Rate My Professor Martin Turner

Professor Martin Turner is Professor of Clinical Neurology & Neuroscience in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford. He holds the degrees MA (Cantab), MBBS, PhD and FRCP (Lond). He serves as Consultant Neurologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Neurodegeneration Strategy Lead in the Division of Clinical Neurology, Academic Training Programme Co-Director at the Oxford University Clinical Academic Graduate School, and Senior Research Fellow at Green Templeton College. His research focuses on motor system imaging and biochemical biomarker development in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease (MND). He leads the Oxford Study for Biomarkers in MND (BioMOx) and has contributed to the development of neurofilament light chain as a blood-based biomarker, for which he was part of a team awarded the Sean M. Healey International Prize for Innovation in ALS in 2023. This work supported the NIHR-funded EXPERTS-ALS project. He is also involved in initiatives such as the Families for the Treatment of Hereditary MND (FaTHoM) study and the AC9ORF72 National Registry (ACORN). Turner has authored or co-authored numerous publications on ALS biomarkers, neuroimaging, and related topics in journals including Brain, The Lancet Neurology, and Practical Neurology, where he serves as Associate Editor. He mentors early career clinician scientists and teaches medical students and junior doctors.

Turner’s appointments and contributions centre on advancing understanding and diagnosis of ALS through multimodal biomarker research combining advanced MRI, MEG, and biofluid analysis. His clinical role includes managing patients with a range of neurological conditions. Key research outputs include studies on cortical neurophysiological signatures, premorbid brain structure, and lipid profiles in ALS, alongside consensus criteria for primary lateral sclerosis. He maintains active collaborations within the Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre and contributes to national and international efforts in MND research and care.