The World Society for Virology was established in 2017 in order to link different virologists worldwide in an official society with no restriction based on income or physical location. The society aims to strengthen research on viruses affecting humans, animals, plants and other organisms.
The society has more than 1,800 members from 96 countries. Membership is open for all scientists, researchers, and postgraduate students involved in virology research. Membership is offered without annual fee.
The World Society for Virology is currently a partner of the following virology societies:
Virology, a scientific journal published by Elsevier, is the official journal of the society, while Tumour Virus Research, also published by Elsevier, is an affiliated journal.
The society exchanged a memorandum of understanding with the International Vaccine Institute on 13 February 2020 to establish collaboration between the two organizations in strengthening virology research, encouraging capacity building for virologists around the world, and promoting the wide availability of safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for people in low- and middle-income countries.
First Committee Meeting, 25âÂÂ27 August 2019 in Stockholm, Sweden at the Karolinska University Hospital.
First international conference: Tackling global virus epidemics, June 16âÂÂ18, 2021, which was held virtually.
Second international conference WSV2023: One Health, One World, One Virology, June 15âÂÂ17, 2023, at Rëga Stradià Âà ¡ University in Riga, Latvia.
Third international conference WSV2025: The Virosphere of Our Cellular World, May 06âÂÂ08, 2025, at National Institute of Biotechnology Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The following books were published with support from the society:
The following persons are or have been president: