International Society for antiviral research

Dear reader, 

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to ISAR News 2.0. For more than twenty years, you could enjoy reading ISAR News in its “original” formats. Times are changing and today’s readers expect to receive regular news updates. We thought that the time was ripe to also change the format of ISAR News. Rather than the annual four issues, we will now post news, as well as other articles, throughout the year in a timely manner and when most appropriate. I am really excited and grateful that Luis Schang kindly agreed to serve as editor. Luis knows the antiviral landscape very well and will without doubt be a more than outstanding editor. The transition of ISAR News would not have been possible without our expert Webmaster Andrea Brancale who also designed the nice logo. As Graciela Andrei and Luis will explain in the editorial, it is also our ambition to have a close link between ISAR News and ISAR’s social media. It is as well my true pleasure to inform you that Jessica Spengler accepted to lead ISAR’s media workgroup. Jessica is very well versed in the field as well experienced with social media. I am convinced that the new format of ISAR News, together with the efforts on social media, will not only provide interesting and timely content for our current readers, but will also help to bring ISAR and ICAR to the attention of those that are not yet aware of the society and the conference. Finally, we should also make efforts to reach out to countries and regions where ISAR has been less actively recruiting members/attendees in the past. These include large countries such as India and China but also large parts of Latin America and Africa. Please note that social media platforms such as WeChat are the most popular ones in China and some other countries. I am pleased to inform you that ISAR will also be active on this platform. The co-chairs of ISAR’s Ambassadors program namely Pei-Yong Shi, Raj Kalkeri and Luis will ensure that ISAR evolves to being a true international society. The very valuable work of Andrea Brancale as webmaster and Kara Carter as chair of the communications & outreach committee to coordinate all activities is very much appreciated. 

Enjoy reading the first items on ISAR News. 

Kind regards, 

Johan Neyts, President of ISAR

26 June 2019