Professor Leanne Dibbens

Research Professor of Human Genetics UniSA Clinical & Health Sciences

City East Campus (P5-31)
tel +61 8 830 21124
fax +61 8 830 22389

email Leanne.Dibbens@unisa.edu.au

Available for media comment
Research Degree Supervisor

About me

Leanne is a geneticist and molecular biologist interested in the effects of genetic variation on human health. She is an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow who leads the Epilepsy Genetics Research Group and is Head of Genetics at the Australian Centre for Precision Health.

Leanne studied a Bachelor of Science Degree Hons (1st Class) at the University of Adelaide and gained her PhD in 1998 from the Departments of Biochemistry and Genetics at the University of Adelaide. Her doctoral studies with Prof Robert Saint focused on identifying a Drosophila melanogaster gene, pebble (pbl) important in cell division. Leanne trained in genetics, genomics, gene discovery, biochemistry, cell cycle regulation, molecular... Read more

UniSA Clinical & Health Sciences

UniSA Clinical & Health Sciences is addressing society’s most critical and emerging health needs through quality teaching, learning and research excellence.

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Research

Research themes

Healthy futures

Research focus

Clinical Sciences
Medical and Health Sciences
Biological Sciences
Neurosciences
Cognitive Sciences

Highlights

Since 2000 Leanne has specialised in identifying the genetic causes of epilepsy and other neurological disorders including autism, intellectual disability and psychiatric features. Leanne and her group study individuals and families and use a variety of genetic and genomic methodologies to identify the genetic cause. Around 70% of all epilepsy (of which are there more than 30 different syndromes) is thought to have a genetic basis.

Her team collaborates with Clinicians from all over the world who refer patients into their genetics research projects. Strategies including genetic linkage analyses and next generation sequencing are employed.The group are establishing animal models of neurological disorders in order to understand more... Read more

Research

Projects

Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.

The identification of new epilepsy genes by whole genome sequencing, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2021
Identifying the Genetic Causes of Epilepsy, NHMRC - Research Fellowship, 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2020
Identifying new genetic causes of neuromuscular disorders, Muscular Dystrophy South Australia, 11/10/2016 - 30/06/2018
Exploring the role of DEPDC5 mutations in childhood brain abnormalities, Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation of SA, 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2017
Genetic analysis of Gaucher Disease, University of Cambridge, 14/04/2015 - 30/09/2017
Understanding the genetics of childhood diseases with Next Generation Sequencing, Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation of SA, 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2016
Neurobiology of human epilepsy: Genes, cellular mechanisms, networks and whole brain, NHMRC - Program Grant, 01/01/2011 - 31/12/2015
Applying modern genomic technologies to the genetics of epilepsy, NHMRC - Career Development Fellowship, 01/01/2012 - 31/12/2015
The frequency of DEPDC5 mutations in sporadic cases of childhood focal epilepsy, Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation of SA, 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2014
Murdoch Stanley McLeod Fellowship, Women's and Children's Hospital Foundation, 01/03/2009 - 01/03/2012

Research

Outputs

Research since 2008 is shown below. To see earlier years visit ORCID or Scopus

Open access indicates that an output is open access.

Highlights

Year	Output
2015	Møller, RS, Heron, SE, Larsen, LH, Lim, CX, Ricos, MG, Bayly, MA & Dibbens, LM and 24 other authors 2015, 'Mutations in KCNT1 cause a spectrum of focal epilepsies', Epilepsia, vol. 56, no. 9, pp. e114-e120. Open access 61 52 8
2013	Dibbens, LM, De Vries, B, Donatello, S, Heron, SE, Hodgson, B, Iona, X & Scheffer, IE and 28 other authors 2013, 'Mutations in DEPDC5 cause familial focal epilepsy with variable foci', Nature Genetics, vol. 45, no. 5, pp. 546-551. 192 167 24

