For the first time, the Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) is gearing up for its 2026 Annual Meeting at the Peppermill Resort and Spa in Reno, Nevada, from June 6 to 10, 2026, promising a dynamic blend of scientific innovation, professional development, and community engagement.

Scheduled to begin on Saturday, June 6, the meeting will kick off with a full day of Preconference Workshops from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This will include a PlantGENE workshop on “Advances in Plant Transformation: Morphogenic Genes and NextGen Agrobacterium,” the SIVB Plant Biotechnology & Viscon Plant Technology Workshop on “AUTOMATION 101: Stepping Into Automation,” and, applicable to all members, a panel discussion on “Lab Automation Platforms: Advances, Challenges, and Perspectives”. This marks the beginning of an outstanding scientific program, organized by Zoe Zhu, IVACS Program Chair, and Heqiang “Alfred” Huo, PB Program Chair.

Sunday opens with a dynamic plenary session that focuses on “New Developments in Plant and Animal Biotechnologies.” The day will continue with compelling sessions on gene editing, single-cell multi-omics approaches, frontiers of genome engineering in woody plants, viral vectors in plant biotechnology, and the application of 2D and 3D cell cultures.

Our 2026 Keynote speakers are Dr. Indra Vasil and Dr. Delia R. Bethell. Both bring unique perspectives shaped by decades of active engagement in the Society’s history and leadership in advancing in vitro biology. Dr. Vasil’s presentation will be about “A Witness to the History of Plant Biotechnology in the SIVB,” and Dr Bethell’s presentation will be about “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.”

On Monday, the plenary session “Patterns of Change: Natural (Spontaneous) and Induced (Engineered) Genetic Variations” will highlight the spectrum of genetic variation, from naturally occurring mutations to those induced by genome editing and mutagenesis. The day will continue with sessions such as “Bob V. Conger Plant Biotechnology Student Oral Presentation Competition”, “Plant Biotechnology Post Doctoral Oral Presentation Competition”, “Innovations in Commercial Micropropagation: Automation, Virus-Free Plant Production, and Bioreactor-Driven Scale-Up”, and “Next-generation Plant Engineering: Overcoming Transformation Barriers Through Innovative Tools and Delivery Platforms.”

On Tuesday, the plenary session “Michael E. Horn Emerging Technologies Symposium: Engineering Unique Biosystems with Synthetic Biology” will highlight the engineering principles of biological systems to design and build unique modules, devices, or organisms with new and useful functions for various applications. Sessions such as “Featured Oral Presentation Spotlight on Plant Synthetic Biology Applications”, “Transforming Agriculture in Africa: Innovations for Key Crops”, “Precision Breeding Through Advanced Gene Editing: From Coding Sequences to Regulatory Elements in Crop Improvement”, and “Spatial Omics Research for Gene Discovery” will complete the day with more scientific discussion and social network engagement.

The plenary series concludes on Wednesday with “AI Tools and Applications for In Vitro Biology”, highlighting the transformative potential of AI in advancing in vitro biology research and applications across plant and animal systems. Two final sessions for the 2026 SIVB annual meeting will discuss “Engineering Crops for a Changing Planet: Breeding and Biotech Solutions for Climate Resilience, Extreme Environments, and Sustainable Food Systems” and “Trevor A. Thorpe Symposium: From Single Cells to Whole Plants: New Frontiers in Protoplast Isolation, Engineering, and Regeneration.”

Throughout the conference, attendees will experience a dynamic infusion of new content, including a strong emphasis on Late-breaking Oral Presentations and the popular “Lightning Talks”, which offer rapid poster introductions in an engaging format. These sessions provide a platform for emerging research and foster lively scientific exchange. In addition to these forums, students, postdoctoral researchers, and early career scientists will have multiple avenues to showcase their work and participate in meaningful dialogue, ranging from competitive presentation formats and specialized workshops to active involvement in educational committee programming.

The In Vitro Animal and Cell Sciences (IVACS) Section is pleased to present a series of sessions showcasing cutting-edge research across a diverse range of topics, including “Modeling Complexity: Application of 2D and 3D Cell Cultures in Research”, “Modern Advances in Animal Cell Biotechnology,” “Disease Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Drug Discovery”, and “Nanotechnology”.

The Plant Biotechnology (PB) Section offers a robust and diverse program that reflects the breadth of its membership and the evolving landscape of plant science. This year’s sessions will delve into key areas such as molecular biology, gene editing, and synthetic biology, while also exploring advanced topics like genotype-independent regeneration, transgene containment strategies, transformation technologies, micropropagation, and media formulation. These symposia are designed to highlight both foundational techniques and innovative approaches that are shaping the future of plant biotechnology.

This year’s program promises engaging discussions, thoughtful questions, and meaningful collaborations as we come together to advance scientific discovery. In addition to the rich scientific content, the meeting will commemorate the Society for In Vitro Biology’s 80th anniversary, celebrating eight decades of innovation, community, and progress in the field. A special Reunion Celebration will be held on Monday night, June 8, during the meeting, bringing together long-time members and new participants to honor the Society’s legacy. The keynote session will feature reflections from SIVB Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, highlighting the organization’s founding, history, and future.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all meeting conveners, committee members, speakers, supporters, and exhibitors for making this milestone event possible.

Submitted by:

Ahmad Omar, Program Chair
John W. Harbell, Program Vice Chair
Heqiang “Alfred” Huo, PB Program Chair
Zoe Zhu, IVACS Program Chair