Speaker: Tomáš Cihlář 

Tomáš Cihlář is Czech biochemist and virologist, Vice President of Research at Gilead Sciences company overseeing drug discovery and preclinical research in virology. He joined Gilead three decades ago after obtaining his PhD in biochemistry from IOCB, Prague. He has contributed to the discovery, development and regulatory approval of multiple antiviral products including an extensive portfolio of Gilead’s innovative HIV drugs and their combinations. He was closely involved in the development of remdesivir that was approved by US FDA as the first antiviral drug for the treatment of COVID-19. Dr Cihlar is also involved in multiple global pandemic preparedness initiatives including collaborations with US government, WHO and other organizations.

*
Science-popularizing lecture from the series Science at the Prague Castle

HIV was identified in 1983 and it took more than twenty years before we had highly effective and safe antiviral drugs. While we still don't have any vaccine and don't know how to cure HIV, people who have access to treatment do not die of HIV/AIDS anymore. Global partnerships and aid from developed countries played a critical role in this progress. The current focus in the development of new HIV antivirals is to simplify the treatment, for example using so called long-acting drugs. Four decades of the fight against HIV brought a whole range of key moments and lessons that were applied during the covid pandemic and are also important in preparation for viral epidemics that we will have to face in the future. Will artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies help us be better prepared?

The lecture will be given in English.

Organized by Prague Castle Administration, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry  of the CAS, and Charles University. Supported by IOCB Tech Foundation.

Recording of the lecture is available here.