SurfSAFE Final Conference
27 – 29TH SEPTEMBER 2023
Biofilm detection and control in the food industry
Scientific Committee
- Filipe Mergulhão, Universidade do Porto, PT
- Luciana Gomes, Universidade do Porto, PT
- Mette Burmølle, University of Copenhagen, DK
- Kathryn Whitehead, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
- Jelmer Sjollema, University of Groningen, NL
Scientific Programme
Invited Speakers
Joana Azeredo is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biological Engineering of the University of Minho and develops her research activity at the Centre of Biological Engineering, where she is a member of the direction board, leading the Biofilm Science and Technology Research Group and the Bacteriophage Biotechnology Group (BBiG). Her current research focuses on the interaction of bacteriophages with biofilms and the development of bacteriophage-based biotechnological applications for the detection and control of pathogens.
Kathryn Whitehead is a Professor in Microbiology at Interfaces at Manchester Metropolitan University (UK). She has extensive experience in working on designing and characterizing antimicrobial, biomimetic, and anti-adhesive surfaces and decontamination systems for use in food industries and medical systems. Her work also includes several other collaborative areas including the development of antimicrobials and investigation of the growth (microbial fuel cells) and eradication of biofilms, the effects of oral bacterial metabolites on renal function and factors leading to the incidence of surgical site infections, bacteria found in burn patient wounds and surgical site infections and their transmission across the wards and their antimicrobial resistance.
Mette Burmølle is an Associate Professor of Microbiology at the University of Copenhagen (DK). Her scientific research focuses on the interactions among bacteria of different species within diverse communities, aiming to understand the functional impact, evolution, and underlying mechanisms of interspecific interactions in biofilms.
Jelmer Sjollema is an Assistant professor and principal investigator at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands. Originally educated as a physicist he did his PhD in imaging and modeling of bacterial deposition. His main scientific focus is the development and validation of imaging technologies in the study of bacterial adhesion and the in vivo evaluation of biomaterial associated infections.
Darla Goeres leads the Standardized Biofilm Methods Laboratory team at the Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE), Montana State University (USA), whose mission is the development and validation of quantitative standard methods for growing, treating, sampling and analyzing bacteria biofilm. In 2020, Darla was appointed Research Professor of Regulatory Science. In her new role, she is developing a regulatory science program to engage regulatory and industrial decision-makers in the development of tools that enable innovation in biofilm science and technology.
Bill Keevil is a Professor of Environmental Healthcare, Head of the Microbiology Group, and Director of the Environmental Healthcare Unit at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton (UK). In 2019, he was appointed as Chair of the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food at the Food Standards Agency. His scientific research focuses on the study of pathogens’ physiology and adaptative mechanisms; biofilms in the environment, the built environment, and clinical practice; and surface contamination, fouling, and corrosion.
Abstract Submission
- Submission: 2 January – 15 March 2023
- Review: 15 March – 31 March 2023
- Abstract Acceptance Notification: Early April 2023
- All abstracts submitted to the SurfSAFE Final Conference will be reviewed by the panel of experts.
- In case of any questions related to the Abstract submission, please contact: [email protected]
Registration
Conference registration: April 2023 – 30€
Venue
Fundação Dr. António Cupertino Miranda.
Av. da Boavista 4245, 4100-140, Porto, Portugal.
