Recognizing innovation, operational excellence
The ISSCR has been named a 2026 ASI Great Things Award winner for Excellence in Award Program, recognizing the Society's successful implementation of an integrated abstract and speaker management system that has transformed operations, improved efficiency, and supported record-breaking participation in the ISSCR Annual Meeting.
This achievement reflects the outstanding leadership of Vihar Patel, ISSCR Director of Technology and Business Operations, whose work to integrate OpenWater with the Society's association management system (iMIS) has streamlined complex processes, reduced administrative demands, and improved the experience for scientists, reviewers, and staff.
Transforming Technology to Support Scientific Excellence
Previously, ISSCR relied on separate systems for abstract submissions, speaker management, reviewer assignments, and membership information. Connecting these platforms required manual data transfers, additional fees, and significant staff time.
Under Vihar’s leadership, ISSCR implemented a more efficient, integrated solution using OpenWater, iMIS, and Clowder. The new system delivered important improvements:
Record-breaking participation: Successfully managed 1,700 abstract submissions in a annual meeting without adding staff.
Greater operational efficiency: Eliminated manual data entry and disconnected workflows by automatically integrating abstract, speaker, and payment information.
Streamlined review process: Enabled reviewers to evaluate and score abstracts directly within the submission system.
Improved member experience: Automated single sign-on, membership verification, and tiered pricing, including discounts for students, postdoctoral researchers, and scientists in lower-income countries.
High attendee satisfaction: Maintained registration satisfaction rates of 95–98%, even as submission volume increased.
This award recognizes more than a successful technology implementation. It demonstrates how thoughtful innovation and collaboration can strengthen the ISSCR's ability to serve the global stem cell research community. The ISSCR congratulations to Vihar and the entire team on this well-deserved recognition.