Journal Articles

Year	Output
2019	Rubboli, G, Plazzi, G, Picard, F, Nobili, L, Hirsch, E, Chelly, J, Prayson, RA, Boutonnat, J, Bramerio, M, Kahane, P, Dibbens, LM, Gardella, E, Baulac, S & Moller, RS 2019, 'Mild malformations of cortical development in sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy due to KCNT1 mutations', Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 386-391. Open access 7 4 1
2017	Hughes, J, Dawson, R, Tea, M, McAninch, D, Piltz, S, Jackson, D, Stewart, L, Ricos, MG, Dibbens, LM, Harvey, NL & Thomas, P 2017, 'Knockout of the epilepsy gene Depdc5 in mice causes severe embryonic dysmorphology with hyperactivity of mTORC1 signalling', Scientific Reports, vol. 7, no. 1, article no. 12618, pp. 1-15. Open access 24 16 2
2017	Zhang, Y-H, Burgess, R, Malone, JP, Glubb, GC, Dibbens, LM & Scheffer, IE and 15 other authors 2017, 'Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus', Neurology, vol. 89, 12, pp. 1210-1219. 36 8
2016	Afawi, Z, Oliver, KL, Kivity, S, Mazarib, A, Heron, SE, Dibbens, LM & Berkovic, SF and 27 other authors 2016, 'Multiplex families with epilepsy: success of clinical and molecular genetic characterization', Neurology, vol. 86, no.8, pp. 713-722. Open access 14 11 17
2016	Bagnall, RD, Crompton, DE, Petrovski, S, Lam, L, Cutmore, C, Garry, S I, Sadleir, LG, Dibbens, LM, Cairns, A, Kivity, S, Afawi, Z, Regan, BM, Duflou, J, Berkovic, SF, Scheffer, IE & Semsarian, C 2016, 'Exome-based analysis of cardiac arrhythmia, respiratory control, and epilepsy genes in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy', Annals of Neurology, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 522-534. 103 85 24
2016	Dibbens, L, Schwake, M, Saftig, P & Rubboli, G 2016, 'SCARB2/LIMP2 deficiency in action myoclonus-renal failure syndrome', Epileptic Disorders: International Epilepsy Journal With Videotape, vol. 18, no. S2, pp. S63-S72. 7 8 1
2016	Dibbens, LM & Rubboli, G 2016, 'GOSR2: a progressive myoclonus epilepsy gene', Epileptic Disorders: International Epilepsy Journal With Videotape, vol. 18, no. S2, pp. 111-114. 7 7
2016	Gardella, E, Becker, F, Møller, RS, Schubert, J, Heron, SE, Dibbens, LM & Weber, Y and 21 other authors 2016, 'Benign infantile seizures and paroxysmal dyskinesia caused by an SCN8A mutation', Annals of Neurology, vol. 79, no.3, pp. 428-436. 84 72 2
2016	Lim, CX, Ricos, MG, Dibbens, LM & Heron, SE 2016, 'KCNT1 mutations in seizure disorders: The phenotypic spectrum and functional effects', Journal of Medical Genetics, vol. 53, no. 4, pp. 217-225. Open access 45 32 12
2016	Ricos, MG, Hodgson, B, Pippucci, T, Saidin, A, Ong, YS, Heron, SE, Bayly, MA & Dibbens, LM and 14 other authors and 1 consortium 2016, 'Mutations in the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway regulators NPRL2 and NPRL3 cause focal epilepsy', Annals of Neurology, vol.79,no.1, pp. 120-131. 78 69 3
2016	Smith, NJ, Lipsett, J, Dibbens, LM & Heron, SE 2016, 'BRAT1-associated neurodegeneration:intra-familial phenotypic differences in siblings', American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, vol. 170, no. 11, pp. 3033-3038. 6 5 1
2015	Damiano, JA, Mullen, SA, Hildebrand, MS, Bellows, ST, Lawrence, KM, Arsov, T, Dibbens, L, Major, H, Dahl, H-HM, Mefford, HC, Darbro, BW, Scheffer, IE & Berkovic, SF 2015, 'Evaluation of multiple putative risk alleles within the 15q13.3 region for genetic generalized epilepsy', Epilepsy Research, vol. 117, pp. 70-73. 2 2 1
2015	Muona, M, Berkovic, SF, Dibbens, LM, Oliver, KL, Bayly, MA, Heron, SE & Lehesjoki, A-E and 44 other authors 2015, 'A recurrent de novo mutation in KCNC1 causes progressive myoclonus epilepsy', Nature Genetics, vol. 47, pp. 39-46. Open access 96 123 101
2015	Møller, RS, Heron, SE, Larsen, LH, Lim, CX, Ricos, MG, Bayly, MA & Dibbens, LM and 24 other authors 2015, 'Mutations in KCNT1 cause a spectrum of focal epilepsies', Epilepsia, vol. 56, no. 9, pp. e114-e120. Open access 61 52 8
2015	Scerri, T, Riseley, JR, Gillies, G, Pope, K, Burgess, R, Mandelstam, SA, Dibbens, LM, Chow, CW, Maixner, W, Harvey, AS, Jackson, GD, Amor, DJ, Delatycki, M, Crino, PB, Berkovic, SF, Scheffer, IE, Bahlo, M, Lockhart, P & Leventer, R 2015, 'Familial cortical dysplasia type IIA caused by a germline mutation in DEPDC5', Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, vol. 3, no. 5, pp. 575-580. Open access 50 1
2015	Yamamoto, T, Shimojima, K, Sangu, N, Komoike, Y, Heron, SE, Dibbens, LM & Okumura, A and 15 other authors 2015, 'Single Nucleotide variations in CLCN6 identified in patients with benign partial epilepsies in infancy and/or febrile seizures', PLoS One, vol. 10, no. 3, e0118946, pp. 1-11. Open access 6 4 3
2014	Carvill, GL, Weckhuysen, S, McMahon, JM, Hartmann, C, Hodgson, B, Dibbens, LM & Mefford, HC and 19 other authors 2014, 'GABRA1 and STXBP1: novel genetic causes of Dravet syndrome', Neurology, vol. 82, no. 14, pp. 1245-1253. Open access 140 127 16
2014	Kim, YO, Bellows, S, McMahon, JM, Iona, X, Damiano, J, Dibbens, L, Kelley, K, Gill, D, Cross, JH, Berkovic, SF & Scheffer, IE 2014, 'Atypical multifocal Dravet syndrome lacks generalized seizures and may show later cognitive decline', Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 85-90. Open access 12 10 1
2014	Milligan, CJ, Li, M, Gazina, E V, Heron, SE, Nair, U, Tager, C, Reid, CA, Venkat, A, Younkin, DP, Dlugos, DJ, Petrovski, S, Goldstein, DB, Dibbens, LM, Scheffer, IE, Berkovic, SF & Petrou, S 2014, 'KCNT1 gain of function in 2 epilepsy phenotypes is reversed by quinidine', Annals of Neurology, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 581-590. Open access 135 121 14
2014	Puskarjov, M, Seja, P, Heron, SE, Williams, TC, Ahmad, F, Iona, X, Oliver, KL, Grinton, BE, Vutskits, L, Scheffer, IE, Petrou, S, Dibbens, LM, Berkovic, SF & Kaila, K 2014, 'A variant of KCC2 from patients with febrile seizures impairs neuronal Cl- extrusion and dendritic spine formation', EMBO Reports, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 723-729. Open access 89 79 36
2014	Scheffer, I, Heron, SE, Regan, BM, Mandelstam, S, Crompton, DE, Hodgson, BL, Licchetta, L, Provini, F, Bisulli, F, Vadlamudi, L, Gecz, J, Connelly, A, Tinuper, P, Ricos, MG, Berkovic, SF & Dibbens, LM 2014, 'Mutations in mammalian target of rapamycin regulator DEPDC5 cause focal epilepsy with brain malformations', Annals of Neurology, vol. 75, no. 5, pp. 782-787. Open access 131 123 12
2014	Vadlamudi, L, Milne, RL, Lawrence, K, Heron, S, Eckhaus, J, Keay, D, Connellan, M, Torn-Broers, Y, Howell, RA, Mulley, J, Scheffer, I, Dibbens, L, Hopper, JL & Berkovic, SF 2014, 'Genetics of epilepsy: The testimony of twins in the molecular era', Neurology, vol. 83 no. 12, pp. 1042-1048. Open access 36 29 11
2014	Yip, T, O'Doherty, C, Tan, N, Dibbens, L & Suppiah, V 2014, 'SCN1A variations and response to multiple antiepileptic drugs', Pharmacogenomics Journal, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 385-389. 10 10 4
2013	Dibbens, LM, De Vries, B, Donatello, S, Heron, SE, Hodgson, B, Iona, X & Scheffer, IE and 28 other authors 2013, 'Mutations in DEPDC5 cause familial focal epilepsy with variable foci', Nature Genetics, vol. 45, no. 5, pp. 546-551. 192 167 24
2013	Gleich, K, Desmond, MJ, Lee, D, Berkovic, SF, Dibbens, LM, Katerlos, M, Bayly, MA, Fraser, SA, Martinello, P, Vears, DF, Mount, P & Power, DA 2013, 'Abnormal processing of autophagosomes in transformed B lymphocytes form SCARB2-deficient subjects', BioResearch open access, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 40-46. Open access 6 2 1
2013	Heron, S & Dibbens, L 2013, 'Role of PRRT2 in common paroxysmal neurological disorders: a gene with remarkable pleiotropy', Journal of Medical Genetics, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 133-139. Open access 60 49 8
2013	Heron, SE, Ong, YS, Yendle, SC, McMahon, JM, Berkovic, SF, Scheffer, IE & Dibbens, LM 2013, 'Mutations in PRRT2 are not a common cause of infantile epileptic encephalopathies', Epilepsia, vol. 54, no. 5, pp. e86-e89. Open access 10 7
