幾千年來人類一直處于病毒性疾病的控制之下。目前病毒學研究正以前所未有的速度發(fā)展。病毒學和基因組學研究領域多年來一直緊密相連；第一個被測序的全基因組是病毒起源-1977年的噬菌體phi x174。從那時起，更多的病毒基因組已經被繪制出來，而且隨著人類基因組的出現，現在可以確定感染期間的病毒和宿主相互作用。因此，這就為研究潛在的抗病毒目標提供了一個完整的目錄。艾滋病毒大流行的出現導致合理藥物設計領域的研究急劇增加，導致大量抗病毒藥物和疫苗進入臨床試驗。抗藥性突變體的發(fā)展和新病毒（如SARS冠狀病毒和禽流感H5N1-一種具有大流行潛力的病毒）的出現，給已經受到時間限制的病毒學界增加了額外的負擔。在新的疾病爆發(fā)時迅速采取行動的必要性使得病毒學家必須隨時了解所有關鍵進展。《未來病毒學》（ISSN:1746-0794）為今天在該領域工作的所有科學家提供了一個跨學科論壇。

Mankind has been at the mercy of viral diseases for millennia. In the current virologic landscape, research is expanding at an unprecedented rate. The fields of virology and genomic research have been closely linked for many years; the first whole genome to be sequenced was viral in origin – bacteriophage phi X174, in 1977. Since then, many more viral genomes have been mapped, and with the human genome also available, it is now possible to determine viral–host interactions during infection. This has consequently provided a complete catalogue of potential antiviral targets to be researched. The advent of the HIV pandemic led to a dramatic increase in research in the field of rational drug design, resulting in the large number of antiviral drugs and vaccines entering clinical trials today. The development of drug-resistant mutants and the emergence of new viruses (such as SARS coronavirus and avian influenza H5N1 – a virus with pandemic potential) are adding additional burdens to the already time-constrained virology community. The need to move swiftly in the event of a new disease outbreak makes it essential for the virologist to keep up-to-date with all key advances. Future Virology (ISSN: 1746-0794) provides an interdisciplinary forum for all scientists working in the field today.