The Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) recently celebrated its 80th anniversary as a professional scientific organization at the 2026 In Vitro Biology Meeting in Reno, NV (June 6-10, 2026). The meeting emphasized the past, present, and future of the SIVB. This emphasis reminded me of a famous quote by Albert Einstein when he stated, “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
Learning from yesterday was evident at the 80th anniversary of the SIVB. The Keynote Symposium featured Dr. Delia R. Bethell and Dr. Indra K. Vasil who received the SIVB Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 and 2007, respectively. Dr. Bethell’s talk titled “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” highlighted the founding and history of our society which was originally named the Tissue Culture Association. The founding members of the Society had a common goal of researching cellular nutrition and the growth of human, animal, insect, and plant cells. Dr. Bethell also talked about the merging of the Vertebrate, Invertebrate, and Toxicology Sections to become the In Vitro Animal Cell Sciences (IVACS) Section. Dr. Vasil’s talk titled “A Witness to the History of Plant Biotechnology in the SIVB: An Homage to Mentors” highlighted the history and growth of the Plant Biotechnology (PB) section. An important feature of the SIVB history is that one of our great strengths as a scientific society is a membership that consists of the IVACS and PB Sections that work together in a collaborative manner to fulfill our Mission and achieve our Vision.
At the 2026 In Vitro Biology Meeting, we were living for today with opportunities to network, learn about recent scientific advances, present research, convene sessions, participate in committee meetings, recognize SIVB members with awards, and celebrate 80 years as a scientific organization. For a summary of the outstanding program at the 2026 In Vitro Biology Meeting please read the Meeting Summary article in this issue of the In Vitro Report. The success of the 2026 In Vitro Biology Meeting is due to the efforts of Michele Schultz (Managing Director, Meeting Secretariat) and her team at Innovative Essentials, Piero Barone (President 2024-2026) and the SIVB Board of Directors, Fredy Altpeter (Vice President) and the Development Committee for their fundraising efforts, the Program Committee (Ahmad Omar-Program Chair, John W. Harbell-Program Vice Chair, Zoe Zhu-IVACS Program Chair, Heqiang “Alfred” Huo-PB Program Chair, Jon Mahoney-PB Sr. Co-Chair, Cankui Zhang-PB Jr. Co-Chair, Brad L. Upham-Education Chair, Abigail Masri-IVACS Student Co-Chair, Giovanna Teixeira Sandoval Moreira-PB Student Co-Chair), and the Local Organizing Committee (Josh Baker-Co-Chair, Micah E. Stevens-Co-Chair, Juan Debernardi, Miriam Espinoza, Greg Goralogia, Justin Legleiter, David Maine, Martha Orozco-Cardenas, Markita Landry, Beth Rowan, Jianqiang Shen, David Songstad, Yumin Tao, Claus Tittinger, Vaibhav Tiwari, Omar Zayed). I also thank Raj Deepika Chauhan (Chair, Membership Committee), Brad L. Upham (Chair, Education Committee), and their committees for coordinating the MATCH Program, and education and networking sessions for our student and postdoc members. The annual meeting is also an opportunity to recognize the outstanding achievements of SIVB members with Awards. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dennis J. Gray and Peggy J. Ozias-Akins. The Distinguished Scientist Award was presented to Marceline Egnin; the Fellow Award was presented to Allan R. Wenck and Margaret M. Young; and the Early Career Award was presented to Uyen Cao Chu and Zoe Zhu. Piero Barone, SIVB President (2024-2026), presented Distinguished Service Awards to Fredy Altpeter, Raj Deepika Chauhan, Ian S. Curtis, Michael J. Fay, Kolla Kristjansdottir, Hong Luo, Aileen Qi, Michele G. Schultz, and Brad L. Upham. I also want to thank the Convenors, Speakers, Meeting Attendees, Students and Postdocs, SIVB Committees, IVACS and PB Section Leaders and Members, Exhibitors, and Sponsors who all contributed to the success of the 2026 In Vitro Biology Meeting and 80th anniversary celebrations.
The year-round dedication and strategic planning of the SIVB Board of Directors, SIVB Committees, and IVACS and PB Section Officers provide hope for a bright future. The SIVB Board of Directors works in a collaborative manner with the SIVB Committees and the IVACS and PB Section Officers to develop strategic plans and ensure the current and future success of the SIVB. We need to acknowledge the dedicated service of Board Members who recently cycled out of their positions, and this includes Piero Barone (President), Addy Alt-Holland (Past President), Michael J. Fay (President Elect), Fredy Altpeter (Vice President), Mae Ciancio (Secretary), Ahmad Omar (Program Chair), John W. Harbell (2026 Program Vice Chair), Kolla Kristjansdottir (Member-At-Large), and Hong Luo (Member-At-Large); and welcome the newly elected SIVB Board Members, and this includes Michael J. Fay (President), Piero Barone (Past President) Kan Wang (President Elect), Ahmad Omar (Vice President), Barbara B. Doonan (Treasurer), Christopher Bagley (Secretary), Vivian Dayeh (Member-At-Large), Mae Ciancio (Member-At-Large), Pon Samuel (Member-At-Large), M. Annie Saltarikos (Member-at-Large), Addy Alt-Holland (Publications Chair), Wayne A. Parrott (Public Policy Chair), John W. Harbell (2027 Program Committee Chair), and Carlos M. Hernandez-Garcia (2028 Program Committee Chair). The Program Committee and Local Organizing Committee are already planning the 2027 In Vitro Biology Meeting in Saint Louis, MO (June 12-16), save the date and plan on joining us in Saint Louis.
As members of the SIVB it is important that we continue to ask questions to advance science and technology. Help support the future of the SIVB by encouraging your students, postdocs, research technicians/assistants, and colleagues in academia, industry, government regulatory agencies, and scientific foundations to join SIVB. I hope you all continue to learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow, and never stop asking questions. As the incoming SIVB President, I look forward to working with all of you to ensure the continued success of our Society!
Sincerely,
Michael J. Fay, PhD
President, Society for In Vitro Biology
Professor, Midwestern University
