Dr. Jonathan Barlow is Scientific Research Director at the University of Birmingham’s Cellular Health and Metabolism Facility. 

Over his academic career, Dr. Barlow has authored 24 original research articles, including groundbreaking work in mitochondrial energy metabolism and cellular bioenergetics. He has presented his findings at renowned conferences such as ACSM, EASD, and EBEC, and has been honored with the Albert Renold Travel Fellowship (2018) and the Early Career Small Grant from Diabetes UK (2016-2018). His work has been cited 451 times, with an H-index of 11, reflecting his considerable impact in the field of cellular metabolism. 

Dr. Barlow holds a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honors) in Human Biosciences and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Plymouth. His doctoral research, titled “Mitochondrial Involvement in Pancreatic Beta Cell Glucolipotoxicity,” provided significant insights into mitochondrial function in metabolic disorders.

Dr. Barlow has contributed extensively to the scientific understanding of mitochondrial biology and glucolipotoxicity, focusing on how metabolic dysfunction contributes to diseases like Type 2 diabetes. His notable publications include articles in Methods in Enzymology, Biochemical Journal, and Redox Biology, where he has advanced methodologies for measuring mitochondrial function in real-time. Additionally, he has authored multiple conference papers and reviews, establishing himself as a thought leader in the field of bioenergetics.

As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham and University of Plymouth, Dr. Barlow made key contributions to the study of pancreatic beta-cell metabolism. He published and contributed to significant research and review articles in journals such as  AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism, Metabolism Open, PLOS one, International Journal of Molecular Science, and Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental. His expertise in metabolic profiling, dynamic cell culture systems, and advanced biochemical techniques has established him as an expert in bioenergetics research.

Currently serving as a Scientific Research Officer at the University of Birmingham, Dr. Barlow has established a cutting-edge cellular health and metabolism research facility. Under his leadership, the facility has trained over 40 postgraduate researchers and supported over 20 research projects, contributing to 10 original research publications in journals such as JoVE, Frontiers in Immunology, Blood Advances, Cardiovascular Research and Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy. His research is dedicated to improving methodology and models for cellular metabolic profiling in real-time and focuses on identifying novel bioenergetic biomarkers for disease prediction and therapeutic outcomes.

Dr. Barlow founded Biocell Energetics to bridge the gap between academia and industry by providing highly accurate and reproducible extracellular flux analysis services.

Biocell Energetics supports both academic and industrial end-users in understanding cellular metabolism, using cutting-edge techniques to ensure the delivery of high-sensitivity, reproducible real-time metabolic data. The company’s mission is to provide robust insights that drive advances in biomedical research and disease modelling.

Through Biocell Energetics, Dr. Barlow seeks to mitigate common challenges in cellular bioenergetics research by adhering to strict protocols and quality control measures. His mission is to elevate the reproducibility and reliability of experimental data, ensuring that results generated using XF technology contribute meaningfully to advancements in the field.

Dr. Barlow’s passion lies in advancing the understanding of cellular metabolism and its role in health and disease. His research aims to discover new biomarkers for personalised medicine and optimise methodologies for studying the bioenergetics of human cells and tissues. Committed to nurturing the next generation of scientists, Dr. Barlow offers comprehensive training courses in XF technology, guiding both novice and experienced scientists through the intricacies of metabolic profiling.

Dr. Barlow is also the founder of J Barlow Consultancy, offering knowledge-based consultancy services to pharmaceutical and biotech industry partners. Specialising in cellular bioenergetics and mitochondrial function assays, Dr. Barlow provides expert advice on experimental design, methodology, and data interpretation. Within the consultancy’s first year, Dr. Barlow built strong relationships with four industry partners, cementing the company’s reputation for expert scientific guidance.