NEUROGENETICS
Silvia Paracchini Research GroupThe Neurogenetics group at the University of St Andrews is directed by Prof Silvia Paracchini. We are studying the genetic basis of complex cognitive and behavioural phenotypes. In particular we focus on the biology of dyslexia, a specific difficulty in learning to read which is caused in large part by genetic factors. We are also interested in cognitive traits related to dyslexia such as general reading and language abilities.
More recently we have become interested in handedness and in a complex link between dyslexia and laterality. We are using large scale screening involving genome-wide and functional genomics approaches to identify candidate genes or loci underlying these phenotypes. We work with collaborators based in different countries and with expertise in different disciplines.
group2023
Recent news
First 2021 preprint
We are happy to share our first preprint of 2021 out in medRxiv reporting our latest work on language genetics. See this twitter explainer if you would like to find out more about this work.
PhD opportunity
Opportunity to a PhD to study the origin handedness. Apply to this project in collaboration with Prof Andy Gardner, School of Biology. Deadline 5th January. More details at this link
New paper
See the latest consortium paper reporting the results for a dyslexia GWAS. Although single associations were not identified, the study demonstrates how similar genetic backgrounds contributed to different traits and disorders. The study was led by Alessandro Gialluisi...
Work with us: New PhD project
Apply for this fully funded 4 years PhD scholarship to be part of new exciting collaboration between the University of St Andrews and Canon Medical Research Europe. The project The field of genomics has made huge advances for a number of diseases for which large...
New paper out!
Check out our new paper out today in Scientific Reports. This is a collaboration led by Julian Packheiser and Sebastian Ocklenburg at the Ruhr University in Germany looking at patterns of footedness and handedness.
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