Call for experts and data on the use of omics-based technologies in microbiological risk assessment

FAO and WHO are currently in the process of identifying experts to participate in future work of FAO and WHO in the area of omics in microbiological risk assessments. All applicants should meet the following general criteria:

• Advanced University/College degree in veterinary medicine, microbiology, food technology, food science, epidemiology, public health, or related fields
• Experience in food safety/risk analysis related to microbiological hazards in foods
• At least five years of experience in relevant fields
• Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, in particular, relevant publications within the most recent 10 years
• Good knowledge of the English language, both written and oral
• Evidence of leadership or invited participation in national or international scientific bodies, committees, and other expert advisory bodies pertinent to the scope of this work

Selection of experts

Applicants' curricula vitae (CV) will be reviewed based on the criteria listed above by a selection panel consisting of three or more individuals appointed by FAO or WHO. A small number of accomplished individuals will be invited to participate in the proposed upcoming meeting which is planned from 2 to 6 March 2026. Selected experts may be required to assist in the preparation of background papers and report drafts (in English). In selecting experts, FAO and WHO will consider, in addition to scientific and technical excellence, diversity and complementarities of scientific backgrounds, and balanced representation from geographic regions, including developing and developed countries, as well as gender. Unsuccessful candidates are not routinely notified. 

Appointment of experts

Selected experts will be invited to contribute to the meeting only in their individual scientific capacity. An expert will not represent the government of country of which he or she is a citizen, or the institution with which he or she is associated. The experts designated will not receive any remuneration, however, where a physical expert meeting is held, travel costs, subsistence allowance and other related expenses will be the exclusive responsibility of FAO and WHO.

Applications

Interested applicants should submit their CV. The CV should include a description of education, relevant work experience, evidence of national or international expertise on the topic, including a list of peer-reviewed publications relevant to the factors indicated above (please do not include reprints in your submission unless specifically requested at a later date). Applicants must have a good working knowledge of English as correspondence and meetings will be in English only.

Before participating in any related activity, all the selected experts will be required to declare any potential interests associated with the subjects and substances that will be evaluated. Experts will be asked to indicate, in writing, all interests (financial and intellectual) on their part or that of their spouse that may affect, or be perceived to affect, their scientific independence as experts, including one or more of the following conditions: employment (past or present) by any commercial enterprise or private or civil sector association; receipt of research or other study grants from such enterprises or associations; shareholdings in commercial enterprises active in fields related to food safety. Identification of an interest does not necessarily indicate a conflict nor automatically exclude an individual from participation. For example, as expert, it is expected that many, if not all, will be employed in some capacity related to the subject matter. These declarations must be completed and evaluated before a formal invitation will be issued. Declaration documents will be retained by the Joint Secretariat and a summary of declarations will be included in the report of the work. In addition, a confidentiality undertaking must also to be completed prior to appointment to ensure proper handling of dossiers and proprietary information.

Deadline

Please submit nominations and CVs at your earliest convenience. Selection of candidates will begin on 19 December 2025 and will be completed when sufficient numbers of qualified candidates are identified 

Call for data

Deadline: For full consideration, data should be submitted by 19 January 2026

FAO and WHO desire that all relevant information and data about omics in risk assessments are considered and are thus issuing this international call to raise awareness about data needs and invite all interested parties to provide any relevant information/data, particularly data that may not be readily available in the public domain. 

Objectives

The data will serve as inputs to the development of scientific advice which will guide the elaboration of appropriate Codex texts. This call is aimed to obtain more globally representative data and information on currently applied methodologies that make use of omics technologies and are of use to enrich microbiological risk assessments.

The purpose of this project is to review and discuss the available data and background documents, to assess the need to modify and finetune/enrich risk assessment models/tools. Updated risk assessment elements will inform a range of risk management options in a number of different regions and a variety of products. 

Request for relevant information

FAO and WHO want to ensure that relevant information/data are collected, and are requesting governments, the food industry, academia, consumer groups, laboratories, health care providers and any other interested organizations and individuals to submit any available data from public health surveillance and assurance programs that use omics for pathogen identification and/or characterisation. These data may be published or unpublished. Reference should be made to related published studies, where applicable.

FAO and WHO also recognize that countries may be at different levels in the development of their monitoring programs and testing methods for pathogens and welcome information on the status, including challenges encountered.

FAO and WHO would like to indicate that responses are encouraged from all the countries for this call since significant new information is requested.

