The ongoing COVID19 pandemic has made it abundantly clear that infectious diseases due to pathogenic viruses with RNA genomes represents a global public health problem. Mortality and morbidity due to known RNA viruses are high and the problem is compounded due to the appearance of new viruses due to animal-human conflicts. RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV‑2, Influenza, Japanese Encephalitis Virus, Dengue virus, Chikungunya virus and HIV may cause death or result in long-term sequelae in recovered patients. A number of laboratories in different parts of the world are engaged in research to identify critical intervention points in the life cycle of these viruses and exploit this knowledge to develop effective therapeutic and prophylactic strategies. To encourage a productive discussion and to disseminate knowledge about new advances in this area, we have organized, with support from the IUBMB, a focused meeting on the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of RNA viruses.
