Dianne Newbury

Dr. Dianne Newbury is a Senior Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, leading the MSc Medical Genetics and Genomics program within the School of Biological and Medical Sciences. She holds a BSc and DPhil (PhD) in relevant fields. Her research focuses on genetic contributions to speech, language, and neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly developmental language disorder (DLD). She leads a lab in the Department of Health and Life Sciences and is a member of the Children and Young People Network.

Education: BSc (exact field unspecified), DPhil (PhD) in Genetics/Genomics.

Research Interests: Her work investigates genetic factors underlying speech and language impairments, familial aggregation of DLD, and the intersection between language disorders and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Key areas include gene mapping (linkage, association, sequencing), molecular mechanisms of genetic variants, and the impact of prenatal exposures like smoke on language development. She collaborates internationally on projects such as the Chilean Language and Reading Alliance (CLARA) and studies populations like Robinson Crusoe Island.

Publications: Dr. Newbury’s research spans genetic studies of dyslexia, motor coordination, and language impairment. Her work emphasizes translational outcomes, such as identifying genetic pathways linked to speech disorders and developing interventions for underserved communities. Recent studies highlight the role of genes like RIC3 and ATP2C2 in language dysfunction.

Grants & Projects:

• Principal Investigator: Rethinking special educational needs (£13,470, Nuffield Foundation, 2023–2026)
• Co-Investigator: Supporting ALL to thrive (£60,000, Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, 2024–2025)
• Co-Investigator: The Genetics of Motor Coordination (£59,994, Waterloo Foundation, 2023–2025)

Lab Team: Collaborators include Post-docs Hayley Mountford and Aditi Pradhan, PhD students Jessica Peixinho and Lidiya Talbot. Their research integrates molecular genetics, epidemiology, and clinical studies to advance understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders.