Charles Newton
MBChB (UCT), MA (Oxford), MRCP (London), MD (UCT), FRCPCH
Cheryl & Reece Scott Professor of Psychiatry
I examine the epidemiology and behavioural consequences of children experiencing a range of adversities in the low-income countries of insults, in particular the association of autism and developmental disorders with infections of the central nervous system (including malaria, HIV and bacterial meningitis). I am conducting research on genetics of autism, epilepsy and psychosis in sub-Saharan Africa. I also conduct research on the epidemiology and psychiatric co-morbidity of epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa, examining interventions to reduce the treatment gap and stigma associated with these disorders. I examine the neurocognitive consequences of sickle cell disease in Africa. This research has led to an interest to the mental health of children from immigrant populations in the UK and Europe. My research in Oxford focuses on autism and neurodevelopmental disorders, particular the causes and consequences of these conditions in Europe.
Recent publications
Severe anaemia and invasive bacterial infections in Kenyan children: a 26-year hospital surveillance observational study.
Journal article
Abuga KM. et al, (2027), Lancet Glob Health
A blended genome and exome sequencing method captures genetic variation in an unbiased and cost-effective manner.
Conference paper
Boltz TA. et al, (2026), Nat Genet
Carrying the weight in silence: lived realities of epilepsy caregivers in Shai Osudoku and Ningo Prampram.
Journal article
Asiamah S. et al, (2026), Epilepsy Behav, 183
Modelling seizure-related predictors of epilepsy diagnostic gap in two urban informal settlements of Nairobi using machine learning.
Journal article
Mwanga D. et al, (2026), Glob Epidemiol, 11
Updated trends in the global prevalence and burden of mental disorders, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.
Journal article
GBD 2023 Mental Disorder Collaborators ., (2026), Lancet, 407, 2040 - 2064
