Working Groups

WG3

Communication and Dissemination

Each country has its own regulatory office and pathway for registering products with specific label claims. Understanding who the decision makers are and the best way to disseminate the guidance generated in WG1 and WG2 is non-trivial. This WG aims to develop strategies to communicate the developed knowledge and create forums surrounding how best to educate the broader scientific and regulatory communities to promote the development and acceptance of standardised biofilm test methods in health care, the built environment, and industrial systems.

Objectives:

  • Present the results at international conferences attended by industrial representatives (in the form of lectures, posters, and flyers) (D17).
  • Engage in specialised forums, facilitating discussion with national and international decision-makers (D17).
  • Publish general information, as well as scientific publications, on the website of RegulatoryToolBox and on social media (X(Twitter)/LinkedIn/Facebook) (D16).
  • Increase the scientific, evidence-based literature in the field (via publications in peer-reviewed journals, research projects, etc.) (D17).
  • Organise annual conferences and workshops that target regulatory stakeholders (as described on WG1, WG2, WG3) (D17, D18).
  • Organise a final RegulatoryToolBox conference at the end of the action (D18).

Group leaders

Martijn Riool

University Hospital Regensburg

Farah Gonul AYDIN

Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Geertje van Keulen

Institute of Life Science in the Medical School at Swansea University

News

Invitation to the Biofilm Alliance 2025 Conference

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Empowering Young Researchers: COST Academy Training in Brussels – Register Now!

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Grants under COST Action CA23152 – Regulatory ToolBox

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Introducing the Biofilm Regulatory Toolbox at EURESTOP Training School

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Enhancing Biofilm Regulation Across Europe

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WG3 Members

Farah Gonul AYDIN, Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Gábor Györki, Ludovika University of Public Service

Nefise Akçelik, Ankara University

Natasa Radakovic, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering

Dragana Bozic, University of Belgrade-Faculty of Pharmacy,  Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Maria Vitale, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Sicily,  Italy

Helena Bujdáková, Comenius University Bratislava

Darla Goeres, FEUP; University of Porto

Zsuzsanna Kecskés Maconkai, Ludovika, University of Public Service

Martina Hrast, University of Ljubljana – Faculty of Pharmacy

Riika Mäkinen, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Research Center WANDER

Marija Atanaskovic, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade

Jelena Pantović, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering

Lidija Senerovic, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade

Pierluigi Di Ciccio, University of Turin – Italy

Sara, UCC

Verica Aleksic Sabo, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad

Renata Fryc, Sano Centrum Medycyny Obliczeniowej, Międzynarodowa Fundacja Badawcza

Martina  Modic, Institut Jožef Stefan

Maria Salta, Endures PV

Jontana Allkja, University of Liverpool

Ibrahim Ozturk

Daria Ler, ASA Institute/ASA Hospital

Suzana Vidakovic Knezevic, Scientific Veterinary Institute Novi Sad

Judit Knisz, Ludovika University of Public Service

Tina Joshi, University of Plymouth

Winifred, University College London

Sumesh Sasidharan, Aix Marseille University

Célia Fortuna, Associate Laboratory i4HB  (IUCS-CESPU, Portugal) and  UCIBIO – 1H-TOXRUN, IUCS-CESPU

Giovanni esposito, Università di Napoli Federico II

Gillian Iredale, Industrial Microbiological Services Ltd

Merja Ahonen, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences

Martijn Riool, University Hospital Regensburg

Mirko Prodanov, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje

Charalampos KOTZAMANIDIS, Hellenic Agricultural Organization, ELGO-DIMITRA

Sokol Abazi, Canadian Institute of Technology

Doriana Islami, Tenuis Laboratoires

Carolina Ripolles-Avila, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

James Redfern, Manchester Metropolitan University

Theo, Greek Scientists Society

Oguzhan Der, Bandırma Onyedi Eylul University

Agapi Doulgeraki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Efdal OKTAY GULTEKIN, TorosUniversity

