The ICAV 7th International Symposium, “Challenging Pandemics: Science, Policy, Preparedness” was organized by the International Consortium on Anti-Virals (ICAV) and the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) from October 31 to November 4, 2008 at Beijing Friendship Hotel. 

Infectious diseases threaten us all. Worldwide, they account for over one-fifth of all human deaths, killing 17 million people a year. The threat of infectious diseases is not limited to any certain place, however. Pandemic infections can cross the globe in hours, often with devastating effects. 

The conference assembled over 100 leading scientists from 19 countries around the world.  The objectives of the symposium were to identify promising new anti-viral development candidates and to foster new collaborations between scientists, government, public health officials, industry and other stakeholders to accelerate the research and development of new, safe, affordable and effective anti-viral therapeutics for infectious diseases.

An institutional innovation, the International Consortium on Anti-Virals is a not-for-profit drug development company dedicated to accelerating the discovery, development and delivery of novel anti-viral therapies for neglected and emerging viral diseases through the international collaboration of scientists, government and industry.