2013	Kim, YO, Dibbens, L, Marini, C, Suls, A, Chemaly, N, Mei, D, McMahon, JM, Iona, X, Berkovic, SF, De Jonghe, P, Guerrini, R, Nabbout, R & Scheffer, IE 2013, 'Do mutations in SCN1B cause Dravet syndrome?', Epilepsy Research, vol. 103, no. 1, pp. 97-100. 8 7
2013	Klein, KM, Bromhead, CJ, Smith, KR, O'Callaghan, CJ, Corcoran, SJ, Heron, SE, Iona, X, Hodgson, BL, McMahon, JM, Lawrence, KM, Scheffer, IE, Dibbens, LM, Bahlo, M & Berkovic, SF 2013, 'Autosomal dominant vasovagal syncope: clinical features and linkage to chromosome 15q26', Neurology, vol. 80, no. 16, pp. 1485-1493. 12 11 21
2013	Lomax, LB, Bayly, MA, Hjalgrim, H, Møller, RS, Dibbens, LM & Berkovic, SF and 20 other authors 2013, ''North Sea' progressive myoclonus epilepsy: phenotype of subjects with GOSR2 mutation', Brain, vol. 136, no. 4, pp. 1146-1154. Open access 33 28 15
2013	Mullen, SA, Carvill, GL, Bellows, S, Bayly, MA, Berkovic, SF, Dibbens, LM, Scheffer, IE & Mefford, HC 2013, 'Copy number variants are frequent in genetic generalized epilepsy with intellectual disability', Neurology, vol. 81, no. 17, pp. 1507-1514. Open access 87 74 10
2013	Mulley, J, Hodgson, B, McMahon, JM, Iona, X, Bellows, S, Mullen, SA, Farrell, K, Mackay, M, Sadleir, L, Bleasel, A, Gill, D, Webster, R, Wirrell, EC, Harbord, M, Sisodiya, S, Andermann, E, Kivity, S, Berkovic, SF, Scheffer, IE & Dibbens, LM 2013, 'Role of the sodium channel SCN9A in genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus and Dravet syndrome', Epilepsia, vol. 54, no. 9, pp. 122-126. 38 35 9
2012	Dibbens, LM, Hodgson, BL, Helbig, KL, Oliver, KL, Mulley, JC, Berkovic, SF & Scheffer, IE 2012, 'Rare protein sequence variation in SV2A gene does not affect response to levetiracetam', Epilepsy Research, vol. 101, no. 3, pp. 277-279. 9 7
2012	Heron, SE, Grinton, B, Kivity, S, Afawi, Z, Hodgson, BL, Iona, X & Dibbens, LM and 17 other authors 2012, 'PRRT2 mutations cause benign familial infantile epilepsy and infantile convulsions with choreoathetosis syndrome', American Journal of Human Genetics, vol. 90, no. 1, pp. 152-160. Open access 176 151 4
2012	Heron, SE, Smith, KR, Bahlo, M, Nobili, L, Kahana, E, Licchetta, L, Oliver, KL, Mazarib, A, Afawi, Z, Korczyn, A, Plazzi, G, Petrou, S, Berkovic, SF, Scheffer, IE & Dibbens, LM 2012, 'Missense mutations in the sodium-gated potassium channel gene KCNT1 cause severe autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy', Nature Genetics, vol. 44, no. 11, pp. 1188-1190. Open access 206 190 3
2012	Okumura, A, Shimojima, K, Kubota, T, Abe, S, Yamashita, S, Imai, K, Okanishi, T, Enoki, H, Fukasawa, T, Tanabe, T, Dibbens, LM, Shimizu, T & Yamamoto, T 2012, 'PRRT2 mutation in Japanese children with benign infantile epilepsy', Brain and Development, vol. 35, no. 7, pp. 641-646. 22 19
2012	Perandones, C, Micheli, FE, Pellene, LA, Bayly, MA, Berkovic, SF & Dibbens, LM 2012, 'A case of severe hearing loss in action myoclonus renal failure syndrome resulting from mutation in SCARB2', Movement Disorders, vol. 27, no. 9, pp. 1200-1201. 9 8 2
2012	Rojo, DC, Harvey, AS, Iona, X, Dibbens, LM, Damiano, JA, Arsov, T, Gill, D, Freeman, JL, Leventer, RJ, Vincent, A, Berkovic, SF, McMahon, JM & Scheffer, IE 2012, 'Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome is not caused by SCN1A mutations', Epilepsy Research, vol. 100, no. 1-2, pp. 194-198. 8 7 1
2012	Scheffer, IE, Grinton, BE, Heron, SE, Kivity, S, Afawi, Z, Iona, X, Goldberg-Stern, H, Kinali, M, Andrews, I, Guerrini, R, Marini, C, Sadleir, LG, Berkovic, SF & Dibbens, LM 2012, 'PRRT2 phenotypic spectrum includes sporadic and fever-related infantile seizures', Neurology, vol. 79, no. 21, pp. 2104-2108. Open access 59 49 3
2012	Steffens, M, Leu, C, Ruppert, A-K, Zara, F, Dibbens, LM & Sander, T and 84 other authors and 1 consortium 2012, 'Genome-wide association analysis of genetic generalized epilepsies implicates susceptibility loci at 1q43, 2p16.1,2q22.3 and 17q21.32', Human Molecular Genetics, vol. 21, no. 24, pp. 359-372. Open access 102 98 2
