Leeds Professor Honoured with prestigious ESN Bachelard Award

Professor Anthony Turner, Emeritus Professor at the University of Leeds, has been awarded the esteemed ESN Bachelard Award 2025 by the European Society for Neurochemistry (ESN). This accolade commemorates Prof. Herman Bachelard's contributions to neurochemistry and recognises distinguished scientists for their significant achievements in the field, particularly those involved in European research institutions, and the activities of ESN and the International Society for Neurochemistry.

Prof. Turner delivered his award lecture at the recent ESN/HSN 2025 conference held in Naxos, Greece (18-21 May 2025). The event, attended by over 350 participants, saw Prof. Turner recounting his serendipitous research journey. He shared insights from his early work on peptidases, in particular angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and neprilysin, the latter being crucial for neuropeptide metabolism and clearance of β-amyloid peptide in Alzheimer’s disease through to the discovery and characterisation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in 2000, now known for its role as cell receptor for SARS-CoV viruses and its importance in cardiovascular health and amyloid processing. Throughout his illustrious career, Prof. Turner has published more than 400 papers.

Beyond his research and teaching activities, Prof. Turner has made substantial contributions to the biochemistry and neurochemistry communities. He served as the Chief Editor for the Biochemical Journal (1987-1994) and Journal of Neurochemistry (1999-2010), and was Chair of the Publication Committee both for the UK Biochemical Society (1994-2004) and the International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN, 2010-present). He has also served as a Council member (1986-1988), Secretary (1988-1992) and then President (1992-1996) of the ESN and later again became ESN Council member and Historian (2013-2025).  He is also a member of ISN Council, (2010-present).

Prof Turner joined the University of Leeds as a lecturer in 1973 after obtaining his PhD from the University of Cambridge and completing his postdoctoral training at the Mario Negri Pharmacology Institute in Milan (Italy). He was later promoted to Reader in Biochemistry in Leeds in 1987 and Professor of Biochemistry in 1990. He held positions as the Head of School (1996-2004) and Faculty Dean (2004-2007) before his retirement in 2015. He still continues his contribution to science becoming involved in studies of the role of ACE2 in long-COVID pathogenesis.

Addressing his message to young scientists at the conference, Prof Turner emphasized the importance to enjoy science in itself and follow the twists and turns which sometimes open new and unexpected directions in research. He also highlighted the benefits of becoming involved in scientific and learned societies.

- News prepared by Dr Jessica Kwok