International Society for antiviral research

ISAR major awards, including the Antonín Holý Memorial Award, are one of the highlights of every ICAR, and hybrid 2022 ICAR Seattle will not be an exception.

The USD$ 5,000 Anonín Antonín Holý Memorial Award is supported by a generous sponsorship of USD $7,500 provided yearly by Gilead Sciences. The award, instituted in 2013, recognizes a senior scientist of international stature who has made innovative contributions, has had a major impact on drug discovery or development and has a carrier long scientific prominence in medicinal chemistry, as demonstrated by participation in study sections, membership in editorial boards, leadership in professional societies and similar activities. The list of inductees includes many outstanding researchers in the antiviral drug discovery and development field, like Eddy Arnold, Kathie Seley-Radtke, Richard Markman, Chrism Meier, C.K. (David) Chu, Robert Vince, Dennis Liotta, and Piet Herdewign. 

ISAR is delighted to introduce now the 2022 Antonin Holy Awardee, Prof Mark von Itzstein, AO., Griffith University, Australia. Prof von Itzstein has published over 300 contributions and is one of Australia’s, and the entire world, leading medicinal chemists.

Prof Mark von Itzstein AO has international standing in glycoscience, medicinal chemistry and drug discovery, particularly in the area of anti-infective drug discovery. As a major highlight, his research led to the discovery of the anti-influenza drug, Relenza^®. This drug was designed, synthesised and biologically evaluated (in vitro) in Prof von Itzstein’s laboratory. This discovery is considered to be the most significant outcome and flagship in glycotherapeutic drug development in the last century and has consolidated the world platform of using carbohydrates and carbohydrate-recognising proteins as drugs and drug discovery targets, respectively. Relenza^® is the first ‘designer’ anti-viral drug in the world.  

Prof Mark von Itzstein has established an internationally-recognised research program that is investigating the discovery of novel anti-microbial drugs, including novel anti-influenza drugs, anti-parainfluenza and anti-cancer drugs based on carbohydrate-related pathways. In 2020 he was awarded the prestigious National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator L3 award.

Prof von Itzstein has established and heads the Institute for Glycomics at Griffith University on the University’s Gold Coast Campus. The Institute is the only multidisciplinary translational glycoscience research centre in Australia and one of a handful in the world. Prof von Itzstein has now attracted over AU$50 million in the establishment of the Institute.

Prof von Itzstein’s contributions to the carbohydrate sciences and medicinal chemistry have been internationally recognised by continued conference invitations and requests to write significant chapters on carbohydrate science and drug discovery and act as a book editor or co-editor.

Please join us in congratulating Prof Mark von Itzstein on being bestowed with the Anonín Antonín Holý Memorial Award, and thanking Gilead Sciences for the generous sponsorship of this award.

Prof von Itzstein will deliver his keynote award lecture at the upcoming hybrid ICAR2022 in Seattle, coming March 21-25. Register now not to miss Prof von Itzstein's  outstanding talk.

December 10, 2022