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MND Association funded researcher Dr Martin Turner wins ENCALS Young Investigator Award

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We’re pleased to announce that Dr Martin Turner has been awarded with the European Network for the Cure of ALS (ENCALS) Young Investigators Award 2012.

Dr Martin Turner
Dr Martin Turner, MRC/MND Association Lady Edith Wolfson Clinical Research Fellow

Dr Turner was awarded with the MRC/ MND Association Lady Edith Wolfson Clinical Research Fellowship in 2008 for his study to identify biomarkers in MND (called BioMOx). Since then, Dr Turner has already published two findings from his five-year disease marker study in the prestigious journals Neurology and Brain. Using advanced brain scanning technology, his study has identified a common pattern of nerve damage in the brains of MND patients. This holds the promise of a much-needed disease marker.

Talking about why he thinks the ENCALS award is so important, Dr Turner said:

“The ENCALS award marks a major highlight in my career.”

“I am passionate about MND, and feel privileged to help care for those living with the most challenging of diseases. To be recognised as having made a useful contribution to research as well, by international leaders in the field, means an enormous amount.

“It is 13 years since I began as a PhD student under Professor Nigel Leigh, whose ground-breaking ideas about brain changes in MND first sparked my interest. I was fortunate to meet Professor Kevin Talbot in 2003, and through his support and partnership I have been able to develop these ideas alongside leading brain imaging neuroscientists at Oxford University.

“I have never felt more sure that progress is accelerating in MND research, and I am pleased to be adding something to the wider global effort.”

Funding promising researchers

One of our research aims, is to develop the research workforce. Dr Turner talks more about how our funding has helped to develop his career:

“The Lady Edith Wolfson Clinical Research Fellowship scheme, uniquely linked to the Government-funded Medical Research Council through the MND Association, has been critical to my development as an MND researcher.

“These highly competitive 5-year Fellowships don’t simply provide the funding for the experimental studies, but crucially allow me to devote most of my time as a consultant neurologist solely to the care and research of MND patients. There is no simple way to specialise like this within the standard NHS framework, and such schemes are a vital way to help develop a strong UK academic neurology workforce in MND.”

Commenting on this story, our Director of Research Development, Dr Brian Dickie said “We’re delighted that one of our Lady Edith Wolfson Fellows has won this prestigious international award. The Fellowships were created to attract and retain the brightest and the best young clinicians to MND research and it is a fitting tribute to the knowledge, expertise and dedication that Dr Turner brings to this important field of MND research.”

More information:

Our official news release

Go to the BioMOx website to find out more about this project

Find out more about ENCALS

Our research aims

BioMOx findings:

3 thoughts on “MND Association funded researcher Dr Martin Turner wins ENCALS Young Investigator Award

  1. Brilliant news! My mum attends the Oxford MND Clinic so we are very lucky to have Dr Martin Turner and Professor Kevin Talbot on our doorstep.

  2. Martins a great guy, he’s Kevin Talbots sidekick, at Oxford JR hospital all in all the place to go if you have MND!

  3. This is really excellent news. Congratulations, Martin. I know my parents have appreciated your thoughtful and broad approach to tackling MND.

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