2011	Corbett, MA, Schwake, M, Bahlo, M, Dibbens, LM, Lin, M, Gandolfo, LC, Vears, DF, O'Sullivan, JD, Robertson, T, Bayly, MA, Gardner, AE, Vlaar, AM, Korenke, C, Bloem, BR, de Coo, IF, Verhagen, JM, Lehesjoki, A-E, Gecz, J & Berkovic, SF 2011, 'A mutation in the Golgi Qb-SNARE gene GOSR2 causes progressive myoclonus epilepsy with early ataxia', American Journal of Human Genetics, vol. 88, no. 5, pp. 657-663. Open access 72 66
2011	Dibbens, L, Kneen, R, Bayly, M, Heron, S, Arsov, T, Damiano, J, Desai, T, Gibbs, J, McKenzie, F, Mulley, J, Ronan, A & Scheffer, I 2011, 'Recurrence risk of epilepsy and mental retardation in females due to parental mosaicism of PCDH19 mutations', Neurology, vol. 76, no. 17, pp. 1514-1519. 36 35 4
2011	Dibbens, LM, Karakis, I, Bayly, MA, Costello, DJ, Cole, AJ & Berkovic, SF 2011, 'Mutation of SCARB2 in a patient with progressive myoclonus epilepsy and demyelinating peripheral neuropathy', JAMA Neurology, vol. 68, no. 6, pp. 812-813. 21 18
2011	Mulley, J, Heron, SE, Wallace, RH, Gecz, J & Dibbens, L 2011, '"Blinders, phenotype, and fashionable genetic analysis": Setting the record straight for epilepsy!', Epilepsia, v. 52, no. 9, pp. 1757-1758. 2 1
2011	Mulley, JC & Dibbens, LM 2011, 'Genetic variations and associated pathophysiology in the management of epilepsy', Application of Clinical Genetics, vol. 4, pp. 113-125. Open access 4 1
2011	Mulley, JC, Heron, SE & Dibbens, LM 2011, 'Proposed genetic classification of the "benign" familial neonatal and infantile epilepsies', Epilepsia, vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 649-650. 8 7
2011	Mulley, JC, Iona, X, Hodgson, B, Heron, SE, Berkovic, SF, Scheffer, IE & Dibbens, LM 2011, 'The role of seizure-related SEZ6 as a susceptibility gene in febrile seizures', Neurology Research International, vol. 2011, article no. 917565, pp. 1-4. Open access 8
2011	Mulley, JC, Scheffer, IE, Desai, T, Bayly, MA, Grinton, BE, Vears, DF, Berkovic, SF & Dibbens, LM 2011, 'Investigation of the 15q13.3 CNV as a genetic modifier for familial epilepsies with variable phenotypes', Epilepsia, vol. 52, no. 10, pp. e139-e142. Open access 9 7
2011	Rojo, DC, Hamiwka, L, McMahon, J, Dibbens, L, Arsov, T, Suls, A, Stodberg, T, Kelley, K, Wirrell, E, Appleton, B, Mackay, M, Freeman, J, Yendle, S, Berkovic, S, Bienvenu, T, De Jonghe, P, Thorburn, D, Mulley, J, Mefford, H & Scheffer, I 2011, 'De novo SCN1A mutations in migrating partial seizures of infancy', Neurology, vol. 77, no. 4, pp. 380-383. Open access 71 60 8
2011	Rubboli, G, Franceschetti, S, Berkovic, SF, Canafoglia, L, Gambardella, A, Dibbens, LM, Riguzzi, P, Campieri, C, Magaudda, A, Tassinari, CA & Michelucci, R 2011, 'Clinical and neurophysiologic features of progressive myoclonus epilepsy without renal failure caused by SCARB2 mutations', Epilepsia, vol. 52, no. 12, pp. 2356-2363. 33 27 3
2010	Corbett, MA, Bahlo, M, Jolly, L, Afawi, Z, Gardner, AE, Oliver, KL, Tan, S, Coffey, A, Mulley, JC, Dibbens, LM, Simri, W, Shalata, A, Kivity, S, Jackson, GD, Berkovic, SF & Gecz, J 2010, 'A focal epilepsy and intellectual disability syndrome is due to a mutation in TBC1D24', American Journal of Human Genetics, vol. 87, no. 3, pp. 371-375. 91 86
2010	Dibbens, LM, Reid, CA, Hodgson, B, Thomas, EA, Phillips, AM, Gazina, E, Cromer, BA, Clarke, AL, Barma, TZ, Scheffer, IE, Berkovic, SF & Petrou, S 2010, 'Augmented currents of an HCN2 variant in patients with febrile seizure syndromes', Annals of Neurology, vol. 67, no. 4, pp. 542-546. Open access 65 60
2010	Hynes, K, Tarpey, P, Dibbens, LM, Bayly, MA, Berkovic, SF, Smith, R, Al Raisi, Z, Turner, SJ, Brown, NJ, Desai, TD, Haan, E, Turner, G, Christodoulou, J, Leonard, H, Gill, D, Stratton, MR, Gecz, J & Scheffer, IE 2010, 'Epilepsy and mental retardation limited to females with PCDH19 mutations can present de novo or in single generation families', Journal of Medical Genetics, vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 211-216. 58 55
2010	McIntosh, AM, Mcmahon, J, Dibbens, LM, Iona, X, Mulley, JC, Scheffer, IE & Berkovic, SF 2010, 'Effects of vaccination on onset and outcome of Dravet syndrome: a retrospective study', Lancet Neurology, vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 592-598. Open access 87 64
