Research output per year
Research output per year
Prof
Accepting PhD Students
PhD projects
In pharmacogenetics
Rare conditions research - Perrault syndrome and lower urinary tract disorders
Bill is Professor of Translational Genomic Medicine in The Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine at the University of Manchester and Honorary Consultant at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
President, European Society of Human Genetics (2024-25)
Clinical Director NW Genomic Medicine Service Alliance
Co-Lead BRC Theme on Rare Conditions
Lead of NHSE Network of Excellence on Pharmacogenetics and Medicines Optimisation
I am a clinician scientist. I studied Medicine at Manchester University and completed professional training in adult medicine in the North West of England. I started training in Clinical Genetics in 1995 and undertook a PhD as a Wellcome Trust Clinical Training Fellow on the genetics of bone development and osteoarthritis in the Wellcome Trust Cell Matrix Centre. I moved to Toronto to undertake a two year Arthritis Society Fellowship with Professor Kathy Siminovitch where I worked on the genetic basis of rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
I took up my post as Clinical Senior Lecturer in Genetics at the University of Manchester and Honorary Consultant at St Mary's Hospital in 2004 and was awarded my Chair in 2013. My research has focussed on pharmacogenetics - defining the genetic factors that influence how patients respond to their medications and on rare inherited conditions and have discovered a number of genes responsible for a range of conditions, and complex mutational mechanisms that lead to these.
a) Understanding the causes of Rare Conditions
Using next generation sequencing, I have been working with clinical colleagues to define the genetic causes of a number of rare inherited conditions. Over the past decade I have led or contributed to the discovery of >25 conditions. With colleagues, I have research programmes on a number of rare conditions including Perrault syndrome (deafness and ovarian failure), Leri's pleonosteosis, Burn McKeown syndrome, and Heimler syndrome. I am especially interested in using whole genome sequencing to determine how non-coding sequence variation contributes to these disorders. This work informs my co-leadership of the Rare Condition theme in the Manchester BRC.
b) Pharmacogenetics
I am interested in how patients respond to their medication.
I work closely with John McDermott (Genomic Medicine), Katherine Payne, Stuart Wright, Alex Thompson (Health Economics), Paul Wilson (Implementation Science), Mike Turner, Lu Shin Wong (Chemistry), Antony Adamson (Genomics) and Videha Sharma (Health Informatics) on clinical implementation of pharmacogenetics and how novel rapid genetic tests can improve outcomes.
I undertook an NIHR i4i grant (PALOH) working with colleagues in neonatal units in Liverpool and Manchester and Genedrive to use point of care genetic testing to avoid hearing loss in babies exposed to the antibiotic gentamicin. This work resulted in a NICE Early Value Assessment before national adoption and was awarded the New Statesman Healthcare Positive Impact Award 2022.
Our recent studies in primary care (PROGRESS) and on rapid diagnostics (DEVOTE) have been funded by NHSE and Innovate UK, respectively.
c) Genetics of Lower Urinary Tract Malformations
With Adrian Woolf and Neil Roberts we have identified that genetic changes in the genes called HPSE2 (heparanase 2) and LRIG2 result in the inherited condition called urofacial (Ochoa) syndrome. This condition is characterised by an unusual facial expression and bladder and bowel voiding problems. We are studying how these genes are important for bladder development and ways to treat bladder problems in children. This work has expanded to study a rare disorder called bladder exstrophy. These studies have resulted in the recent award of a MRC-NIHR Rare Disease Node with colleagues in London and Cambridge to form a network of researchers in this field.
d) Genetics of Perrault syndrome
Perrault syndrome is a rare inherited condition characterised by severe hearing loss and ovarian failure. Variants in many genes that alter mitochondrial function cause this condition. Working with Ray O'Keefe and Rob Taylor (Newcastle), our studies, funded by MRC and RNID, have identified many new genes that are associated with this complex condition. This work provides insight into the mechanisms that result in hearing loss and ovarian failure and potential routes to treatment.
e) Spliceosomal disorders
With Ray O'Keefe, we are using yeast, mouse and pluripotent stem cell studies to understand why children with variants in genes that code componenets of the spliceosome (important in RNA transcript processing) are affected by craniofacial disorders, including Burn McKeown syndrome.
