His primary research focus on how the cell is regulated, which he claims was stimulated by "the uncovering of the property of ionising radiation to induce instability in the genome and the related effect, the so called bystander effect, in which a cell experiencing damage inflicted by ionising radiation affects surrounding cells, which then exhibit effects similar to the genomic instability."
His long term research interests have included the effects of low doses of radiation, the toxicity of depleted uranium and the consequences of nuclear accidents.
[1] Baverstock has urged further research into the biological effects of the fallout from Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents.
In October 2015, Baverstock said of the Fukushima nuclear disaster that it was in breach of international laws prohibiting the dumping of radioactivity into the sea.
He stated his belief the media, with particular reference to Europe, was under-reporting the ongoing problems at Fukushima.