International Society for antiviral research

It is with great pleasure that I share my final update as ISAR President. Serving the Society over the past two years in the role of President has been a true honor and privilege. During this time, I have gained an even deeper appreciation for how much ISAR means to its members, the strong support it has across our community, and the important role it continues to play worldwide. I have also come to value even more the extraordinary dedication of the many individuals who volunteer their time and energy to advance the Society’s mission. As ISAR approaches its 40^th anniversary, there is every reason to be confident that the Society will continue to grow in strength, relevance, and impact in the years ahead for the benefit of all people.

ICAR2026.

The 39^th ICAR in Prague is approaching quickly, and it is shaping up to be another outstanding meeting. The Program and Awards Committees have assembled an excellent roster of invited speakers and awardees, complemented by the high quality of the oral and poster presentations selected from submitted abstracts. As always, ISAR strives to maintain a thoughtful balance across viruses, disciplines, and areas of research so that the program offers something valuable to all participants. Selection of short talks was especially competitive this year because we received a record number of abstracts, of overall remarkable quality. My congratulations to all the authors. I look forward to attending their presentations and visiting their posters.

Registrations for ICAR 2026 are also at record levels, reflecting the continued and growing enthusiasm for our annual meeting. A successful conference is only possible through the efforts of many people. My sincere thanks go to the Chair of the Program Committee, our President-Elect David Durantel, the Abstract Committee, Joana Rocha Pereira and Brian Gentry, the Local Organizing Committee, including our Secretary Zlatko Janeba, Radim Nencka, and Andrea Brancale, as well as session chairs, members of the Board of Directors, ISAR officers, and our outstanding conference management team at Caliber Meetings, Regina Mohr and Kelly Givan. 

Most importantly, the success of ICAR depends on all of you, our members and participants, who share your science, exchange ideas, and engage with colleagues. I have no doubt that, as in previous years, you will make this 39^th ICAR a great success.

Finances.

I am pleased to report that ISAR has fully recovered financially from the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite ongoing economic and funding uncertainties, the Society is in a strong financial state and well positioned for the future. 

This recovery is the result of several factors: strong investment performance, generous support from our conference sponsors, and careful budget-conscious planning of our annual meetings. Together, these efforts have produced balanced budgets or surpluses in recent years and restored the Society’s finances to pre-pandemic levels and above. 

ICAR meetings continue to be organized with the goal of maintaining a balanced budget and affordability for attendees while ensuring high-quality scientific programming. This success is the result of many contributions, including the work of our Treasurer, Brian Gowen, recent Program Committees, our generous sponsors, Finance Committee Chair, David Durantel, and all members who volunteer their time to secure sponsorship support.

The Society.

It has been especially rewarding to witness the Society’s continued growth in recent years. Since the pandemic, enthusiasm for ICAR has steadily increased, reflected in rising numbers of abstracts and registrations. ISAR has been at the forefront of antiviral science, including during the pandemic response, and continues to serve as a leading forum where those working in all areas of antiviral discovery, development, and evaluation interact and exchange ideas and advance urgently needed therapies and vaccines.

We have also expanded the geographic reach of our annual conferences, with the recent meeting in Australia and future opportunities in Asia and, we hope, South America. We remain committed to bringing ICAR to other continents as well. 

At the same time, our meetings continue to evolve with a strong focus on accessibility, fiscal responsibility, and scientific excellence. We aim to be careful stewards of the public and private resources entrusted to our field while supporting innovation that benefits global health. ISAR is strong, adaptable, and well positioned to navigate a changing world while continuing to fulfill its mission.

Thank you.

My term as ISAR President will conclude at the end of ICAR2026, when our new President David Durantel and President-Elect Robert Jordan assume leadership of the Society. I want to sincerely thank all members for the trust you placed in me by electing me as the Society President. I am looking forward to the future successes and continued growth of ISAR under the new and all future leadership teams.

The Society, and the entire scientific community, continue to face important challenges, including re-building the currently eroded public trust in science. Antivirals continue to be urgently needed around the world, and ISAR’s mission is as important as ever. Our work is critical. We cannot be daunted by the challenges ahead. We cannot resign from our responsibility to advance science, develop needed therapies, and improve lives around the world. We cannot falter; we shall not fail.

Regards,

Luis M Schang
President, ISAR