Susana Patricia Peixoto Lopes, University of Minho

Raghu Krishna Moorthy, University College Dublin

Emine Dincer, Sivas Cumhuriyet University

 

Lens Piet, IHE Delft

Serghei Sprincean, Moldova State University

Doğan Turkyilmaz, Atatürk unüversity

THEOFILOS PAPADOPOULOS, ELGO DEMETER

Murat Yılmaz, Osmaniye Korkut Ata University

Ulku Dagdelen, Atatürk university

Paulina Rakowska, National Biofilms Innovation Centre

Martijn Riool, Amsterdam UMC / University Hospital Regensburg

Kazimierz Murzyn, Klaster LifeScience Krakow

 

 

Martijn Riool

Professor of Experimental Trauma Surgery at University Hospital Regensburg (UKR)

Professor of Experimental Trauma Surgery, with research focus at bone and implant infection, and director of the laboratory for Experimental Trauma Surgery at the University Hospital Regensburg (UKR).

Visiting researcher in the group of Dr. S.A.J. Zaat at the experimental bacteriology, department of medical microbiology and infection prevention at the Amsterdam UMC (location AMC).

Research focus: Biomaterial-associated infections and novel antimicrobial strategies

Infections of biomedical devices, or “biomaterials” (catheters, prosthetic heart valves, implants), are a major and increasing problem in modern medicine, especially in view of the increase in antibiotic resistance. We have discovered that bacteria do not only colonize the medical device by biofilm-formation, but also persist in surrounding tissue, due to disturbed local immunity. Bacterial, biomaterial, and host-responses involved in the pathogenesis are subject of studies, in order to find novel approaches for treatment and prevention.

This project seeks to bridge the gap between academic innovations and regulatory frameworks. Through its interdisciplinary network, RegulatoryToolBox will standardize methods, create actionable guidelines, and enable informed decisions that protect public health and the environment while fostering innovation.

Farah Gonul AYDIN

Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

I am a highly motivated researcher, passionate about not just aquaculture health, but also fighting antimicrobial resistance in all animals and humans.
Moreover, I’m extremely privileged to work with remarkable researchers all over the world.
Passionate about the development of alternative methods to reduce the need for animals in (eco)toxicity testing and a safer environment for humans and animals.
Last but not least I am always eager to learn, expand my knowledge and pass it through to the next keen researchers.
My research interests include antibiotic and antibiofilm drug resistance, biosensors-based approaches to prevent diseases in both aquatic animals and environments.
Currently, I focus on establishing Veterinary Antimicrobial Stewardship Modules and improving drug regimens with the aim of better understanding optimal dosing strategies that provide high cure rates.

Being a dyslexic and having ADHD is one of my strengths that make me unique and passionate about science and life itself!!!

To all my neurodiverse colleagues and friends: Be you and embrace your differences as things that make you so special!!

There is no other mantra for you to get a picture of my life than Charles Palahniuk’s quote:
“We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”

Geertje van Keulen

Institute of Life Science in the Medical School at Swansea University

Dr Geertje van Keulen is Associate Professor in Microbial Biochemistry in the Institute of Life Science in the Medical School at Swansea University. She assembles and leads interdisciplinary research and innovation teams with microbiology at its core, expanding understanding of and sustainably exploiting the chemical and materials properties of microbes in living, manufactured and natural (soil) environments.

Geertje collaborates across diverse disciplines in e.g. biofilms, biomaterials and soil science, (bio)chemical engineering, hot tub and waste water sanitation, water repellency, AMR and metal pollution, antimicrobial drug discovery and medicines from medieval Welsh, in projects funded by CDE/DASA/DSTL, InnovateUK, NERC, BBSRC, EPSRC, Royal Society and ESF/ERDF.

Geertje is an appointed member of the Advisory Council of the Microbiology Society and Co-Chair of its Sustainability Committee.

Geertje furthermore champions Public Engagement and EDI efforts.