New briefing: Towards biofilm innovation: how can we tackle challenges and unlock their potential?
24 November 2025
A new policy briefing on the evolving research around biofilms and the challenges of tackling them in order to improve antibiotic treatments.
We’ve published a new policy briefing to celebrate Biofilm Week 2025! This year, Biofilm Week coincides with World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW), highlighting the relationship between antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and biofilms. For example, when bacteria are within a biofilm, they are 10 to 1,000 times more resistant to antibiotics.
Since our first biofilm briefing in 2019, the research and innovation landscape has evolved significantly across sectors. As well as providing a much-needed update, we hope to contribute to the growing interest in biofilms. For example, the topic was featured as a shortlisted pitch to the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee as part of its ‘Under the Microscope’ Inquiry.
Our new briefing explores biofilm challenges, applications and how the UK government can support innovation.
Read the full briefing here.
Check out this short summary:
Biofilms are structured communities of micro-organisms that are attached to each other and typically to a surface in an environment or host. They thrive in wet areas and are prevalent in our body (e.g., dental plaque), the built environment (e.g., water pipes) and nature (e.g., underwater surfaces).
We often think of microorganisms as isolated entities, but an estimated 80% of bacterial cells live within biofilms. Environmental and human associated biofilms usually contain different types of micro-organisms – including bacteria, fungi and viruses – that compete, cooperate and communicate with each other.
Living within a biofilm offers micro-organisms both protection and unique properties that they would not have on their own. Bacteria in biofilms are more resistant to environmental, chemical and mechanical stress than single-cell, floating bacteria. This means biofilms are difficult and costly to get rid of.
They present many challenges across sectors, including:
- contaminating surfaces and products with pathogenic micro-organisms;
- blocking water pipes;
- corroding and damaging infrastructure, such as equipment and vehicles.
On the other hand, biofilms can have extremely useful applications, for example, removing contaminants in wastewater treatment or improving plant growth and crop yields.
Image: Dr_Microbe.