Martin Turner - Biography#

PhD studies included the first systematic application of molecular biology to measure cytokine gene-expression in human cells from healthy and pathological situations. His research findings on TNF production by T cells and the ability of TNF to promote IL-1 and IL-6 production contributed to the scientific basis of anti-cytokine therapy. These therapies have brought relief to many with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn’s and other diseases.

Postdoctoral period:

As a postdoctoral scientist, he made essential contributions to the understanding of how antigen receptors signal the development, homeostasis and activation of lymphocytes. The work laid the foundations for a broader appreciation of the role of signal transducers by diverse receptor types in addition to antigen receptors.

Independent group leader Babraham:

He discovered essential roles for the role for phosphoinositide 3-kinase catalytic subunit p110delta in B cell development and function. He provided the first demonstration of the role of the PI3K pathway in controlling the magnitude of the germinal centre response and defined that it was due to the actions of PI3K in T-follicular helper cells. These studies were performed in collaboration with the Seattle Biotech ICOS Corporation and underpinned the rationale for PI3K inhibition in B cell diseases. Using incisive mutations, he identified mechanisms of PI3Kgamma in T cell development and its role in the CXCR4 axis in thymocytes. Work on guanine nucleotide exchange factors provided insight into how they integrated signalling pathways activated by membrane immunoglobulin and CD19.

Senior scientist at Babraham:

Was instrumental in demonstrating the indispensable role of microRNAs in physiological immune responses and he generated a significant body of published work on the biology of microRNA-155. In parallel with this, he developed a programme of work that has uncovered the role of RNA binding proteins in lymphocytes. By combining mouse genetics, detailed analysis of lymphocyte development and functional studies of immune responses together with cutting edge molecular methods such as iCLIP and ribosome profiling he identified regulatory roles for RBPs in lymphocyte development and activation.