Current Funding: NIHR, Innovate UK, Royal National Institute for the Deaf, BBSRC, MRC, NHSE
I was Chair of the Education Committee for the European Society of Human Genetics 2020-24.
With Profs Bart Loeys and Johan Saenen (University of Antwerp) I have established a European Society of Human Genetics training course for health professionals in cardiac genetics 2016-present
With colleagues I established a PGCert in Clinical Genetics and Genetic Counselling with Peking University, Beijing, China
With Dr Forbes Manson I established an MRes in Genetic Medicine 2011-16. This supported the foundation of the MSc in Genomic Medicine 2015 - present. I lead a module with John McDermott on this MSc in pharmacogenetics.
I was the Programme Director for the Genomic Sciences Scientific Training Program (STP) for Genomic Counselling, and Genomics 2016
I undertake teaching to postgraduate doctors as part of core medical training and to Specialist registrars in Genetic Medicine.
Siddharth Banka (Rare Conditions - co-lead BRC theme)
Gareth Evans
Katherine Payne
Thomas Friedman (NIDCD, USA)
Ray O'Keefe
Rob Taylor (Newcastle)
Wyatt Yue (Newcastle)
David Long (UCL), Mel Chan (LMS, Imperial), Menna Clatworthy (Cambridge) Adrian Woolf & Neil Roberts (Manchester) - as pare of MRC-NIHR Rare Disease Node (REOLUT)
American Society of Human Genetics
European Society of Human Genetics
British Society of Genetic Medicine
Genetics Society
BSc (hons) Experimental Immunology and Oncology
MB ChB (hons)
MA Healthcare Ethics and Law
FRCP
PhD
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Visiting Professor , Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
10 Feb 2018 → …
Guest Professor, Peking University
7 Jan 2018 → …
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Preprint/Working paper › Preprint
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Ellingford, J. (PI), Adamson, A. (CoI), Banka, S. (CoI), Black, G. (CoI), Brockhurst, M. (CoI), Coyte, K. (CoI), Gifford, D. (CoI), Hayes, A. (CoI), Hubbard, S. (CoI), Lagator, M. (CoI), Mcdermott, J. (CoI), Newman, W. (CoI), Sergouniotis, P. (CoI), Sharrocks, A. (CoI) & Wedge, D. (CoI)
31/07/23 → 30/07/26
Project: Research
Newman, W. (PI), Woolf, A. (CoI) & Roberts, N. (CoI)
3/07/23 → 2/07/28
Project: Research
Bruce, I. (PI), Lord, G. (CoI), Lennon, R. (CoI), Black, G. (CoI), Wedge, D. (CoI), Morris, A. (CoI), Hussell, T. (CoI), Sharrocks, A. (CoI), Stivaros, S. (CoI), Buch, M. (CoI), Gough, J. (CoI), Kostarelos, K. (CoI), Thistlethwaite, F. (CoI), Kadler, K. (CoI), Barton, A. (CoI), Hyrich, K. (CoI), Mcbeth, J. (CoI), O'Neill, T. (CoI), Vestbo, J. (CoI), Simpson, A. (CoI), Singh, S. (CoI), Smith, J. (CoI), Felton, T. (CoI), Murray, C. (CoI), Griffiths, C. (CoI), Cullum, N. (CoI), Rhodes, L. (CoI), Warren, R. (CoI), Paus, R. (CoI), Dumville, J. (CoI), Viros