International Society for antiviral research

I would also like to officially welcome Dr. Robert Jordan as President-Elect. I have known Rob for many years and have always been impressed by his dedication to antiviral research and his remarkable professional trajectory. Since April, he has already been playing an active role as Chair of the ICAR Program Committee, leading the development of the scientific program for ICAR2027. I also sincerely thank all members of his Program Committee for their time, expertise, and dedication.

Reflections on ICAR2026

The 39^th International Conference on Antiviral Research, held in Prague, was, based on the feedback received through our post-conference survey, a great success. I would like to warmly thank our local organizers, Program Committee and Board members, corporate and academic sponsors, and all delegates whose presentations, questions, discussions, and enthusiasm made the meeting such a stimulating scientific event.

We are very proud of this year’s ISAR awardees, who have joined the distinguished list of previous recipients and further enriched the scientific legacy of our awards. I also thank our invited speakers for providing inspiring state-of-the-art perspectives across a broad range of topics. Beyond the invited lectures, I was particularly impressed by the quality of the science presented in oral and poster sessions. The sessions were extremely well attended and generated enthusiastic, sometimes passionate, discussions. ICAR2026 was also a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues, establish new relationships, and foster collaborations. This combination of scientific excellence, openness, and collegial interaction remains one of the defining strengths of ICAR.

At the same time, your feedback showed us that there is always room for improvement. We have listened carefully and will take these comments into account as we prepare ICAR2027, which will mark the 40^th edition of our annual conference series and provide an opportunity to celebrate four decades of scientific excellence, collaboration, friendship and progress in antiviral research.

Perspectives for antiviral research in 2026

Recent events continue to remind us why our collective work in virology and antiviral research remains so important. The ongoing Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, as well as recent sporadic hantavirus infections that have attracted considerable public and media attention, illustrate that emerging and re-emerging viral diseases remain an ever-present reality. Viral diversity, zoonotic spillover, environmental and societal changes, and viral evolution ensure that we will continue to face both familiar and unexpected threats.

Vaccines and passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies have profoundly changed our ability to prevent and control viral diseases and will remain essential components of our arsenal. However, they cannot address every clinical situation or viral threat, as illustrated with the Bundibugyo virus outbreak. Vaccines, passive immunization, and antiviral therapeutics should therefore be regarded as complementary pillars of preparedness.

Our antiviral arsenal should also be diversified. Highly specific, narrow-spectrum antivirals have delivered remarkable therapeutic successes, notably against HIV and hepatitis viruses. In the case of HCV, antivirals alone have revolutionized the clinical management of chronic infection, achieving remarkably high cure rates, with their full impact on the burden of primary liver cancer yet to be appreciated. Over the next few years, we can also expect significant advances toward achieving higher cure rates for chronic HBV and HBV/HDV infections. At the same time, we need to accelerate the development of broad-acting and pan-family antivirals directed against evolutionary conserved viral functions, as well as host-targeted antiviral strategies acting on cellular pathways essential for viral replication or pathogenesis. Together, virus-specific, broad-acting, and host-targeted approaches can provide the flexibility and resilience required to confront both known viruses and future emerging threats.

This requires a more anticipatory approach to antiviral discovery. We cannot afford to begin searching for therapeutics only after a new virus has emerged and started to spread. Building compounds, platforms, and preclinical knowledge against viral families with epidemic or pandemic potential should become an integral component of preparedness. The gap between the number of viruses known to cause human disease and the relatively small number for which approved treatments exist remains one of the major challenges for our field.

At the same time, there can be no sustainable progress in antiviral research without sustained investment in virology and medicinal chemistry themselves. Antiviral discovery depends both on understanding how viruses replicate, interact with their hosts, cause disease, persist, transmit, and evolve, and on continuing to advance the concepts and technologies of medicinal chemistry. The antiviral medicines of tomorrow will emerge from the fundamental discoveries we choose to support today.

I hope that ICAR will remain a forum where such fundamental and potentially game-changing discoveries can be presented and discussed, bringing together scientists, clinicians, and other stakeholders from across the disciplines that contribute to antiviral research. As a scientific society, ISAR has a responsibility not only to promote excellence in antiviral drug discovery, but also to advocate for the broader scientific ecosystem that makes such discoveries possible.

This includes a particular responsibility toward the next generation of scientists. Preparedness cannot simply be switched on when a new epidemic begins; it requires knowledge, expertise, collaborations, and research capacity to be sustained over the long term. ISAR should be a strong voice for that continuity, and ICAR its scientific home.

ISAR governance and membership

ISAR benefits from a strong governance structure built on collegial, inclusive, and team-based leadership. This year has seen several changes within the Board of Directors and our committees, reflecting the dynamism of the Society and the willingness of members to become actively involved. I warmly welcome our new Board members and committee chairs and thank all those who contribute their time and expertise to ISAR.

I am pleased that our current governance reflects the diversity of our membership in terms of gender, career stage, geographical origin, and scientific expertise. As President, I am committed to preserving and strengthening this model while creating further opportunities for members to become involved in the life of the Society.

As of August 12, 2026, ISAR counts 435 members worldwide. Expanding and diversifying our membership will be an important objective during my mandate. In particular, we must continue to attract and support young scientists and clinicians, as well as epidemiologists and other stakeholders contributing to the understanding and control of viral diseases. A larger, more engaged, and internationally representative membership will strengthen our scientific exchanges and reinforce our collective voice in advocating for antiviral research.

Looking ahead to ICAR2027

The 40^th edition of ICAR will be held April 12–15, 2027, in Calgary, Canada. We very much hope that our current members, and many new ones, will join us to celebrate this important milestone and share outstanding science in the collegial atmosphere that has always characterized ICAR.

Preparations are already well underway. The ICAR2027 Program Committee, chaired by Rob Jordan, has developed the foundations of a broad and ambitious scientific program and selected an outstanding group of invited speakers. We have also selected the recipients of the four major ISAR awards: the Gertrude Elion Memorial Award, the Antonín Holý Memorial Award, the William Prusoff Young Investigator Award, and the Alice Ball Award. Their names will be announced with the official launch of ICAR2027 communications in late August/early September.

Together with our fantastic professional conference organizing team, as well as our corporate and academic sponsors, whose support is instrumental to the organization and financial sustainability of ICAR, we are committed to making the 40^th edition a memorable scientific and community event.

On behalf of everyone involved in organizing ICAR2027, I very much look forward to welcoming you to Calgary and celebrating this important milestone together, with a few surprises along the way!

With my best regards,

David Durantel

President, ISAR