b'Knowing how to sustain the impact of a surface treatment with time and as it consequently becomes conditioned by its local environment. Developing innovative approaches for biofilm prevention that have the cost and scale needed for end market use (e.g., contrast the scale of surface treatment needed for an implanted pacemaker with the treatment of a whole cargo ship, which are both intended to prevent biofilms).BIOFILM MANAGEMENTImproved translational funding and activities toUnmet needs: assess the benefits of novel interventions in realImproved models and methods for the world or model systems relevant to the end use.characterisation, visualisation and detection of Standards: as with other areas in the field of biofilmsbiofilms; relevant (real world context), standardised there are a lack of standard methods for testingand accessible. and claims generation and often a large differenceImproved cross-disciplinary collaboration (industry, between academic and industry models, equipment,academia, regulators and cross-sectors). skills and practice.Clarification of pathways from industry regulators. NBIC has a leading role to play here. Challenges to overcome:Fundamental research on understanding biofilm behaviour and control to give us new leads and insights is required. Data centralisation and management.BIOFILM ENGINEERINGUnmet needs: The need to engineer biofilms for benefit(s) in a human or an animal. At the workshop, there was a consensus that NBIC wasCreation of a bespoke biofilm community for a well placed to influence the direction of research in thisdefined process, outcome or benefit. area, to enhance interactions and collaboration between academia and industry, and to be involved in arguingImproved approaches for investigating, enhancing, for the creation of uniform associated standards andmonitoring or studying biofilms in the engineering methods for testing and claims generation. setting. BIOFILM DETECTION Challenges to overcome:Unmet needs:Developing improved model systems. Rapid, in situ, point-of-use context for a range of newThe development and standardisation of and emerging technologies. experimental and monitoring methods including real-time, high throughput, large scale and multi-Biomarkers that are definitive for biofilms (e.g.,variable. blood, industrial fluids, other secondary media). Improved methods for the manipulation of an To detect/characterise when a biofilm transitionsexisting biofilm are critical to achieve relevant end from a healthy to an unhealthy or pathogenic state.products or results.To detect and confirm the presence of a biofilm in a standardised reproducible manner acceptable to regulatory agencies. 35'