Working Group 2

Translating Data into Informed Decision-Making

WG2 develops decision-making frameworks and guidance for risk assessment, product evaluation, and claim substantiation across sectors to convert biofilm data into actionable insights. Its work identifies gaps in existing regulations, clarifies expectations for evidence, and proposes practical, biofilm-relevant pathways that regulators and industry can use to support informed, consistent decision making.

Objectives

Analysis of existing guidelines and risk assessment models that regulators use to make decisions about antimicrobials intended to protect and improve public health

Creating a decision-making framework that considers data generated by new methods of analysis and what is necessary to collect for decisions that support public health claims

Organise cross-stakeholder workshops that bring together regulators, industry, academics, and innovators to align on decision-making frameworks, clarify the types of product-label claims that can be supported, and discuss the data requirements needed to underpin robust risk-assessment models and regulatory decisions

Deliver training modules, lectures, and recurring webinars for graduate and postgraduate audiences on metrology, standardisation, MIABE, active working groups and committees, pathways for involvement, and core principles of regulatory science

Current Activities

Right next to it is a list of current initiatives in progress in WG2. 

We need your input! If you have relevant expertise, practical experience, informed opinions, or simply the time and willingness to contribute, your involvement will strengthen the quality and impact of our work.

If you would like to join and contribute to any of these activities, or if you have suggestions for additional work, please contact one of the WG2 representatives. 

  1. Review Article: “Biofilm Assessment at the Crossroads: Standards, Strategies, and Scientific Frontiers”.
  2. White Paper: White paper – “Beyond Plate Counts: A Call to Modernize Biofilm Quantification”.
  3. White Paper: “Biofilm control technologies: A review of the regulatory framework”.
  4. White paper: “Is It Time to Rethink How We Test Wound Dressings?”
  5. White paper – “Lack of standard methods to test the efficacy of novel/ nontraditional technologies for biofilm control”.
  6. Stakeholder Mapping
  7. Biofilm ontology guide
  8. Biofilm doomsday book! – Collection of Case studies

Achievements

WG2 has over 130 members and is currently undertaking a wide range of activities, with various members contributing substantial effort across multiple strands of work. We will share updates on progress and achievements as they become available. 

Group Leaders

Maria Salta

Maria Salta, Endures PV, Netherlands

Mail:

 

Kasper Nørskov Kragh

Symcel AB, Sweden

Mail:

 

Jontana Allkja

University of Liverpool, UK

Mail:

Maria Salta

Dr, Endures PV

Kasper Nørskov Kragh

Dr, Endures PV Science Development Lead, Symcel AB

Experienced Senior Researcher with broad experience in biofilms, antimicrobial resistance, biotechnology, genetics, medical devices, and drug discovery. Strong technical and academic background with a Master of Science in biology, PhD in Immunology and Microbiology from the University of Copenhagen. Skilled in Molecular Biology, Microscopy, Microbiology, Assay Development, Biofilm, Life Sciences, Project Management, and Project Leadership.

Jontana Allkja

University of Liverpool, UK

Jontana holds a BSc (University of Bristol), an MSc in Infection Biology (Uppsala University), and a PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering (University of Porto, in collaboration with Montana State University) as part of the Print-aid Marie-Curie ITN on anti-biofilm 3D printed implants. Her PhD focused on standardising biofilm methods, improving reproducibility through the first ring trial and minimum information guidelines, and developing a four-species CAUTI catheter biofilm model using plate counts and FISH/CSLM.

As a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Glasgow, she worked on drug-loaded wound dressings combined with cold atmospheric plasma for diabetic foot ulcers, developing five-species wound biofilm models and contributing to a clinical study of DFU microbiome and fungal burden.