Christopher Turner B. Tech (Hons.) Ph. D is an academic researcher investigating skin inflammation, chronic disease, wound healing, drug development and drug delivery at the Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia.
Dr. Turner's research interests encompass inflammation, aging and chronic disease, with an emphasis on skin. There is a focus on investigating mechanisms of inflammaging (progressive increase in generalized inflammation as we age), tissue repair, fibrosis, itch, angiogenesis and the role of proteases in chronic inflammatory disease. Chris has a track record in the development and pre-clinical testing of novel therapeutic agents. Diseases of research interest include pressure ulcers, diabetes, aging, ... Read more
About me
Christopher Turner B. Tech (Hons.) Ph. D is an academic researcher investigating skin inflammation, chronic disease, wound healing, drug development and drug delivery at the Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia.
Dr. Turner's research interests encompass inflammation, aging and chronic disease, with an emphasis on skin. There is a focus on investigating mechanisms of inflammaging (progressive increase in generalized inflammation as we age), tissue repair, fibrosis, itch, angiogenesis and the role of proteases in chronic inflammatory disease. Chris has a track record in the development and pre-clinical testing of novel therapeutic agents. Diseases of research interest include pressure ulcers, diabetes, aging, dermatitis, skin blisters, ischemia-reperfusion injury and burns. Current projects are investigating granzymes, a family of serine proteases involved in inflammatory responses, angiogenesis, fibrosis and tissue organization.
Chris returned to Australia in 2021 after 5 years at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada, after completing a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fellowship. He received his Ph.D in Health Sciences at the University of Adelaide.
Dr Turner is an Associate Editor for the journal, Frontiers in Immunology, in the section 'Molecular Innate Immunity'.
Chris has received a number of awards and recognitions for his contributions to the research field; including Australasian Wound & Tissue Repair Society Young Investigator of the Year, twice awarded USA Wound Healing Society Young Investigator, Calgary Firefighters Award from the Skin Research Group of Canada, Dr. Robert Cowan Award from the University of British Columbia Plastics, Department of Surgery, and Bob Fraser New Investigator Award from The Matrix Biology Society of Australia and New Zealand. He was a finalist in the health category of The Australian Innovation Challenge. Training awards include a NHMRC Dora Lush Ph.D Scholarship, CIHR Research Fellowship, CIHR Institute of Aging Award, and CIHR IMPACT Strategic Training Program Award.
Awards
Research Grants
About me
Doctor of Philosophy Adelaide University
Bachelor of Biotechnlogy Flinders University
Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, 2021-current.
Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), Monash University, 2021-2024.
International Collaboration on Research Discoveries (ICORD), Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2016-2021.
Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, 2014-2016.
Turner, CT (2025). 'Pro-inflammatory granzyme K contributes extracellularly to disease', Frontiers in Immunology, vol. 16, article no. 1620670, pp. 1-8.
Esen F and Turner CT (2025). 'Editorial: Roles of Granzymes in Inflammation, Aging and Autoimmunity'. Frontiers in Immunology. doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1672898.
Turner, CT, Zangabad, PS, Janusaitis, K, Black, N, Fitridge, R, Cowin, AJ & Voelcker, NH (2025). 'Porous silicon nanoparticle hydrogel formulation for topical delivery of flightless I neutralizing antibody and improved diabetic wound healing', Small, online, pp. 1-18.
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
Year | Output |
---|---|
2025 |
Open access
2
1
|
2025 |
Open access
|
2023 |
7
9
|
2021 |
Open access
39
36
50
|
2019 |
Open access
35
36
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2025 |
Open access
|
2025 |
Open access
2
1
|
2025 |
Open access
|
2024 |
Open access
7
7
1
|
2023 |
Open access
14
|
2023 |
7
9
|
2022 |
Open access
11
10
3
|
2022 |
Open access
1
2
|
2021 |
Open access
76
74
25
|
2021 |
Open access
18
17
1
|
2021 |
Open access
39
36
50
|
2020 |
Open access
42
40
1
|
2019 |
Open access
24
23
|
2019 |
Open access
123
116
18
|
2019 |
25
24
|
2019 |
94
88
3
|
2019 |
Open access
35
36
|
2019 |
Open access
37
36
11
|
2018 |
Open access
36
37
9
|
2018 |
Open access
48
48
2
|
2017 |
Open access
24
25
1
|
2017 |
Open access
40
40
13
|
2016 |
Open access
22
23
|
2016 |
6
7
|
2016 |
39
36
3
|
2015 |
Open access
31
26
6
|
2015 |
Open access
2
|
2015 |
Open access
27
21
|
2015 |
10
10
|
Research
Turner, CT (2025). 'Pro-inflammatory granzyme K contributes extracellularly to disease', Frontiers in Immunology, vol. 16, article no. 1620670, pp. 1-8.
Esen F and Turner CT (2025). 'Editorial: Roles of Granzymes in Inflammation, Aging and Autoimmunity'. Frontiers in Immunology. doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1672898.
Turner, CT, Zangabad, PS, Janusaitis, K, Black, N, Fitridge, R, Cowin, AJ & Voelcker, NH (2025). 'Porous silicon nanoparticle hydrogel formulation for topical delivery of flightless I neutralizing antibody and improved diabetic wound healing', Small, online, pp. 1-18.
