The International Academy of Suicide Research (IASR) was founded in 1990 with the intention of decreasing suicide mortality by creating a network of the foremost academics in the field of suicidology. Promoting and increasing research on the psychopathological, cognitive and biological characteristics of suicidal individuals and conduct of controlled trials to test suicide prevention methods were goals that sought to improve suicide prevention. Given the small number of such academics in each country, bring the best experts and their findings together, comparing results across nations, cultures and ethnic groups facilitates identifying identify which components of an intervention are effective, and improving strategies for future suicide-preventive programmes. Here, the history, goals and efforts of the IASR are described to guide future international research efforts.