 He was also, at various times, chairman of the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company (CIC) – the firm founded by his maternal grandfather, and a director of CIC Investment Holdings, deputy chairman of George Kent Ltd and a director of Group Investors Ltd.

Barlow published research papers in physiology and psychiatric medicine.He was a Founder Fellow of the Zoological Society of London and its Secretary between 1980 and 1982.In 2008 the society started the Erasmus Darwin Barlow Conservation Expeditions named in his honour.