2010	McMahon, JM, Scheffer, IE, Nicholl, JK, Waters, W, Eyre, H, Hinton, L, Nelson, P, Yu, S, Dibbens, LM, Berkovic, SF & Mulley, JC 2010, 'Detection of microchromosomal aberrations in refractory epilepsy : a pilot study', Epileptic Disorders: International Epilepsy Journal With Videotape, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 192-198. 12 12
2010	Scheffer, I, Zhang, Y, Gecz, J & Dibbens, LM 2010, 'Genetics of the epilepsies: genetic twists in the channels and other tales', Epilepsia, vol. 51, no. s1, pp. 33-36. 8 5
2010	Vadlamudi, L, Dibbens, LM, Lawrence, KM, Iona, X, McMahon, JM, Murrell, W, Mackay-Sim, A, Scheffer, IE & Berkovic, SF 2010, 'Timing of de novo mutagenesis: a twin study of sodium-channel mutations', New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 363, no. 14, pp. 1335-1340. 73 63
2009	Dibbens, L, Harkin, L, Richards, M, Hodgson, B, Clarke, A, Petrou, S, Scheffer, I, Berkovic, S & Mulley, J 2009, 'The role of neuronal GABAA receptor subunit mutations in idiopathic generalized epilepsies', Neuroscience Letters, vol. 453, no. 3, pp. 162-165. 28 25
2009	Dibbens, L, Michelucci, R, Gambardella, A, Andermann, F, Rubboli, G, Bayly, M, Joensuu, T, Vears, D, Franceschetti, S, Canafoglia, L, Wallace, R, Bassuk, A, Power, D, Tassinari, C, Andermann, E, Lehesjoki, A & Berkovic, S 2009, 'SCARB2 mutations in progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME) without renal failure', Annals of Neurology, vol. 66, no. 4, pp. 532-536. 64 59
2009	Dibbens, LM, Mullen, S, Helbig, I, Mefford, HC, Bayly, MA, Bellows, S, Leu, C, Trucks, H, Obermeier, T, Wittig, M, Franke, A, Caglayan, H, Yapici, Z, Sander, T, Eichler, EE, Scheffer, IE, Mulley, JC & Berkovic, SF 2009, 'Familial and sporadic 15q13.3 microdeletions in idiopathic generalized epilepsy: precedent for disorders with complex inheritance', Human Molecular Genetics, vol. 18, no. 19, pp. 3626-3631. Open access 175 165
2009	Marini, C, Scheffer, IE, Nabbout, R, Mei, D, Dibbens, LM & Mulley, JC 2009, 'SCN1A duplications and deletions detected in Dravet syndrome: implications for molecular diagnosis', Epilepsia, vol. 50, no. 7, pp. 1670-1678. 132 103
2009	Mulley, J & Dibbens, LM 2009, 'Chipping away at the common epilepsies with complex genetics: The 15q13.3 microdeletion shows the way', Genome Medicine: Medicine in the Post-Genomic Era, vol. 1, no. 3, article 33, pp. 1-5. Open access 15 12
2009	Scheffer, IE, Zhang, Y-H, Jansen, FE & Dibbens, L 2009, 'Dravet syndrome or genetic (generalized) epilepsy with febrile seizures plus?', Brain and Development, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 394-400. 117 102
2009	Sijben, AE, Sithinamsuwan, P, Radhakrishnan, A, Badawy, RA, Dibbens, L, Mazarib, A, Lev, D, Lerman-Sagie, T, Straussberg, R, Berkovic, SF & Scheffer, IE 2009, 'Does a SCN1A gene mutation confer earlier age of onset of febrile seizures in GEFS+?', Epilepsia, vol. 50, no. 4, pp. 953-956. 17 14
2008	Berkovic, SF, Dibbens, LM, Oshlack, A, Silver, JD, Bayly, MA & Bahlo, M and 20 other authors 2008, 'Array-based gene discovery with three unrelated subjects shows SCARB2/LIMP-2 deficiency causes myoclonus epilepsy and glomerulosclerosis', American Journal of Human Genetics, vol. 82, no. 3, pp. 673-684. Open access 178 157
2008	Dibbens, LM, Tarpey, PS, Hynes, K, Bayly, MA & Gecz, J 2008, 'X-linked protocadherin 19 mutations cause female-limited epilepsy and cognitive impairment', Nature Genetics, vol. 40, no. 6, pp. 776-781. Open access 261 232
2008	Helbig, I, Matigian, N, Vadlamudi, L, Bayly, MA, Bain, M, Diyagama, D, Scheffer, IE, Mulley, J, Holloway, A, Dibbens, LM, Berkovic, S & Hayward, N 2008, 'Gene expression analysis in absence epilepsy using a monozygotic twin design ', Epilepsia, vol. 49, no. 9, pp. 1546-1554. 21 16
2008	Scheffer, IE, Turner, SJ, Dibbens, LM, Bayly, MA & Berkovic, SF and 21 other authors 2008, 'Epilepsy and mental retardation limited to females : an under-recognized disorder', Brain, vol. 131, no. 4, pp. 918-927. 121 106

Research

Current research & highlights

The gene discoveries made by Leanne and her group include PCDH19 as the gene for epilepsy, female limited (previously known as EFMR), SCARB2, GOSR2 and KCNC1 in progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME), PRRT2 as a gene for Benign Infantile Epilepsies (BIE), KCNT1 in a form of focal (partial) epilepsy with co-morbidities of intellectual disability and psychiatric features. Most recently the group discovered DEPDC5, NPRL2 and NPRL3 as important genes in focal epilepsies, including cases with brain malformations. This has drawn attention to the importance of the mTOR pathway in epilepsy.

The group has also worked extensively on the identification and characterisation of SCN1A mutations in forms of epilepsy including Dravet Syndrome and GEFS+ which led to genetic tests becoming available for patients. All of the gene discoveries made by the group have now become available as diagnostic tests for patients.

We also have an interest in common epilepsies with complex inheritance and reported the first functionally confirmed susceptibility locus in the GABA(A) Receptor gene, GABRD. We have published studies on the role of Copy Number Variants including 15q13.3 in epilepsy and its co-morbidities and examined whether these act as genetic modifiers in forms of epilepsy.

We are interested in collaborating with Industry partners and from 2000-2006 the Epilepsy Research Group provided a platform for the development of the Adelaide based biotechnology company Bionomics Ltd.

