SPECIAL SESSIONS & NETWORKING EVENTS |
WOMEN IN SCIENCE ROUNDTABLE
Monday, April 27, 2026 from 12:00 - 1:45 PM
The WIS Committee is excited to announce the 14th Annual Women in Science Roundtable. This session, the first event on the first day of ICAR, will be held on Monday, April 27, from 12:00 – 1:45 PM. Registration will occur from noon-12:30 PM. This event is open to everyone but you must pre-register.
More details will be posted soon.
Monday, April 27, 2026 from 2:00 - 3:45 PM
PROFESSOR WENDY BARCLAY
Imperial College London, United Kingdom
After graduating from Cambridge University, Wendy’s postgraduate study involved human challenge studies, deliberating infecting volunteers with common cold viruses at the Common Cold Unit in Salisbury. During postdoctoral appointments at the University of Reading and then Mount Sinai Medical Centre in New York, she learned the molecular virology skills to genetically manipulate both positive (poliovirus) and negative strand (influenza) RNA viruses. In 1995 she returned to the UK and set up her research group to study influenza viruses. In May 2007 she moved to Imperial College London where she is now the Head of Department of Infectious Disease and Regius Chair in Infectious Disease.
Her research has been focused on the mechanisms by which viruses cross from animal sources into humans to cause new pandemics, and strategies to prevent and control pandemic emergence.
During the COVID pandemic Wendy was a member of NERVTAG and SAGE, advising the UK government around the science of the newly emerged coronavirus. She was awarded a CBE for services to virology in the New Years Honours list 2022.
PROFESSOR DR. STEPHAN URBAN
University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
Professor Stephan Urban is head of the Translational Virology unit at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology at Heidelberg University Hospital. Between 2008 and 2012 he was Project coordinator of the BMBF-network "Innovative Therapies” and is now coordinating the Hepatitis D project within the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) TTU Hepatitis.
He completed a Diploma in Biochemistry at the University of Tübingen in 1991 and was awarded a Ph.D. in 1995 under Prof. Dr. P.H. Hofschneider Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, Martinsried. He undertook Postdoctoral research at the Centre for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), Heidelberg University with Prof. Dr. H. Schaller. Following his PostDoc he became an independent group leader position, funded by the Chica & Heinz Schaller Foundation, received an assistant Professorship at the biological faculty in 2008. Since 2014 he leads the first DZIF full professorship in Translational Virology.
Professor Urban’s research interests comprise Molecular mechanisms of Hepatitis B- and Hepatitis D Virus/host interactions with a focus on the early and late events of viral infection; Identification of hepadnaviral receptors and structural analyses of virus receptor interactions; Development of novel cell culture systems for HBV and HDV; Development of hepatotropic drugs for the therapy of liver diseases; Innate Immune response on HBV and HDV viruses. He and his group developed bulevirtide (BLV)/ Hepcludex, the first approved therapy for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis D. Professor Urban has published in numerous peer reviewed journals on Hepatitis B and D. He is the recipient of the Pettenkofer Price of the Pettenkofer Foundation. He was awarded with the first DZIF Research Award (2014), the Distinguished Award in Hepatitis B Research (in 2021), the Wolfgang-Gerok-Preis (in 2022), the Baruch S. Blumberg Preis and a honorary doctorate from the University of Basel (in 2023).
FIRST TIMER & NEW MEMBER BREAKFAST
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 from 7:00 am - 8:00 am
Join us for a welcome breakfast where first-time attendees and new members can get to know one another in an informal setting. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about our organization and get answers to any questions you may have from ISAR Leadership.
Who Should Attend: This session is perfect for those who are attending for the first time or have recently joined ISAR.
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 from 10:45 am - 11:45 am
Get ready to be entertained and informed! Join us for a fun session as finalists present live their PechaKucha presentations. Be prepared for some humor, a few surprises and maybe something unexpected.
What is PechaKucha?
PechaKucha is a presentation format where you have 15 slides, each on the screen for only 20 seconds. Your slides advance automatically so you have to keep up with the slides, as you won’t have control of the speed. Some tips on a good PechaKucha presentation – incorporate humor, a surprise or something that is unexpected. Bottom line, you want to entertain the team of judges as well as inform!
Why compete?
Great opportunity to showcase your creativity! And there will be three cash prizes - $250 for first place, $125 for second place and $75 for third place, but only graduate students and postdocs are eligible to compete. Prior year PechaKucha winners are not eligible to compete.
Need inspiration? Check out the 2018 ICAR PechaKucha winner at https://youtu.be/AYRHKWg3U0I.
ISAR ANNUAL MEETING
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 from 11:45 am - 12:00 pm
Join us for a brief update about the Society and learn how you can become more involved! Not a member yet? Learn about membership benefits and Join ISAR Now!
CAREER DEVELOPMENT SESSION - INTERACTIVE CAREER ROUNDTABLE
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 from 12:15 - 1:15 pm
Chaired by Robert Jordan
Pre-registration for this event is required. This session is designed especially for early-career scientists and trainees. Please only choose this session if you currently fall into these categories.
More details will be posted soon.
CLOSING EVENT
Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm
As our conference comes to a close, join us for an evening of celebration and recognition at the ISAR Closing Dinner. This event offers the perfect opportunity to reflect on the impactful discussions and collaborations of the past days while connecting with peers and colleagues in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. We will also announce the winners of the Poster Awards and PechaKucha Competition and recognize the TCFF Awardees.
Enjoy a delicious dinner, mingle with fellow attendees, and help us celebrate the achievements that continue to drive our collective success. It will be a wonderful way to cap off an unforgettable conference experience.