BSMT Annual Microbiology Conference 2024 update: Change of venue to UKHSA, Colindale

Due to a clash of bookings at the RAF museum, the BSMT is pleased to announce that this year’s Annual Microbiology Conference will be held at UKHSA, Colindale https://www.ukhsa-protectionservices.org.uk/hpet/contact/colindale. Those of you who have attended previous conferences at Colindale will be familiar with the venue which is a short walk from the Colindale tube station and should not add any difficulties for you.

We know that the Colindale venue will again provide a great experience for both delegates and exhibitors, although unfortunately we have needed to reduce the numbers of exhibiting companies to 12. There is also very limited car parking there but the RAF Museum, Hendon (just a mile from Colindale UKHSA) have generously agreed to provide limited parking for BSMT delegates. Please contact reg.bsmt@gmail.com ASAP if you need a parking place.

We are looking forward to our next Conference and hope to see you there.

Please contact reg.bsmt@gmail.com if you have any problems regarding the change of venue.

With best wishes from everyone at the BSMT.

Registration is now open!

Click here to register now

We’re excited to see you at the 39th Annual Microbiology Conference.

 

39th ANNUAL MICROBIOLOGY CONFERENCE

Venue: UKHSA, Colindale

Date: Thursday 02 May 2024

Rapid Diagnostics ~ warts and all

Read Programme Preview 1 and Programme preview 2 in readiness for the Conference.

Programme

Profiles for Chairs and Speakers in development

How do we assess and value rapid diagnostics? 
Dr Luke Moore, Consultant Infectious Diseases, Microbiology & Virology, Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust 

Next-generation molecular diagnostics: Leveraging digital technologies to enhance multiplexing in real-time PCR 
Dr Jesus Rodriguez-Manzano, Associate Professor, Imperial College, London

STI AMR surveillance; the molecular approach
Dr Michelle Cole, Interim Head of the STI Reference lab, UKHSA

Setting up a Microbiology service in a low to middle income country
Ivor Mitchelmore, Now retired Chief BMS, Luton & Dunstable University Hospital

Evaluation of a unified metagenomic method for rapid detection of bacteria, fungi and viruses in clinical samples 
Adela Alcolea-Medina, Lead, Next Generation Sequencing, Infection Sciences, Synovis, St Thomas’ Hospital, London

UKHSA: What next for AMR? The 2024-2029 UK Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan 
Dr Alicia Demirjian, Clinical Lead, Antimicrobial Resistance & Prescribing (AMRP), UKHSA and Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Evelina London Children's Hospital 

Dr Kate Templeton, BSMT President and Professor Brian Duerden CBE, will chair the conference

Find out about the BSMT!

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

The 2024 conference  is dedicated to the memory of Mahsa Amini

Mahsa Amini, an Iranian student about to start a degree in Microbiology but was arrested on 13 September 2022 for ‘improperly wearing the mandatory head covering’; she died in police custody several days later.

We are offering several grants in memory of Mahsa Amini aimed at potential delegates who would otherwise not be able to attend the BSMT conference due to financial reasons. The grant is for the registration fee and/or the cost of travel (standard rate). To apply  for the grant, please write a  short summary (one side of A4) of your reasons and send to  BSMT Chair, Dr Mark Wilks (mwilks@bsmt.org.uk). They will be assessed by a subgroup of the BSMT committee.

Announcement from UK SMIs

UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations are available on RCPath website from 30th October 2023. Please bookmark or save the new webpage to your favourites folder to ensure easier access to the online resource.

Please email Standards@ukhsa.gov.uk if you have any suggestions for improvement or general feedback.

CPD

The  Microbiology Conference on 11 May 2023 is registered with the IBMS - download the Self Assessment Sheet.

Articles

Newly in - two excellent previews of the coming 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 recent 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.

Read Near-patient testing: experiences and future prospects by David Westrip on behalf of the BSMT (Pathology in Practice, December 2021). David looks back at the last Annual Scientific Conference on COVID-19 and in particular at one of the consequences of the pandemic – the increased demand for near-patient testing and some of the hurdles that will have
to be overcome if it is to be introduced more widely.

Read Back to the Future about the origins of the BSMT in multipoint technology, and its evolution to organising annual microbiology conferences covering a wide range of topics related to diagnostic microbiology. Here, Jim Lindsay and Michael Croughan (founder members) reflect on the society’s origins and early development, while David Westrip considers the forthcoming 2022 conference in July (published in Pathology in Practice April 2022).

Read another article by Valerie Bevan Women advancing in science: an ongoing tale of inequalities (Pathology in Practice, October 2019).

Past Events

Follow the link to see information on previous BSMT conferences.

New Website

We hope you like this new website developed by Mike Brind at Step Communications Ltd - many thanks to Mike for his skills and patience during our training in editing the new website.

Our previous website was built 15 years ago by Henry Bevan and has served us well – many thanks to Henry who has provided such good service often at short notice and for his continuing help and advice.

Thanks also to Steve Dillon (also at Step Communications Ltd) for designing our new Logo and for his forbearance in providing many options for us to choose from.

2023 Conference

 

Invitation to Comment on UK SMIs

All microbiologists are invited to comment of the UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations (UK SMIs).

Go to SMI page here