Professor J. Tim Newton

Biography

Tim Newton is Dean of Research Culture, working within the Research Management and Innovation Directorate to create a culture where people thrive and are valued, a place where great research practice is our everyday norm, and an environment where innovation flourishes, impactful discoveries unfold and everybody feels part of a richly diverse community. His role encompasses working with teams dedicated to research governance, research integrity, research ethics and research culture.

Tim maintains an academic role as Professor of Psychology as Applied to Dentistry at King’s College London Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences. He also holds Honorary Consultant Health Psychologist positions with Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and The Office of the Chief Dental Officer.

In 2016 Tim was awarded the Behavioural, Epidemiological and Health Services Research Distinguished Scientist Award by the International Association of Dental Research. He is an honorary member of the British Orthodontic Society and holds Honorary Fellowships with the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) and the College of General Dentistry.

A founder member of the King’s Dental Institute Health Psychology Service, Tim allocates 25% of his week to clinical commitments, providing Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to support individuals with dental phobia to overcome their fear, and support for individual’s facing challenging dental procedures. The wider service provides psychological support for individuals with chronic oro-facial pain as well as other long term oral conditions.

Tim’s research interests lie particularly in theory-based interventions to change behaviour in relation to oral health and the management of dental anxiety and phobia. His research in the area of behaviour change focuses largely on the design, implementation and testing of brief interventions to enhance the oral health behaviour of patients attending primary dental care settings, in particular the feasibility and acceptability of such interventions.