The International Society for Antiviral Research (ISAR) is a scientific society that focuses on the discovery and clinical application of antiviral agents. It was founded in 1987 to encourage the exchange of information and collaborative research on the development of biological and chemical antiviral agents.
ISAR sponsors the International Conference on Antiviral Research (ICAR), held yearly since 1988 when the second ICAR occurred in Williamsburg, Virginia. ISAR also provides scientific information through peer-reviewed scientific journals and administers several international awards.
, the president of the society was Luis M Schang and the president-elect was David Durantel. Previously, Johan Neyts was president from 2018-2020, succeeded as president by Kara Carter (2020-2022), and then Katherine Seley-Radtke (2022-2024).
The foundation for the International Society for Antiviral Research (ISAR) was laid at meetings held in Rotterdam, Netherlands (April 30 â May 3, 1985) and in Il Ciocco, Italy (May 10-23, 1987) by NATO. The society, in the persons of William M. Shannon, Earl R. Kern, and Richard J. Whitley registered articles of incorporation in the United States in the state of Alabama, on May 14, 1987. The society's stated purpose was "the promotion and advancement of scientific knowledge in the area of antiviral scientific research for the benefit of all human beings".
The original Board of Directors of ISAR included Alfons Billiau (KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium), Erik De Clercq (Rega Institute, KU Leuven), A. Kirk Field (Squibb Institute for Medical Research, Princeton, New Jersey), George J. Galasso (National Institutes of Health (U.S.)), Earl R. Kern (University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah), William M. Shannon (Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, Alabama), and Richard J. Whitley (University of Alabama at Birmingham). Richard Whitley became the first president of ISAR, serving from 1988-1990, with De Clercq as president elect.
The International Conference on Antiviral Research (ICAR) has been held every year since 1988. Its location circulates between the United States, Europe, and the rest of the world, reflecting the distribution of its members. The last annual meeting, 38th ICAR was held in Las Vegas, NV, USA, March 17-21, 2025. The next annual meeting, 39th ICAR, will be held in April 27- May 1, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic.
It is generally agreed that the second ICAR was a meeting held in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1988, which was advertised as such.
Neither the Rotterdam meeting (1985) nor the Italy meeting (1987) was identified at the time as "the first" International Conference for Antiviral Research (ICAR). Since then, each meeting has been described as the first ICAR meeting by different proponents. George Galasso and others consider Rotterdam the first meeting because at that meeting Galasso, Erik De Clercq and Alfons Billiau discussed formation of a Society and decided to approach Earl Kern and Richard Whitley. Erik De Clercq has emphasized the 1987 NATO meeting at Il Ciocco because ideas for both ISAR and ICAR were developed there.