Jo Middleton

Dr. Jo Middleton is a Research Fellow at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), jointly appointed in the Department of Primary Care and Public Health and the Department of Global Health and Infection. They also hold a position in the School of Life Sciences (Department of Ecology & Evolution) at the University of Sussex. Dr. Middleton serves as the BSMS institutional liaison with the Planetary Health Alliance and is Convener of the Planetary Health Research Theme within the Sussex Sustainability Research Programme Centre of Excellence.

Dr. Middleton's academic journey includes a PhD in interdisciplinary research bridging medical acarology, public health, and conservation biology. Before joining BSMS as a researcher in 2014, they worked in emergency care and taught courses for Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust staff and those traveling to remote areas. With over 25 years of commitment to conservation, particularly forest preservation and indigenous health in Oceania, Dr. Middleton was honored with election as Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS) in 2025.

Dr. Middleton's research primarily focuses on medical parasitology (particularly acarine-related diseases like scabies and Lyme disease), planetary health (safeguarding human health and its underpinning natural systems), and outbreak research. Their current work centers on improving scabies outbreak control in Britain and East Africa, and integrating medicine and conservation in Papua New Guinea's rainforests. This research spans the intersection of disease ecology, public health, and biodiversity conservation, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable populations in care homes, refugee settings, and indigenous communities.

Dr. Middleton's publication record demonstrates consistent output in high-impact journals with a clear trend toward interdisciplinary research that bridges medical parasitology, planetary health, and conservation biology, with increasing focus on integrated approaches to human health and environmental sustainability. Their recent work shows particular strength in translating research into practical interventions for scabies control and planetary health initiatives.

Notable scientific contributions include:

• Elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS) in 2025
• Member of the Royal Society of Biology (MRSB)
• Associate Editor for PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Member of the WHO Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases Working Group
• Member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission

Dr. Middleton actively supervises PhD, MPhil, and undergraduate research students across medical parasitology, public health, conservation biology, and pre-hospital care. They serve as Principal Investigator on multiple research grants including projects funded by NIHR ARC KSS, NIHR Global, and the Sussex Sustainability Research Programme. Current research focuses on controlling scabies outbreaks in care homes and refugee settings, novel diagnostic tests for infectious diseases in elderly care, and integrating health, biodiversity, and climate action in Papua New Guinea.

Dr. Middleton chairs WildHealth C.I.C., a not-for-profit organization creating win-win interventions for human health and biodiversity. Their work exemplifies the growing field of planetary health, demonstrating how medical research can contribute to both human wellbeing and environmental sustainability through practical, on-the-ground initiatives.