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Professor Mark Turner
BSc, PhD, MBChB, DRCOG, MRCP(UK), FRCPCH, FFPM(Hon)

Research

My research aims to improve the access of newborn babies and children to high quality medicines. This has included studies of dosing, safety, and efficacy of 15 medicines (contributing to writing 5 paediatric investigation plans); excipient kinetics; manipulations of medicines; the assessment of adverse drug reactions; and the value of age-appropriate formulations.

I believe that the coherent integration of the design and conduct of clinical trials is key to improving the quality of medicines. He works to develop efficient medicines research infrastructure in Europe and globally as Chair of the European Network for Paediatric Research at the European Medicines Agency (EnprEMA) (2013 – 2019), Convenor of the European Paediatric Clinical Trials Research Infrastructure, co-Director of the International Neonatal Consortium and as co-Coordinator of the Collaborative Network for European Clinical Trials For Children (conect4children, c4c), now CEO of the non-profit that will sustain the work of c4c.

Better Medicines for Children and Babies

1. Research Infrastructure for paediatrics
With a focus on medicines for children and babies, I work across Europe and develop global interoperability for paediatric research networks

2. High quality medicines for children
Develop methods and improve the evidence base for manipulations of dosage forms, pharmacoeconomics of off-label/unlicensed medicines

2. Regulatory science in children and babies
Expedite development of new and existing medicines through methods that can be shared between studies

I have contributed to a number of regulatory submissions to EMA / FDA (PIPs, IND etc.)

Clinical drug development in neonates

Early Phase drug development in neonates, including
Phase 0 (microdose / tracer)
Phase 1 (first in human / first in age group)
Phase 2 (dose finding / efficacy)
Phase 3 (effectiveness)
Phase 4 Pharmacovigilance: methodology of case evaluation neonates

Neonatal follow-up of participants of trials recruiting during pregnancy

Research infrastructure in Europe and globally

Building on experience with the Medicines for Children Research Network (MCRN) and its successor organisation (National Institute for Health Research, Children's Theme) I have developed links between national and speciality paediatric research networks.
I co-lead a €140 million public private partnership to set up a pan-European paediatric clinical trials network, conect4children, funded by IMI2.
We have set up a Dutch non-profit to sustain this work, conect4children.eu
This includes building collaboration at national, European and global levels with industry and academia, taking account of the voices of children, young people and their families.

Research groups

  • Miscarriage and Preterm Delivery

Research grants

MICA: Meeting global need to improve newborn care through real-world-health-datafacilitated, digital-technology-supported randomised clinical trials

MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

April 2023 - March 2025

Bicarbonate for AcidosiS in very preterm babies: a randomised clinical trial: The BASE Trial

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)

January 2023 - March 2029

Sibel Gunduz 20159527 bench fees

TURKISH MINISTRY OF NATIONAL EDUCATION

December 2021 - November 2025

European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJP RD)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

January 2019 - August 2024

COllaborative Network for European Clinical Trials For Children (Conect4Children, C4C)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

May 2018 - April 2025

Infradev - European Paediatric Translational Research Infrastructure (ID-EPTRI)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

January 2018 - April 2020

The efficacy and mechanism of surfactant therapy in infants with life threatening Bronchiolitis: the Bronchiolitis Endotracheal Surfactant Study (BESS).

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)

February 2018 - May 2025

AZithromycin ThErapy for Chronic lung disease (AZTEC): A randomised, placebo controlled trial of azithromycin for the prevention of chronic lung disease of prematurity in preterm infants

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)

January 2018 - January 2022

A randomized trial comparing oral misoprostol alone with oral misoprostol followed by oxytocin in women induced for hypertension of pregnancy (MOLI study)

MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

April 2018 - June 2023

Paediatric Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (PedCRIN)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

January 2017 - June 2021

Amino acid composition of parenteral nutrition for neonates

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MALAYSIA (MALAYSIA)

January 2016 - January 2019

RECAP (RandomisEd trial of Cerclage, Arabin pessary and vaginal Progesterone)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)

December 2014 - September 2017

How does treatment with thyroxine for 6 weeks postnatally given to preterm infants born under 28 weeks gestation affect the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axix, somatic growth, meylination of white matter and the volumes of key brain structures? An exploratory randomised double blinded placebo controlled clinical trial

MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

March 2007 - May 2010

Clinical Fellow in Paediatric and Neonatal Clinical Trials

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)

February 2012 - July 2013

TINN 2

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

January 2011 - December 2015

NIHR Medicines for Children Research Network

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK), KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (UK)

April 2010 - March 2017

Global Research in Paediatrics (GRIP)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

January 2011 - June 2017

A randomised controlled trial of prednisolone for women with recurrent miscarriage and high levels of uNK cells in the endometrium.

THE MOULTON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION (UK)

August 2008 - December 2012

Treatment of late onset bacterial sepsis caused by Vancomycin susceptible bacteria in neonates and infants aged under three months (NeoVanc)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

February 2014 - July 2020

European Study of Neonatal Exposure to Excipients (ESNEE)

MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

January 2011 - March 2014

MerseyBeat- Best Evidence, Application and Translation of Research. Obesity in pregnancy a prospective cohort study

LIVERPOOL PRIMARY CARE TRUST (UK)

April 2009 - December 2012

Adverse Drug Reactions in Children.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)

December 2007 - April 2013

TINN Trial EU FP7

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

November 2008 - October 2015

Neocirculation (NEOCIRC)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

September 2011 - August 2018

    Research collaborations

    Prof. Matthew Peak

    Paediatric Medicines Research Unit

    Alder Hey

    Improve medicines for children

    Prof. William Hope

    Pharmacometrics of antibiotics for neonates

    Dr. Dan Hawcutt

    Adverse Drug Reactions in Children

    Development of methodologies to assess ADRs in children

    Prof. Tony Nunn

    Alder Hey

    NIHR RfPB Grant. MODRIC: MOdifications of Drugs Required in Children

    Prof. Carlo Giaquinto

    University of Padova

    Development and co-ordination of an FP7-funded Network of Excellence to enhance Global Research in Paediatrics

    Prof. M. Sharland / Dr. P. Heath

    St George's Hospital Medical School

    Prof. S. Kotecha

    University of Cardiff

    Professeur Evelyne Jacqz-Aigrain

    CIC 9202 INSERM

    FP7 funded project: Treat INfection in Neonates.

    Dr. Dharani Hapangama

    Biology of endometriosis