Medical research conferences are significant. They are more than just events; they are venues where results are discussed, partnerships formed, and the future of healthcare defined. When you organize a medical conference, the conference platform you use affects abstract submission, participation in sessions, and networking.
Attendees demand hassle-free access, researchers require organized review processes, and sponsors require quantifiable outcomes. This means that conference organizers require technology that serves the entire conference experience, not just the event itself.
There are seven platforms commonly used in the sector for organizing medical research conferences, and examples of how they have been used.
Dryfta
Dryfta is specifically designed for academic and research conferences even though its services extend to enterprise events as well. Several academic institutions, associations, and research organizations use Dryfta to organize research-oriented conferences due to its ability to integrate academic activities with advanced event technology. Dryfta comes with abstract management, peer review, reviewer assignment, automatic scoring, and communication tracking.Â
The software allows users to set review criteria, perform blind peer reviews, and program schedules without having to move from one software to another. For hybrid and virtual conferences, Dryfta offers seamless streaming solutions, live event management, poster sessions, exhibitor management, and networking areas.
Users can access sessions, participate in discussions, access presentation materials, and network with other participants in one branded space. Medical research conferences are very specific in nature. Deadlines, reviewer assignments, and program accuracy are important. Dryfta brings all these aspects together in one organized platform.
vFairs
Some conferences require more than streaming. They require exhibit halls, sponsor booths, poster galleries, networking lounges, and branded environments. This is where vFairs comes in.
vFairs is a complete virtual and hybrid event platform with features designed for specific industries such as healthcare.
Organizers of medical conferences often turn to platforms such as vFairs if they want to give their online event the same feel as an offline venue. The platform enables the creation of virtual environments, poster displays, sponsor booths, and networking areas. For a medical research conference with multiple tracks and industry sponsors, such an environment can be useful.
BigMarker
BigMarker is an online event platform that allows webinars and online conferences. It has been referred to as a flexible online event solution.
The solution allows live streaming, automated sessions, chat, Q&A, analytics, and registration pages. The browser-based nature of the solution makes it easier for viewers to view without the need to download software.
BigMarker is a flexible solution for medical research conferences that use pre-recorded sessions and live panel discussions. The solution allows the organizer to control viewer access and has the ability to view on-demand after the event is over.
Ex Ordo
Whereas some systems are designed for streaming, Ex Ordo is designed for the academic format of a conference. This system was created specifically for abstract management and peer review.
Medical research conferences tend to have hundreds or thousands of abstract submissions. Organizing reviewers, revisions, scoring, and the final program can be a challenge. Ex Ordo can help with this. It can also be used for attendee registration and comes with an event app. This system would be ideal for conferences that place a high emphasis on academic integrity.
In situations where the success of a conference relies on abstract management and scientific program accuracy, systems such as Ex Ordo are crucial.
EasyChair
EasyChair is well-known in academic circles for managing conference papers and abstracts. According to its public profile, it has been employed by tens of thousands of scientific conferences around the world, including conferences in the field of medicine and health sciences.Â
In a medical research conference, the review process may itself determine the level of credibility. EasyChair enables the organizer to assign reviewers, manage submissions, deal with revisions, and generate proceedings. It enables structured review processes that academic communities demand.
Organizers of conferences often employ EasyChair in conjunction with other platforms for managing events, thus separating the academic process from the actual event. This separation may be helpful in research-oriented environments where publication and peer review are of utmost importance.
MeetingPulse
Engagement of the audience is often the determining factor in hosting a memorable conference. MeetingPulse is centered on tools for interactive participation in conferences, whether they are in the healthcare sector or not.
MeetingPulse enables the organization of live polls, audience questions, handling of feedback sessions, and moderated discussions. In medical research conferences, where discussions and expert opinions influence the outcome, audience input in real time is an added advantage. The tool is compatible with streaming solutions, which improves participation without displacing the basic delivery tools.
In conferences where the goal is to measure engagement and derive insights from the audience, interactive tools such as MeetingPulse can enhance the experience.
EventMobi
EventMobi provides a more comprehensive event management platform that encompasses registration, mobile apps, scheduling, engagement solutions, and hybrid event solutions. It has been used for various professional events, such as healthcare conferences. Hybrid medical conferences, which involve both physical and online participation, need an integrated platform.
EventMobi provides the ability to handle scheduling, notifications, mobile access to scheduling information, and engagement solutions. This is very useful for hybrid research conferences to ensure consistency in the experience.
Cvent
Cvent is a well-known player in the event tech industry and is commonly used for corporate, association, and healthcare conferences. For medical research conferences that have a complex registration model, multiple tracks, and sponsor management, Cvent offers a robust set of tools.
The tool has the functionality to handle attendee registration, check-in, badge printing, abstract collection integration, mobile event apps, and reporting. Healthcare and life science companies often use Cvent to handle in-person and hybrid conferences.Â
For large medical conferences with multiple audiences, regulatory requirements, and sponsor obligations, Cvent is scalable and offers administrative capabilities. It is most useful when there is an organizing committee that requires robust reporting, registration options, and venue management.
Whova
Whova has been employed by academic societies and professional organizations for conference organization and engagement with attendees. It is a one-stop solution for conference registration, scheduling, networking, and conference apps. Medical and healthcare conferences have employed Whova for the organization of physical and hybrid conferences, providing mobile-centric experiences for attendees.Â
The system offers functionality for session organization, speakers, messaging for attendees, live polling, and exhibitor showcases. For a medical research conference seeking to enhance networking between researchers, clinicians, and industry experts, these features can assist attendees in remaining connected before, during, and after the conference.
Conference organizers would find Whova useful if they are interested in the complete mobile app functionality and networking features extending beyond the conference period.
RingCentral Events
Hopin, which is now integrated into RingCentral Events, is a virtual and hybrid event platform that could handle large-scale virtual conferences.
RingCentral Events has features for main stage presentations, breakout sessions, networking lounges, expo halls, and sponsor booths. In the context of a medical research conference that requires a fully virtual environment where multiple tracks are happening simultaneously, this kind of event format can simulate a real-world conference experience.
The tool also has analytics and tracking for attendees, which can help organizers determine the effectiveness of the event. In the context of a research conference that focuses on virtual engagement and sponsor interaction, RingCentral Events provides a structured virtual environment that can handle scale.
Choosing the Right Conference Platform
When selecting a conference platform for a medical research conference, it is rarely about one thing. It is about how well it aligns with your strategy for the event.
If your conference involves immersive virtual exhibit halls and sponsor engagement, vFairs or RingCentral may be the space you are looking for. Similarly, if your conference involves engagement and live audience interaction, MeetingPulse adds more depth to session engagement. When you plan to host a hybrid conference with mobile integration and registration management, Dryfta may be what you are looking for.Â
Each medical research conference has its own unique personality. Some conferences are publication-oriented. Others are networking-oriented. Many conferences today are a combination of digital accessibility and physical experience.
Final Thoughts
A medical research conference is an accountable event. It is a gathering of clinicians, scientists, sponsors, institutions, and policymakers. The platform for the medical research conference should facilitate this accountability and should not increase it by making it more complex than it already is. Conference platforms should offer abstract submission, communication, and interaction.Â
Whichever platforms the organizers choose, they must ensure science is in the limelight. If you are planning to organize your next medical research conference and are searching for a solution to help you in the process, ask for a free demo of Dryfta.