Jonathan Little

Jonathan Little is a Professor at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, affiliated with the Faculty of Health and Social Development and School of Health and Exercise Sciences. He leads the Exercise Metabolism and Inflammation Laboratory (EMIL), focusing on the intersection of exercise physiology, nutrition, and metabolic disorders.

• Hons B. Kin – McMaster University, 2005
• M.Sc. – University of Saskatchewan, 2007
• Ph.D. – McMaster University, 2010
• Postdoctoral Fellowship – UBC, 2010-2012

His research investigates how metabolic disruptions in type 2 diabetes affect cellular inflammation and how exercise/nutritional strategies can mitigate these effects. Key areas include high-intensity interval training (HIIT), nutritional ketosis, and immunometabolic responses. EMIL combines human clinical trials with cellular/molecular experiments, utilizing advanced tools like flow cytometry and metabolic carts.

His recent publications emphasize exercise snacks (short, frequent workouts), ketone supplements, and fasting protocols for managing diabetes and obesity. He has received prestigious awards like the Killam Accelerator Fellowship and CIHR New Investigator Award.

• Killam Accelerator Research Fellowship (2021-2023)
• Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Young Investigator Award (2020)
• UBC Killam Research Fellowship (2018)
• Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar (2018-2023)
• American College of Sports Medicine New Investigator Award (2016)
• CIHR New Investigator Salary Award (2015-2020)

He supervises graduate students in HMKN 313 – Exercise Metabolism and mentors through the HMKN 499 Research Practicum. His lab (EMIL) collaborates with institutions like the BC Diabetes Research Network and serves as an Associate Editor for Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism.