Registration is now Open.
Registration for the 41st Annual Microbiology Conference is open.
Click here to register now.
We have some exciting speakers lined up from different fields of microbiology including those in academia, research and clinical practice.
Here's why you need to attend:
- Learn something new
- Embrace new ideas
- Build your networks
- Continual professional development (CPD)
- Develop your career
- Visit a world-class venue
The 41st Annual Microbiology Conference is dedicated to the memory of Jim Lindsay, founding member of the BSMT, who sadly died in June 2025.
41st Annual Microbiology Conference
Venue: Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon
Date: Thursday 21 May 2026
Microbial Technology in Practice: the Good, the Bad and the Bugly
Profiles for Chairs and Speakers
Current state and the potential future for diagnostic microbiology
Dr Sarah Pitt, Principal Lecturer, University of Brighton, President, Institute of Biomedical Science
Holy moly! A case of domestically acquired cholera
Dr Marie Anne Chattaway, Unit Head for the Gastrointestinal Reference Unit (GBRU), UKHSA
Mycoplasma pneumoniae: atypical in many ways
Dr Michael Beeton, Reader in Microbiology, Cardiff Metropolitan University
The changing distribution of mosquito vector species in the UK
Dr Joylon Medlock, Head of Medical Entomology, UKHSA
In defence of anaerobic bacteriology: expect the unexpected
Professor Michael Wren MBE FRSB
Phage therapy and its role in the treatment of bacterial infections Professor Martha Clokie, Professor of Microbiology, University of Leicester
Dr Kate Templeton, BSMT President and Professor Brian Duerden CBE, will chair the conference
About the Conferences
BSMT conferences are aimed at senior biomedical and clinical scientists, other scientists, medical microbiologists and other healthcare professionals. They are particularly relevant for bench microbiologists to provide up-to-date information about organisms and techniques especially with regard to new molecular technologies.
Read more
40th ANNIVERSARY MICROBIOLOGY CONFERENCE
Venue: Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon
Date: Thursday 15 May 2025
Laboratory Microbial Diagnostics: Current and Future Practice
The following articles are available to read; Programme Preview 1 and Programme preview 2 and the final preview article.
Evaluation Report: conference 2025
Seeking the opinion of delegates who attend conferences is vital, enabling organisers to assess the success and value of their events. This has been a useful tool employed by the BSMT, being pivotal in the ongoing success of its annual conferences.
The comprehensive evaluation report prepared following the recent 40th Anniversary Conference shows that almost all delegates who provided feedback scored the various aspects of the event either good or very good, reinforced by positive comments such as:
▪︎ Each presentation offered a unique perspective on current challenges and innovations in microbial diagnostics.
▪︎ Good range of speakers, all very interesting.
▪︎ The presentation content was great and the venue was awesome.
However, among the wide range of comments received, two concerns were repeated: the poor quality of catering, and intermittent audio problems, particularly towards the end of the final presentation. These will be addressed by the committee and representatives of the venue.
CPD
The 40th Anniversary Microbiology Conference on 15 May 2025 is registered with the IBMS - download the BSMT CPD Attendance Sheet which will help delegates undertaking IBMS CPD to reflect on the experience, which is now the focus of the IBMS scheme, rather than collecting points. The sheet may also be used for CPD verification with any professional body. The conference is also registered with RCPath and signed certificates will be available on request from bnation@bsmt.org.uk.
Our message on leaving X/Twitter
From Friday 1 November 2024 we will no longer be active on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The BSMT considers X no longer relevant to its activities and will discontinue its use.
Please visit British Society for Microbial Technology - BSMT | Facebook whilst we seek alternative social media platforms to conduct our communication strategy.
UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2024 to 2029 is published
This second 5-year national action plan supports the UK 20-year vision for antimicrobial resistance.
Articles
Read two excellent previews of the 39th annual conference published in the Biomedical Scientist April 2024 and Pathology in Practice February 2024:
Microbiology: Rapid Diagnostics Warts and All
Rapid diagnostics - warts and all: a microbiology conference preview
Read Topics in Microbiology and infection: a review of the BSMT conference. An article published in Pathology in Practice giving an overview of the BSMT conference May 2023.
The following articles are previews of the conference on 11 May 2023. The first Microbial technology: a further preview of this year’s BSMT conference covers the global problem of AMR and childhood respiratory infections by Dr Mark Wilks, Chair of BSMT Committee. The second article Topics in microbiology and infection: 2023 BSMT exhibition preview is an introduction to the 20 leading biomedical science companies which are supporting the event. We invite all attendees to visit each trade stand and come armed with your questions to the commercial representatives.
Read Under the Microscope: Microbiology and Infection by David Westrip. A shorter version of this was published in the Biomedical Scientist April 2023.
Read Revolution in genomics and microbiology: the impact of technology by Mark Wilks. A report on the BSMT microbiology conference July 2022.
Past Events
Follow the link to see information on previous BSMT conferences.
Invitation to Comment on UK SMIs
All microbiologists are invited to comment of the UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations (UK SMIs).
Go to UK SMI page here
2025 Conference