Research
Details | Registry | Status |
---|---|---|
Compositions and methods for administering antibodies Voelcker, Nicolas Hans; McInnes, Steven James Peter; Turner, Christopher Travis; Cowin, Allison June |
World | Granted |
Recently published article about itch on ABC online by Jacinta Bowler. “Scientists uncover mechanism behind the need to scratch an itch”. ABC Science (online). https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2025-01-31/itch-scratch-mechanism-science/104872090. 2025
Published article on bedsores and aging (npg Aging and Mechanisms of Disease) reviewed in the Lancet: “Granzyme B mediates impaired healing of pressure injuries in aged mice”. Lancet, News in Brief. The Lancet Healthy Longevity. Volume 2, Issue 4, April 2021, Page e193. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00063-5
Pressure ulcer in aging paper also reviewed in Science in the City: “Publications of the Week: Granzyme B Mediates Impaired Healing of Pressure Injuries in Aged Skin”. Science in the City. March 2021. http://app.e.stemcell.com/e/es.aspx?s=1832&e=382737&elqTrackId=ad3c6ca8079d45afaa19fa353d0bcc41&elq=a1434f7e731f4dd29704f50bb982fc47&elqaid=30856&elqat=1
Published manuscript describing the role of granzyme B in atopic dermatitis reviewed in VCHRI Insider: "“Getting Rid of the Itch”. In VCHRI Research Insider, 2020. https://www.vchri.ca/stories/articles/2020/06/08/getting-rid-itch
Dermatitis paper also reviewed in UBC Faculty of Medicine Newslwetter: “Researchers Uncover Novel Approach for Treating Eczema”. In UBC Faculty of Medicine newsletter, 2020. https://www.med.ubc.ca/news/researchers-uncover-novel-approach-for-treating-eczema/
Awards
External engagement & recognition
Organisation | Country |
---|---|
Aarhus University Hospital | DENMARK |
Australian National University | AUSTRALIA |
Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute | AUSTRALIA |
British Columbia Professional Firefighters’ Burn and Wound Healing Group | CANADA |
Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
Hokkaido University | JAPAN |
Istanbul Medeniyet University | TURKEY |
Laval University | CANADA |
Leiden University Medical Centre | NETHERLANDS |
McMaster University | CANADA |
Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
Osaka City University | JAPAN |
Research Center Borstel | GERMANY |
SA Pathology | AUSTRALIA |
South Australian Health and Medical and Research Institute (SAHMRI) | AUSTRALIA |
Tampere University Hospital | FINLAND |
University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
University of Alberta | CANADA |
University of British Columbia | CANADA |
University of California | UNITED STATES |
University of Edinburgh | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Kent | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Lubeck | GERMANY |
University of Northern British Columbia | CANADA |
University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
University of Toronto | CANADA |
University of Turku | FINLAND |
University of Zaragoza | SPAIN |
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute | CANADA |
viDA Therapeutics | CANADA |
Western University | CANADA |
External engagement & recognition
Engagement/recognition | Year |
---|---|
Associate Editor, Journal Frontiers in Immunology, Molecular Innate Immunity sectionFrontiers in Immunology |
2025 |
Invited speakerAustralasian Wound & Tissue Repair Society |
2025 |
“Publications of the Week: Granzyme K Expressed by Classically Activated Macrophages Contributes to Inflammation and Impaired Remodeling”. Science in the City. November 2018. https://scienceinthecity.com/2018/11/19/granzyme-k-expressed-classically-activated-macrophages-contributes-inflammation-impaired-remodeling/
“Featuring Photoacoustic Imaging, Nanosafety and More”. Feature in Advanced Science News, 31st Jan 2017. http://www.advancedsciencenews.com/featuring-photoacoustic-imaging-nanosafety-januarys-advanced-healthcare-materials-covers/
“Online medical workers change the way we see, hear and feel”. Feature in The Australian newspaper by Cheryl Jones, 2015. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/innovationchallenge/online-medical-workers-change-the-way-we-see-hear-and-feel/story-fnj8drfn-1227580153653
“Healing wounds team is Innovation Challenge finalist”. UniSA News November 2015. Publicizes the wound healing team from Future Industries Institute as a finalist in ‘The Australian’ Innovation Challenge 2015. http://w3.unisa.edu.au/unisanews/2015/November/story6.asp#Healing_wounds
Wound Management Innovation CRC newsletter, Edition 29, December 2015. Publicizes the wound healing team from Future Industries Institute as a finalist in ‘The Australian’ Innovation Challenge 2015. http://www.woundcrc.com/communications.html#publications
Australasian Wound & Tissue Repair Society newsletter, Volume 9, Issue 2, December 2015. Publicizes the wound healing team from Future Industries Institute as a finalist in ‘The Australian’ Innovation Challenge 2015. http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=df1f839e984247e066d6635b3&id=5d2aef8f71&e=35e9f82614
“Protecting protein drugs”. Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility, Profile 2015. Article discussing the use of microparticles to deliver the therapeutic antibody Infliximab to chronic wounds. Describes the published work of McInnes et al., J. Mater. Chem. B, 3, 4123, 2015
“CRC Researchers at the Australian Innovation Challenge 2015: Review. Wound Management Innovation CRC Newsletter, 2015
“Australian Innovation Challenge 2015: Review”. Australasian Wound & Tissue Repair Society Newsletter, 2015
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
Thesis title | Student status |
---|---|
Defining the role of Granzyme K in skin inflammation and chronic itch | Current |
Antibiotic-alternative therapies for the treatment of infected wounds | Completed |