Terry Bilverstone

Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences (Clinical Microbiology), The Open University and Chair, LAMECS 2026 Organising Committee

Terry Bilverstone is a Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences (Clinical Microbiology) at The Open University, UK. He was awarded his PhD on the virulence of Clostridioides difficile, in 2019 from the University of Nottingham, UK. His research focuses on the application of synthetic biology techniques, to genetically engineer anaerobic bacteria. Terry spent nine years at The Synthetic Biology Research Centre, University of Nottingham, working on clostridial pathogens, before joining The Open University in October 2023.

Terry is the principal investigator of the Anaerobes in Medicine (AiM Lab). At the AiM Lab, we develop alternative antimicrobial agents for combatting C. difficile infection (CDI) which is recalcitrant to antibiotic therapy. We research the function and genetic regulation of clostridial toxins, to direct the development of anti-virulence agents thereto. We also conduct research into the genetic engineering of bacteriophages, to enhance their potential as therapeutic agents.