External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

Organisation	Country
Alder Hey Children's NHS Trust	UNITED KINGDOM
Amplexa Genetics	DENMARK
Anjo Kosei Hospital	JAPAN
Austin Health	AUSTRALIA
Australian National University	AUSTRALIA
Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute	AUSTRALIA
Bellaria Hospital	ITALY
Ben-Gurion University Of The Negev	ISRAEL
Bogazici University	TURKEY
Carlo Besta Neurological Institute	ITALY
Centre de Référence Épilepsies Rares	FRANCE
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Grenoble	FRANCE
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia	UNITED STATES
Chonnam National University	KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (SOUTH)
Cleveland Clinic Foundation	UNITED STATES
Columbia University	UNITED STATES
Cork University Hospital	IRELAND
Countess of Chester Hospital	UNITED KINGDOM
Danish Epilepsy Centre	DENMARK
Duke University	UNITED STATES
Erasmus MC, Rotterdam	NETHERLANDS
Flinders Medical Centre	AUSTRALIA
Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health	AUSTRALIA
Garvan Institute of Medical Research	AUSTRALIA
Ginatuna Association	ISRAEL
Gold Service, Hunter Genetics	AUSTRALIA
Grenoble Alpes University	FRANCE
Griffith University	AUSTRALIA
Hautepierre Hospital	FRANCE
Hopital Civil	FRANCE
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine	UNITED KINGDOM
Institute for Breathing and Sleep	AUSTRALIA
IRCCS Foundation	ITALY
IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences	ITALY
IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation Pisa	ITALY
Istanbul University	TURKEY
John Radcliffe Hospital	UNITED KINGDOM
Juntendo Nerima Hospital	JAPAN
Juntendo University	JAPAN
Karolinska Institute	SWEDEN
Klinikum Oldenburg	GERMANY
Kork Epilepsy Centre	GERMANY
Leiden University	NETHERLANDS
Maggiore Hospital	ITALY
Massachusetts General Hospital	UNITED STATES
Mayo Clinic	UNITED STATES
McGill University	CANADA
Monash Medical Centre	AUSTRALIA
Monash University	AUSTRALIA
Montreal Neurological Hospital and Institute	CANADA
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute	AUSTRALIA
National Administration of Laboratories and Health Institutes of Argentina	ARGENTINA
National Neuroscience Institute	SINGAPORE
National Research Council	ITALY
National Research Council of Italy	ITALY
Niguarda Hospital	ITALY
North Shore University	UNITED STATES
Northern Health	AUSTRALIA
NorthShore University Health System	UNITED STATES
Novocraft Technologies SDN Bhd	MALAYSIA
Ohio State University	UNITED STATES
Pathology Queensland	AUSTRALIA
Peking University	CHINA
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre	AUSTRALIA
Queensland Children's Hospital	AUSTRALIA
Queensland Health Lady Cilento Children's Hospital	AUSTRALIA
Queensland Institute of Medical Research	AUSTRALIA
Radboud University Nijmegen	NETHERLANDS
Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children	AUSTRALIA
Royal Children's Hospital	UNITED KINGDOM
Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria	AUSTRALIA
SA Pathology	AUSTRALIA
Sackler Faculty of Medicine	ISRAEL
Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel	ISRAEL
Schneider Children's Medical Centre of Israel	ISRAEL
Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital	JAPAN
Shizuoka Institute of Epilepsy and Neurological Disorders	JAPAN
Sleep Medicine Center Italy	ITALY
Sorbonne University	FRANCE
St. Lucas Andreas	NETHERLANDS
Sydney Children's Hospital	AUSTRALIA
Tanabe-Kadobayashi Children's Clinic	JAPAN
Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre	ISRAEL
Tel Aviv University	ISRAEL
Temple University	UNITED STATES
Tokyo Women's Medical University	JAPAN
UCL Institute of Neurology	UNITED KINGDOM
Universit at Bielefeld	GERMANY
University College London	UNITED KINGDOM
University Hospital Geneva	SWITZERLAND
University Hospital Heidelberg	GERMANY
University Libre Bruxelles	BELGIUM
University of Adelaide	AUSTRALIA
University of Antwerp	BELGIUM
University of Bologna	ITALY
University of Bonn	GERMANY
University of British Columbia	CANADA
University of Buenos Aires	ARGENTINA
University of California, Berkeley	UNITED STATES
University of Cambridge	UNITED KINGDOM
University of Cologne	GERMANY
University of Copenhagen	DENMARK
University of Florence	ITALY
University of Genova	ITALY
University of Heidelberg	GERMANY
University of Helsinki	FINLAND
University of Iowa	UNITED STATES
University of Kiel	GERMANY
University of Leipzig	GERMANY
University of Melbourne	AUSTRALIA
University of Messina	ITALY
University of Newcastle	AUSTRALIA
University of Otago	NEW ZEALAND
University of Paris Descartes (Paris 5)	FRANCE
University of Pennsylvania	UNITED STATES
University of Queensland	AUSTRALIA
University of South Australia	AUSTRALIA
University of South Denmark	DENMARK
University of Southern Denmark	DENMARK
University of Sydney	AUSTRALIA
University of Tubingen	GERMANY
University of Washington	UNITED STATES
University of Western Australia	AUSTRALIA
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research	AUSTRALIA
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute	UNITED KINGDOM
Western Galilee Hospital	ISRAEL
Wolfson Medical Center	ISRAEL
Women and Children's Health Research Institute	CANADA
Women's and Children's Health Network	AUSTRALIA
Women's and Children's Hospital	AUSTRALIA

External engagement & recognition

Engagement/recognition	Year
Project Grant: The identification of new epilepsy genes by whole genome sequencing National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)	2017
Member American Epilepsy Society (AES)	2016
Member American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG)	2016
Member Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA)	2016
Member International Child Neurology Association (ICNA)	2016
Project Grant National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)	2016
Career Development Fellowship National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)	2012

Teaching & student supervision

Research degree supervision

Supervisions from 2010 shown

Thesis title	Student status
Nutritional genomics and neurological disease (epilepsy)	Current
Understanding the genetics of Focal Epilepsies through the identification of the spectrum of variants and their combinatorial effects by whole genome sequencing	Current
Exploring the pathomechanisms underlying focal epilepsies	Completed

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Professor Leanne Dibbens

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UniSA Clinical & Health Sciences

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Current research & highlights

External engagement & recognition

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Collaborations

External engagement & recognition

Project Grant: The identification of new epilepsy genes by whole genome sequencing

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Career Development Fellowship

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