As we mark the Society’s 20th anniversary, 2025 has been a year of celebration, renewal and major progress across every area of our work
Founded in 2005, the organization has evolved into a global community advancing the science of respiratory viruses, and this year we continued that evolution with significant steps forward in identity, governance and scientific leadership.
A highlight of the anniversary year was the unanimous approval of our new name, the International Society for Respiratory Viruses (ISRV), better reflecting the breadth of the field we now serve. The updated visual identity and redesigned website were developed throughout the year, strengthening how we present ourselves to members, partners and the wider scientific community. Members also voted for important governance updates, with new term limits and a structure that supports diversity and global representation as we enter our next decade.
Alongside these changes, we made major progress in building the Society’s operational strength. We launched a new website, expanded our digital engagement, and strengthened our administrative and financial systems. Recruitment of key staff has been an important milestone, including the appointment of our first Chief Executive Officer, who will join us in December 2025 to support our strategic ambitions.
Scientific leadership remained at the heart of the Society’s mission throughout the year. We were delighted to announce Professor Ian Barr as the next Editor-in-Chief of Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, continuing the strong editorial foundations laid by Professor Ben Cowling, under whose leadership the journal achieved top-quartile status in virology. Our Special Interest Groups and committees continued to grow and deepen their activities, supporting collaboration across key scientific areas.
A major part of our anniversary year was the delivery of a rich program of international scientific meetings.
In Brazil, the 13th International RSV Symposium united almost 700 delegates from 47 countries for four days of scientific exchange. Thanks to the support of the Gates Foundation, PATH, industry partners and ISIRV, nearly 70 colleagues from low- and middle-income countries were able to attend—an achievement we are especially proud of.
In Vienna, the 4th ISRV Meeting on Correlates of Protection brought together leading experts to advance the development of next-generation influenza vaccines. The meeting was widely praised for its scientific quality, strong engagement and valuable discussions on immune correlates, mucosal immunity, vaccine technologies and regulatory pathways.
In Singapore, we hosted the 8th Antiviral Group (AVG) Meeting and the 3rd International Meeting on Respiratory Pathogens (IMRP). Over four days, researchers, clinicians, public health leaders and regulators shared the latest advances in respiratory virus research, antiviral development, diagnostics and pandemic readiness. The meetings showcased some cutting-edge scientific advances and reinforced the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration.
Our educational outreach continued to expand, including a successful School of Respiratory Viruses in Qatar and the award of a major multi-year education grant from FluLab, a philanthropic organisation supporting efforts to treat and prevent influenza. Membership growth remained steady, supported by our commitment to accessibility, including free membership for LMIC residents.
Despite a challenging funding landscape internationally, the Society ended the financial year with strengthened reserves and growing investment in our future program of work. Planning is well underway for Options XIII in the USA (2026) and the 14th RSV Symposium in Spain (2027), as well as the development of the 2026–2030 ISRV Strategy.
As we celebrate 20 years of science, collaboration and progress, our renewed identity and strong foundations place us in an excellent position for the decade ahead. Thank you to all our members, partners and supporters for your commitment throughout 2025. The year ahead promises to be another important chapter in the Society’s evolution.
