Richard H. Barton
BA, MSc(Hons), MA(Hons), PhD, CChem, CSci, MRSC
Background
After a first degree in chemistry completed at Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand), Richard spent some years in the arts faculty at The University of Auckland studying psychology and the philosophy of science as well as teaching logic, before returning to chemistry to model the kinetics of dynamic processes on iron electrode surfaces. This was followed by a period of research in physical and analytical chemistry, before taking up an AGMARDT scholarship with Professor Charmian O’Connor, CBE, FRSC, to study a commercial enzyme preparation used in the food industry. Richard’s prize-winning PhD thesis involved initial work in protein purification and stability, and identified three catalytically-active enzymes. Subsequent study included the kinetics and elucidation of the stereoselective mechanism of reactions catalysed by the lipase-component, product stability characterisation, and the use of synthesised lipid-mimic compounds. Analytical techniques in quantitative 13C NMR spectroscopy were developed to determine the kinetics of intramolecular acyl migrations and to characterise complex and water-unstable reaction-product mixtures. Following the PhD, Richard took up a position in the UK Biotech industry, before a period freelancing in France. Subsequently he took a position as Research Associate in the (now) Biomolecular Medicine division of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London. He is also currently associated with the Centre for Integrated Systems Biology Imperial College (CISBIC) as a representative for the metabonomics component.
Research Interests
Richard has been involved in the development of metabonomic technologies, including work in spectral editing methodology and in data filtering techniques aimed at enhancing information recovery from high-field NMR spectroscopic data obtained from biofluids and bio-extracts. In particular, these metabonomic techniques have been being applied to produce and interrogate an evolving metabolic database, with aims which include a more precisely "fingerprinting" the complex repertoire of metabolic markers associated with the pathogenesis of type II diabetes, metabolic models of aging, microbial metabolomics, and molecular epidemiology of human populations.
Other Interests (time permitting)
Growing cacti and succulents, audio electronics, 20th century classical music; walking, and hiking, physics and computers.
