026, its 80th Anniversary, with a landmark annual meeting in Reno, Nevada, June 6 – 10, 2026. This milestone meeting will bring together researchers, educators, and innovators worldwide to celebrate eight decades of scientific advancement and collaboration.
Since its founding in 1946 as the Tissue Culture Association (TCA), the Society has long served as a central platform for scientists dedicated to advancing cell and tissue culture. To honor this historic milestone, SIVB is proud to present two distinguished scientists as keynote speakers: Dr. Delia R. Bethell and Dr. Indra Vasil. Both bring unique perspectives shaped by decades of active engagement in the Society’s history and leadership in advancing in vitro biology.
Dr. Delia R. Bethell
Dr. Bethell’s career spans leadership roles in monoclonal antibody production, in vitro diagnostics, and clinical science at Baxter Diagnostics, Genzyme Diagnostics, BioSeparations, and Ventria Bioscience. She holds a BS in Biology from Tulane University, an MS in Biology from The University of Denver, and a PhD in Physiology from Hershey Medical Center, The Pennsylvania State University. As an active member of SIVB since 1985, Dr. Bethell served on the Executive Board from 1988 to 2002, including terms in the roles of Treasurer and President. She played a key role during a period of significant organizational transformation, including the Society’s name change, the restructuring of the Board responsibilities and succession planning, and the launch of the World Congress meeting.
Dr. Bethell’s keynote address, “The Society for In Vitro Biology, 80 Years of Commitment to the Teaching and Standardization of the Science of In Vitro Cell and Tissue Culture,” will reflect on the history and evolution of the organization, tracing its beginnings in November 1946 when sixteen pioneering scientists formed what was then the Tissue Culture Association (TCA). She will revisit the original mission, the expansion of regional branches, and the role these branches played in mentoring early-career scientists. Dr. Bethell will also highlight pivotal moments in SIVB’s history, including the 1990s restructuring led by visionaries such as Elliot Levine, Roberta Smith, Gretchen Darlington, Robert Lawrence, Warren Schaffer, and Eugene Elmore. These efforts broadened the Society’s scope to include plant biologists and toxicologists and fostering the establishment of the World Congress of Cell and Tissue Culture. Dr. Bethell will also address the consolidation of the animal cell culture groups – vertebrate, invertebrate, and toxicology sections – into the In Vitro Animal Cell Sciences Section.
Dr. Indra Vasil
A globally respected botanist, Dr. Vasil is renowned for pioneering the induction of embryogenic cultures and their application to crop improvement, particularly in cereals.
Dr. Vasil’s mentorship has shaped generations of scientists worldwide, myself (Ahmad Omar) included. Dr. Vasil first joined the Tissue Culture Association (TCA) in 1963 and has been a member of the SIVB for over four decades. He also served as President of the International Association of Plant Biotechnology (IAPB) from 1998 to 2002.
Dr. Vasil’s presentation, “A Witness to the History of Plant Biotechnology in the SIVB,” will focus on the rise of plant biotechnology within the Society. He will recount how, prior to the late 1970s, plant biologists were sparse at the Tissue Culture Association’s meetings. Through the encouragement of leaders like Philip R. White, coupled with groundbreaking advances in plant biotechnology and the introduction of specialized teaching and training courses, plant scientists became increasingly active within SIVB. This growing presence ultimately led to the formation of the Plant Biotechnology Section and the launch of the In Vitro – Plant journal, which continues to serve as a vital platform for scientific exchange today. His talk will highlight these developments and pay tribute to the many distinguished colleagues who worked tirelessly to make the SIVB a welcoming place for plant biologists.
Looking Ahead
As SIVB prepares to celebrate its 80th Anniversary and enters its ninth decade, the perspectives of Dr. Bethell and Dr. Vasil will provide invaluable reflections on the Society’s legacy, while inspiring members to carry forward its mission of advancing science through in vitro biology. Their contributions will not only commemorate the past but also inspire the next generation of scientists.
The 2026 Annual Meeting promises to be a defining event in the Society’s history — one that honors the visionaries who laid the foundation of SIVB while charting new directions for decades to come.
Mark your calendars for the 2026 SIVB meeting and the SIVB 80th Anniversary at Reno, Nevada, June 6-10, 2026. You won’t want to miss this historic event!
Submitted by Ahmad Omar, 2026 SIVB Program Chair, and John W. Harbell, 2026 SIVB Program Vice Chair