Usandizaga, A. (CoI), Keavney, B. (CoI), Tomaszewski, M. (CoI), Allan, S. (CoI), Body, R. (CoI), Cartwright, E. (CoI), Heagerty, A. (CoI), Kalra, P. (CoI), Miller, C. (CoI), Rutter, M. (CoI), Smith, C. (CoI), Trafford, A. (CoI), Evans, D. (CoI), Crosbie, E. (CoI), Crosbie, P. (CoI), Harvie, M. (CoI), Howell, S. (CoI), Renehan, A. (CoI), Dive, C. (CoI), Blackhall, F. (CoI), Landers, D. (CoI), Krebs, M. (CoI), Cook, N. (CoI), Clarke, R. (CoI), Taylor, S. (CoI), Jorgensen, C. (CoI), Lorigan, P. (CoI), Jayson, G. (CoI), Valle, J. (CoI), Mccabe, M. (CoI), Armstrong, A. (CoI), Freitas, A. (CoI), Illidge, T. (CoI), Choudhury, A. (CoI), Hoskin, P. (CoI), West, C. (CoI), Van Herk, M. (CoI), Faivre-Finn, C. (CoI), Bristow, R. (CoI), Kirkby, K. (CoI), Birtle, A. (CoI), Mackay, R. (CoI), Radford, J. (CoI), Linton, K. (CoI), Higham, C. (CoI), Munro, K. (CoI), Plack, C. (CoI), Arden Armitage, C. (CoI), Bruce, I. (CoI), Moore, D. (CoI), Saunders, G. (CoI), Stone, M. (CoI), Haddock, G. (CoI), Lewis, S. (CoI), Elliott, R. (CoI), Green, J. (CoI), Lovell, K. (CoI), Morrison, A. (CoI), Shaw, J. (CoI), Bucci, S. (CoI), Ainsworth, J. (CoI), Webb, R. (CoI), Newman, W. (CoI), Banka, S. (CoI), Clayton-Smith, J. (CoI), Payne, K. (CoI), Moldovan, R. (CoI), Wynn, R. (CoI) & Jones, S. (CoI)
1/12/22 → 30/11/27
Project: Research
Newman, W. (PI), Adamson, A. (CoI), Mcdermott, J. (CoI), Turner, M. (CoI) & Wong, L. S. (CoI)
1/03/23 → 30/04/24
Project: Research
Newman, W. (PI) & Woolf, A. (CoI)
1/07/20 → 30/06/23
Project: Research
Newman, W. (Recipient) & Mcdermott, J. (Recipient), Dec 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Newman, W. (Recipient) & Mcdermott, J. (Recipient), Nov 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Newman, W. (Academic expert member)
Activity: Membership › Membership of professional association › Teaching and Research
Read, A. (Participant), Tassabehji, M. (Participant), Dixon, M. (Participant), Black, G. (Participant), Clayton-Smith, J. (Participant), Newman, W. (Participant), Crow, Y. (Participant), Thakkar, N. (Participant), Briggs, M. (Participant) & Pickering-Brown, S. (Participant)
Impact: Health impacts, Economic impacts, Societal impacts
Newman, W. (Corresponding participant), Mcdermott, J. (Participant), Body, R. (Participant), Ulph, F. (Participant), Wilson, P. (Participant), Bruce, I. (Participant) & Beaman, G. (Participant)
Impact: Health and wellbeing, Economic, Technological, Policy
Sharma, V. (Creator), Mcdermott, J. (Creator), Keen, J. (Creator), Foster, S. (Creator), Whelan, P. (Creator) & Newman, W. (Creator), University of Manchester Figshare, 31 Jan 2023
DOI: 10.48420/21842001, https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/media/Software_design_prototypes_for_a_pharmacogenomics_service_for_primary_care_in_England/21842001
Dataset
31/07/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
18/09/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
7/09/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
9/02/23 → 2/04/23
5 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
Newman, W., Mcdermott, J., Payne, K., Wright, S., Wilson, P. & Sharma, V.
14/11/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research