Professor Andrea Brancale to receive the prestigious Antonín Holý Memorial Award in 2026
The International Society for Antiviral Research (ISAR) has selected Professor Andrea Brancale, Chair of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (UCT Prague), as the 2026 laureate of the Antonín Holý Memorial Award. ISAR presents this award annually to leading figures in medicinal chemistry who have made seminal contributions to the discovery and development of antivirals and who have demonstrated sustained scientific leadership and service to the field. The award will be presented during the International Conference on Antiviral Research (ICAR) 2026, held at the Cubex Centre Prague from 27 April 2026.
What the award recognizes
The Antonín Holý Memorial Award is intended for senior, internationally recognized scientists who, through innovative approaches, have significantly influenced the discovery and/or development of antivirals and who have achieved sustained scientific prominence in medicinal chemistry, evidenced by publications, patents, and leadership in academia or industry. The award also recognizes service to the community. It is sponsored by Gilead and includes an honorarium and a laureate lecture at ICAR.
Why Prof. Andrea Brancale is being honored
ISAR has announced that Prof. Brancale’s laureate lecture will be titled “CADD in Antiviral Research: Between Promise and Challenge,” reflecting his pioneering contributions to computer-aided drug design (CADD) applied to antivirals and related medicinal chemistry. Prof. Brancale is the author of 200+ peer-reviewed publications, co-inventor on 13 patents, and has long served in ISAR’s leadership (elected Board Member 2013–2019 and 2022–2025). In 2013, he received ISAR’s William Prusoff Young Investigator Award. He has helped shepherd multiple projects from basic research through to clinical evaluation.
About ICAR 2026 in Prague
The International Conference on Antiviral Research ICAR 2026 will take place at the Cubex Centre Prague, opening on 27 April 2026. ICAR is ISAR’s flagship meeting, featuring award lectures, the latest research results, and opportunities for collaboration between academia and industry.
About Prof. Andrea Brancale
Professor Andrea Brancale, PhD, is Chair of Medicinal Chemistry at UCT Prague, having moved from Cardiff University. He leads a medicinal chemistry group focused on the development of antivirals and anticancer agents, with a strong emphasis on computational drug design. He is also co-founder and chair of the UK spin-out Awen Oncology Ltd.