CA23152 Online Workshop Regulatory Science: From Research to Market
2025-06-26 15:15 - 18:30 UTC
We are pleased to invite you to participate in the upcoming online workshop: “Regulatory Science: From Research to Market”.
This event, led by Working Group 3 (WG3) of the COST Action, is designed specifically for academics who are interested in understanding how regulatory science supports the journey of scientific innovation from the lab bench to the market.
This interactive session will help you:

Understand the role and value of regulatory science in product development

Gain insights into the European regulatory landscape and its key stakeholders

Explore real-life case studies from experts in industry and regulatory agencies

Learn how academic research can align with regulatory requirements

We welcome your participation in this workshop to better understand how regulatory science can help bring innovative, evidence-based products to market.
Speakers: Paulina Rakowska (RegulatoryToolBox), Leanne Cleaver (MHRA), Natasha Doyle (Kersia) and Florian Brill (Dr. Brill Institutes)
#biofilm, #regulatory, #cost, #CA23152

Second Working Groups Meeting (HYBRID)
2025-09-24 09:00 - 2025-09-25 15:30 | OBA Congres Oosterdokskade, Oosterdokskade 143, Amsterdam, Oosterdokskade, 1011, Netherlands
We are delighted to announce the second Biofilm Regulatory Toolbox project Working Groups in Amsterdam, to be held in person (and online) on 24-25 September 2025.
The Work Groups will meet to advance their ongoing tasks, exchange knowledge, and prepare upcoming outputs. Each group will have dedicated sessions followed by plenary exchanges:

WG1 will focus on biofilm methods and models, reviewing current approaches and analyses to assess their advantages, limitations, and potential as regulatory science tools. The group will also set actions for year 2 to guide further evaluation and integration of biotechnology perspectives.
WG2 will continue its work on standardizing procedures and protocols to address product effectiveness and maximize the translation of results.
WG3 will concentrate on communication, dissemination, and education. The agenda includes improving the project website, developing workshops and training schools, gathering feedback from short-term scientific missions, discussing inter-laboratory studies, exploring online tools, and shaping teaching modules for an online course.

Selected participants will receive reimbursement for travel and subsistence costs according to the COST Rules for Reimbursement.
Meeting Venue
OBA Congres, Oosterdokskade 143 (6th floor), Room Prinsen/Keizerszaal.
Dinner (Wed 24 Sept, 19:00): Bierfabriek, Nes 67, Amsterdam.
(Directions – pdf linked)
We look forward to meeting you in Amsterdam (or online)!
Download meeting agenda (PDF)

Biofilm Alliance Conference
2025-10-21 09:00 - 17:00 | Conference Aston, Birmingham, UK, Conference Aston, Birmingham, UK, Birmingham, Birmingham,, United Kingdom
Biofilm Alliance 2025 will bring together leading voices from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies to explore the evolving interface between cutting-edge biofilm research and regulatory science.
In recent years, significant progress in academic and industry-led R&D has driven the development of innovative anti-biofilm technologies with transformative potential across multiple sectors. Advances in biofilm analysis have improved our understanding of key characteristics, such as biofilm resilience and persistence on surfaces, providing a critical foundation for better detection, control, and prevention strategies.
The Biofilm Alliance is hosting this landmark event to bring together key stakeholders from across sectors to discuss current research, technology development, and regulatory pathways.
Expert speakers from each sector will share insights on emerging technologies, best practices, and regulatory developments. A focused discussion session will explore how regulation can evolve to support innovation, with key topics including cross-sector collaboration, balancing innovation with compliance, and identifying opportunities for regulatory clarity.
Join us at Biofilm Alliance 2025 to shape the future of biofilm innovation and regulation.

Grant Opportunity for RegulatoryToolBox Members to Attend the Biofilm Alliance 2025 Conference
If you are interested in attending the Biofilm Alliance 2025 Conference, we are pleased to offer the opportunity for RegulatoryToolBox members to present a poster at the event. Participation may be supported through a COST Dissemination Grant (if you are promoting the Action) or an ITC Conference Grant (if you wish to present your own work aligned with the RegulatoryToolBox remit).
This is a great opportunity to showcase the RegulatoryToolBox and engage with the UK’s community of like-minded peers. If you are interested, we encourage you to apply via the e-COST portal: https://e-services.cost.eu/activity/grants/add. We have a limited budget and will award the grants on a first come, first served basis.
For further information on the dissemination and ITC grants, and how to apply, please contact our Grant Awarding Coordinator, Dr Martina Modic: martina.modic@ijs.si

COST Academy online workshop for Young researchers
2025-10-21 14:00 - 15:30
The COST Academy will organise on 21 October 2025 between 14:00-15:30 CET, an online workshop on Peer Review:
Tips for an Open Research Approach in cooperation with Open Research Europe (ORE) to offer additional support to the Young Researchers and Innovators (YRI, under 40 years old) in COST Action networks.
With the shift towards greater transparency in research, many publishers are adopting Open Peer Review. However, the models vary: some make review reports publicly available, others disclose reviewer identities, and some combine both approaches. While OPR aims to enhance accountability and trust, its implementation is not without challenges for authors, reviewers, and publishers.

This 90-minute interactive workshop will:

Give a brief history of peer review.
Provide an overview of Open Peer Review models.
Explore a case study of Open Research Europe’s Open Peer Review process.
Engage participants in hands-on analysis of real open peer review reports.

You can register for the online event here.

Fundamentals of Metrology for Biofilm Analysis
2025-11-18
Metrology, the science of measurement, underpins our modern world. From everyday transactions to cutting-edge research, accurate measurements are essential. Billions of measurements are made globally each day, impacting trade, manufacturing, medicine, scientific discovery, consumer safety, and environmental
protection.
To ensure reliable results and informed decision-making, sound metrological principles must be rigorously applied. Metrology provides a framework to ensure the traceability, comparability and reliability of data. There are specific challenges related to methods for the analysis of biofilms, including biofilm heterogeneity, sensitivity to environmental conditions and the range of environments and surfaces where biofilms are encountered. A lack of standardisation limits the ability to compare results produced by different laboratories and also to monitor results over time. To be able to develop and apply suitable test methods requires an understanding of metrology.

🗓️ Choose your preferred date: 18 November 2025 or 8 December 2025
💻 Online via Microsoft Teams
🔗Please see the attached leaflet or learn more and register here: https://www.biofilm-alliance.org/fundamentals-of-metrology-event.

We encourage all RegulatoryToolBox members interested in biofilm method development, standardisation, or validation to take advantage of this excellent opportunity
