Working Group 1

Paving the Way for the Future of Standardisation of Biofilm Technologies

WG1 evaluates the advantages and limitations of existing and emerging biofilm methods, guidance, and analysis technologies to determine their suitability as regulatory science tools. It assesses which models, methods, and approaches have the responsiveness, ruggedness, relevance, and reproducibility needed for regulatory use. Its aim is to propose biofilm models and methods that can be considered for standardisation and formally recognised by regulatory bodies.

Objectives

Review and assessment of available methods for biofilm analysis

Evaluation of existing biofilm-forming platforms

Identification of high-applicability methods suitable for regulatory and cross-sector use

Selection of the most relevant biofilm growth models to feed into WG2 discussions and outputs

Engaging with industry e.g. biotechnology companies to explore technologies relevant to biofilm research and regulatory needs

Current Activities

Below is a list of current initiatives WG1 is progressing.

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. The WG is actively working on a number of outputs (below are some examples). 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 WG1 representatives.

Review Articles:

  1. Biofilm models: A critical user’s guide.
  2. Introduction to experimental design for antibiofilm interventions.
  3. Biofilm elimination and regulation.
  4. Toward a standardized bioinformatics framework for biofilm analysis – State of the art and future perspectives.


Perspective Articles:

  1. Imaging as analytical method to assess biofilms.
  2. Bridging the Gap: Standardising Laboratory Biofilm Methods with Applications to the Food Industry for Regulatory Science.

White Papers:

  1. Biofilms uncovered: A silent global crisis demanding coordinated action.
  2. Why molecular biofilm data struggle to inform regulation?
  3. What are the limitations associated with exclusively using viable plate count data for regulatory decision making?
  4. Spoilage biofilms, economic losses and potential implication for regulatory decisions?
  5. What guidance is necessary for image analysis to ensure the *** one *** image showed captures the whole story?
  6. What multiple lines of evidence are needed to support regulatory decision making?
  7. Vibrational spectroscopic methods for biofilm assessment / analysis.

Achievements

WG1 has over 180 members, who are currently undertaking a wide range of activities, with members contributing substantial effort across multiple strands of work. We will share updates on progress and achievements as they become available.

Group Leaders

James Redfern

Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

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Carolina Ripolles-Avila

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain

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Henriette Lyng Røder

University of Copenhagen, Denmark

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James Redfern

Deputy Head of Department, Reader and Microbiologist at The Manchester Metropolitan University

Experienced microbiologist (PhD) with a demonstrated history of research success including peer-reviewed publication and prestigious grant funding from UKRI, Horizon Europe and industry.

Current research programmes include understanding bacterial biofilm method development (efficacy testing and standardisation), biofilm phenotype and genotype, testing novel antimicrobial agents and developing testing methods for antimicrobial surfaces for industrial applications.

In addition I am skilled in science education, higher education research, public engagement, research design, and teaching.

Carolina Ripolles-Avila

Associate Professor (PSH), Department of Animal and Food Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)

Carolina is a food scientist and technologist specialised in food safety. Her research centres on the persistence and control of foodborne pathogens, covering biofilm formation, eradication strategies, and the development of methods for biofilm detection and quantification. She also designs and validates shelf-life and challenge-test methodologies across diverse food matrices, integrating experimental studies with kinetic and ecological modelling.

She collaborates with industry and public agencies on risk assessment and hygiene plans. An experienced educator and mentor, she has supervised numerous BSc, MSc and PhD projects and is active in public engagement against food misinformation, science communication initiatives, and the promotion of food-technology associations in Spain.

Henriette Lyng Røder

University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Henriette Lyng Røder is a highly accomplished microbiologist with extensive expertise in bacterial community interactions and biofilm research. She obtained her MSc in Microbiology from the Department of Biology at the University of Copenhagen, where she also completed her PhD. Her doctoral research focused on understanding the complexities of multispecies biofilms. In 2022, she was appointed as a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at the Department of Food Science, where she has utilized advanced analytical techniques to study bacterial interactions.

Henriette has gained international research experience through visiting positions at esteemed institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh in the USA and Biozentrum in Switzerland. She has demonstrated research excellence by securing competitive grants, including the Emerging Investigator Grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, to establish an independent research group dedicated to making significant advancements in food microbiology.