Professor Dr Jonathan Barker

Major scientific interests: Dermatology, inflammatory skin diseases, psoriasis, complex disease genetics, translational research
Jonathan Barker primarily conducts research on psoriasis. He makes use of genetic analyses and was one of the first researchers to definitively describe the gene locus PSORS1, which is associated with the disease. Current research aims to complete a genetic map of psoriasis and to identify biomarkers of outcome.
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease. The condition is differentiated into Type 1 and Type 2 psoriasis. Type 1 starts before age 40, and relatives are often also affected; there is a hereditary factor that increases the risk. Type 2 has a later onset, and hereditary factors apparently play no role or only a very small one. Using genetic tests, Barker has been able to detect “psoriasis susceptibility loci” (PSORS), or gene locations that apparently play a role in determining an individual’s susceptibility to the disease. Of these loci, PSORS1 on chromosome 6p21 is the most important. Barker has also been involved in extensive studies that identified additional gene regions associated with psoriasis including methodology such as genome wide association and next generation sequencing. For the first time, an interaction between two regions was observed.
In his research, Barker uses a broad spectrum of methods, always with the goal of improving prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Various clinical research programmes reflect his interest in translational research. His objective is for his research results to benefit patients as quickly as possible.