Renee Turner

A/Prof Renee Turner

Associate Professor/Reader

School of Biomedicine

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Associate Professor Turner is the NRF Director of Neurosurgical Research, Head of the Translational Neuropathology Laboratory and Head of the Discipline of Anantomy and Pathology in the Adelaide Medical School at the University of Adelaide. Her research is focused on improving the translation of novel treatments from laboratory studies into the clinic for conditions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury, through the use of appropriate per-clinical models. Her research is targeted at elucidating the mechanisms of blood-brain barrier breakdown, development of cerebral oedema and neuronal injury following acute injuries to the brain to reduce disability and improve outcomes.

A/Prof Turner is actively involved in Science communication and community engagement through her involvement in events such as Kids Navigate Neuroscience (Science Week), Children's University and the Adelaide Compass Program at the University of Adelaide. A/Prof Turner has a long-standing affiliation with the Neurosurgical Research Foundation which raises funds for research into neurological conditions in South Australian laboratories.

A/Prof Turner teaches into the Health and Medical Sciences, Nursing and Medicine programs on the normal structure and function of the nervous and cardiovascular systems as well as pathology of the nervous and cardiovasular systems. A/Prof Turner is course coordinator for the following courses: Essentials of Neuroscience (HLTH SC 1001) and Neurological Diseases (PATHOL 3200).

A/Prof Turner is the NRF Director of Neurosurgical Research, Head of the Translational Neuropathology laboratory and a research/teaching academic within the School of Biomedicine (Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences) at the University of Adelaide. From 2008 to 2010 Renée worked in the world leading laboratory of Prof. Frank Sharp in the M.I.N.D Institute at the University of California at Davis before returning to the University of Adelaide in 2010 as an NHMRC CJ Martin Research Fellow, to establish her laboratory. Since this time she has established a reputation as a specialist in stroke science and clinically-relevant models of stroke.

Current projects are interest include:

  • Blood-brain barrier alterations in healthy ageing and disease.

  • The role of neuroinflammation in secondary neurodegeneration (SND) following stroke.

  • Development and screening of novel diagnostic/monitoring technologies for stroke and brain injury.

 

Now recruiting for the following projects:

  • SPRINTS: Treatment strategies targeting reperfusion injury and neuroinflammation following stroke.

  • The role of secondary neurodegeneration (SND) in long-term outcomes following stroke.

  • Amyloid precursor protein: can we use the brains' own protective mechansisms to treat stroke?

 

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2019 - ongoing Head, Discipline of Anatomy and Pathology University of Adelaide
    2017 - ongoing Associate Professor University of Adelaide
    2016 - 2016 Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2015 - ongoing Neurosurgical Research Foundation (NRF) Director of Neurosurgical Research NeuroSurgical Research Foundation
    2013 - 2015 Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2010 - 2012 NHMRC CJ Martin Post-Doctoral Research Fellow University of Adelaide
    2008 - 2010 NHMRC CJ Martin Post-Doctoral Research Fellow University of California, Davis
    2007 - 2008 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow University of Adelaide
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2020 Award University Awards for Outstanding Achievement - A connected and enriched community (Finalist) The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2018 Award • Executive Dean’s Medal - Engagement and Advancement The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2015 Award South Australian Young Tall Poppy Australian Institute of Policy Science - -
    2014 Award Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Leading Light Awards 2014, Runner Up - - -
    2013 Award Travel Scholarship - Brain Meeting - - -
    2011 Award Travel Scholarship - Faculty International Conference Award Faculty of Health Science - -
    2005 Award Travel Scholarship - Brain Meeting - - -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2004 - 2007 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    2002 - 2002 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours)
    1999 - 2001 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science
  • Research Interests

My research program has been funded by the following grant schemes: (current)

  • Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) (CIA, Co-CI) 
  • NHMRC Project Grants (CIA; Co-CI)
  • NHMRC CJ Martin Overseas Biomedical Post-Doctoral Fellowship (sole CI)
  • NHMRC Dora-Lush Post-Graduate Scholarship (sole CI)
  • Brain Foundation (sole CI)
  • Stroke Foundation (sole CI; S14/310)
  • NeuroSurgical Research Foundation (sole CI)
  • Adelaide Centre for Neuroscience Research (sole CI)
  • James and Diana Ramsay Foundation (co-CI)
  • Coopers Brewery Foundation (sole CI)

A/Prof Turner teaches into numerous courses across the Health and Medical Science, Nursing and Medical programs on the normal structure and function, as well as pathology of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

A/Prof Turner is course coordinator for the following courses:

  • Essentials of Neuroscience (HLTH SC 1001)

  • Neurological Diseases (PATHOL 3200)

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Principal Supervisor The blood-brain-barrier in healthy aging and stroke: Implications for neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Rosie Anaise Costigan-Dwyer
    2023 Co-Supervisor Using a novel gyrencephalic model of pediatric injury to evaluate new therapeutics. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Giuseppe Rinaldi
    2023 Co-Supervisor Utility of Rotational Thromboelastometry in Neurosurgical Management of Acute Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Abhiram Hiwase
    2023 Principal Supervisor Novel pathophysiology and therapeutics in acute brain injury Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Tim Paul Webber
    2021 Co-Supervisor Preclinical evaluation of the novel therapeutic compound APP96-110 in a ferret model of traumatic brain injury. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Justin Leigh Krieg
    2020 Principal Supervisor The Role of Neuroinflammation in Delayed Neurodegeneration following Ischemic Stroke Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Shannon Mikayla Stuckey
    2019 Principal Supervisor Blood-Brain Barrier Changes in Healthy Ageing and Disease Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Isabella Megan Bilecki
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2017 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Bridging the Gap in Clinical Translation: Optimising an Ovine Model of Traumatic Brain Injury Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jessica May Sharkey
    2016 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Targeting Cerebral Oedema and Elevated Intracranial Pressure in a Preclinical Model of Ischaemic Stroke Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Annabel Jain Sorby-Adams
    2014 - 2018 Principal Supervisor The Role of Substance P in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Kelly Marie McAteer
    2013 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Characterizing The Role Of Haptoglobin In Experimental Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Full Time Mr Thomas Morris
    2012 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Magnesium Polyethylene Glycol: A Novel Therapeutic Agent for Traumatic Brain Injury Master of Medical Science Master Full Time Dr Diana Sabiiti Busingye
    2010 - 2014 Co-Supervisor A surgical model of middle cerebral artery occlusive stroke in the sheep Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Adam James Wells
  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2012 - ongoing - Society for Neuroscience (SfN) -
    2011 - ongoing - Australasian Neuroscience Society (ANS) -
    2006 - ongoing - Stroke Society of Australasia (SSA) -
    2005 - ongoing - International Society for Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism (ISCBFM) -
  • Position: Associate Professor/Reader
  • Phone: 83133114
  • Email: renee.turner@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83135384
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Helen Mayo North, floor 2
  • Org Unit: Medical Sciences

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