List of data and information requirements

Data and information on the following aspects are requested: 

• Current monitoring and assurance programs, with a focus on the (partly) use of molecular methodologies (commercially available and validated for regulatory purposes) for monitoring pathogens in food and the production environment as basis for management and control.
• Current use of molecular methodologies at food inspection services and food testing companies and implementation in surveillance surveys.
• Current use of molecular methodologies for outbreak/recall investigations by food inspection service, industry and public health authorities.

As examples, data and information on the following aspects will be useful for the discussions in the meeting.:

A. Sampling plans and testing methods (partly) based on molecular microbiology for monitoring of pathogens

• name of country
• name of the control programme (sampling/testing plan)
• food commodity
• step in the food chain (e.g. abattoir, processing, retail, etc).
• purpose of the testing (e.g. domestic market, testing of imported products, testing for exportation (indicate the country where the product is exported to), testing to determine national baseline prevalence, targeted exploratory etc.)
• regulatory testing – Testing programs can be mandatory i.e. imposed by the competent authorities or non-mandatory (ex. Industry own testing programs). For each testing program, please indicate if they are mandated by competent authorities or not, and for regulatory testing if they are implemented by the competent authorities or by industry
• laboratory method for screening/confirmation – Provide the laboratory method(s) for isolation and confirmation. Specify how molecular methods are being implemented in your practices (e.g., for identification and/or characterisation). Are the molecular methods commercially available, and validated for regulatory purposes. Is the molecular method performed in-company or by a testing company
• action taken on positive samples – Provide information on actions taken by competent authorities and/or other stakeholders. What is current practice of information exchange between stakeholders. What is the added value of applying molecular methods in the process? Please specify.
• observations/challenges: any challenge in the design and implementation of molecular methods in your monitoring and testing programs for pathogens

B. Foodborne outbreak and surveillance data related to pathogens (acquired with use of molecular methods)

1. Foodborne outbreaks data:
• time of year and month in which the outbreak occurred
• whether the outbreak / cases were confirmed or suspected regarding the link between the food vehicle and the outbreak of human cases and how this was determined (e.g. laboratory confirmation, epidemiological investigation, etc.). Specify the molecular method used to identify/characterise the pathogen
• number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths associated with the outbreaks
• age and sex distribution of cases (e.g. range and median)
• individual host susceptibility characteristics of cases (e.g. pregnancy, nutrition, health and medication status, concurrent infections, immune status and previous exposure history or any other risk factors identified)
• the implicated food (if identified) and attributes of the food that may have been relevant in the occurrence of the outbreak
• specify how the molecular information has been used. E.g. strain, serotype identification, antibiotic resistance typing, other.
• specify exchange of molecular information (including meta data) with other stakeholders
2. Surveillance data on human enteric viruses in foods:
• the implicated food and its attributes, if any
• place of origin of food attributed
• specify how the molecular information have been used. E.g. strain, serotype identification, antibiotic resistance typing, other
• specify exchange of molecular information (including meta data) with other stakeholders
• other information
• relevant links (articles, reports, websites, etc)

Data provider: Please provide name, title and full contact details of the contact person for follow-up and further details, if needed.

Confidential and/or unpublished data

FAO and WHO recognize that some of the information and relevant data which are now required may be unpublished or of a confidential nature. With regard to unpublished information and data, this remains the property of the author for subsequent publication by the owner as original material. Unpublished confidential studies that are submitted will be safeguarded in so far as it is possible to do so without compromising the work of FAO and WHO. Specific issues relating to confidentiality should be discussed directly between the information and data owners and FAO/WHO. For these and other issues please contact FAO and WHO at the contacts provided.

Deadline

Please submit any relevant information electronically either via e-mail (if not too large) or on a USB stick, in any official United Nations language (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian), and with title and short description of the content in English, to the addresses below at your earliest convenience, but no later than 19 January 2026.

Data submissions in response to the call for expects and data should be sent to:

Kang Zhou
Food Safety and Quality Unit
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00153, Rome, Italy
Email: [email protected]

Akio Hasegawa
Department of Nutrition and Food Safety
World Health Organization
20 Avenue Appia 1211, Geneva 27 Switzerland
Email: [email protected]

¹  FAO and WHO. 2021. Microbiological risk assessment - Guidance for food. Microbiological Risk Assessment Series No. 36. Rome.