Celebrating women in STEM this International Women's Day

To celebrate International Women’s Day and Brain Injury Awareness Month, each week we will be featuring a leading expert in brain injury research.

In this interview, NRF Director of Neurosurgical Research Associate Professor Renée Turner, shares her thoughts on this year’s theme - #MarchForward for all women and girls, highlighting the importance of creating a supportive environment to encourage success. As head of the Translational Neuropathology Lab she also discussed the latest in stroke research, emphasising the critical need for continued brain injury research to improve patient outcomes.

Read the full interview below:

Interview with A/Prof Renée Turner

What inspired you to pursue a career in medical research?

“I think lots of people who go into science have a really compelling story. For me, my grandma had Alzheimer's disease, and that made me really interested in the brain.

When I reached my third year of university, I knew I wanted to do honours and pursue research. My supervisor at the time presented me with two options—bone or brain—and it was a no-brainer! It was definitely brain injury research for me. That experience sparked my love for research. I got a taste for asking scientific questions, working in the lab, and the excitement of being the first person to discover something new. Ultimately, the goal is to help people by understanding what goes wrong in the brain and finding ways to treat it.”

International Women’s Day 2025 - #MarchForward #AccelerateAction

What action is needed to better support women in science?

"I think we're making great strides. I look around the university and see more women in senior positions, which is fantastic, but there's still a long way to go. We need more women with a seat at the table, holding leadership roles, and making meaningful contributions within their fields.

I try to foster this from the ground level, supporting my undergraduate students and research team by amplifying their voices and giving them opportunities to shine. When women reach their full potential, the outcomes benefit not just science but the broader community."

Do you have a mentor or colleague who inspired you?

"Absolutely. I don’t think I could pinpoint just one strong female mentor—I’ve been fortunate to have many, both within the university, across research networks, interstate, and even overseas.

Finding your network, your mentors, and your champions is key, no matter your field. Having people who support you, offer advice, and push you to take on new opportunities is invaluable. When you receive that kind of support, you realise how important it is to pay it forward. I try to do that as much as I can."

What advice do you have for women pursuing a career in science?

"Just do it! Don't be put off by the stereotype of an old man in a lab coat. Scientists today come from all backgrounds. There are so many amazing female scientists making fantastic contributions.

Talk to a scientist, send an email, ask questions in class, and get advice and experience. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there."

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?

"For me, it’s been playing a small part in advancing the careers of others. As a mentor, supervisor, and research leader, I’ve had many students and staff come through my lab. Seeing them succeed and knowing I’ve supported them is incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about research outcomes—it’s also about fostering a positive environment for people’s growth and careers."

You won an award for fostering positive team culture. What advice do you have for other supervisors?

“Supervisors play a crucial role in shaping the experiences of their students and teams.

I believe in creating an open and supportive environment where students feel comfortable discussing challenges. Research is tough, and PhDs can be isolating, so I make it clear that they can always come to me if something is affecting their work.

Understanding each student’s career goals helps me tailor their experience and provide meaningful opportunities. At the end of the day, kindness, listening, and encouragement go a long way. A supportive mentor can make all the difference.”

What advice do you have for women pursuing leadership roles in science?

"There’s no one hard and fast rule. Resilience is key—knowing your worth, what you bring to the table, and standing firm in that. Surrounding yourself with mentors and supporters is also crucial because the path won’t always be easy. There may be setbacks or naysayers, but having that network, combined with your own internal drive, will help you push forward.

At the end of the day, if you believe in what you’re doing and are passionate about it, you’ll find a way to make it happen."

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Advancing Stroke Research

What is the current focus of your research?

"My research largely focuses on stroke—specifically ischaemic stroke, which occurs due to a blockage. Until now, I’ve focused on the acute phase, studying what happens in the hours and days after stroke, such as brain swelling and reperfusion injury.

Recently, I’ve become very interested in the long-term consequences of stroke. While we have excellent treatments for restoring blood flow in acute stroke, there’s almost nothing available for the long-term effects, which can significantly impact survivors’ quality of life."

If you could drive one major change in stroke research or treatment in the next decade, what would it be?

"I’d love to see more rehabilitation services. Rehabilitation has been shown to improve stroke outcomes and patient well-being, so increasing access would be fantastic.

I also want to see more attention on longer-term complications that affect survivor's quality of life. One area my lab is researching is ‘secondary neurodegeneration’—where brain areas unaffected by the initial stroke degenerate over time. This process is linked to cognitive decline and dementia. If we can understand what drives this delayed degeneration, we might identify new treatment targets and improve long-term outcomes for stroke patients."

What are some exciting findings from your research?

"We don’t do this job without some wins! Science can be frustrating—experiments fail, and results don’t always go as expected. But every now and then, we see a piece of data that makes us think, ‘Wow, this could be amazing.’

I remember one study on brain swelling, a devastating stroke complication. We screened a novel treatment and found it significantly reduced brain swelling, decreased pressure within the brain, and even prevented mortality. That was an exciting moment—I ran straight to my supervisor’s office to share the results! That agent is now in clinical trials, and we’re hopeful it will lead to meaningful outcomes for stroke patients."

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Brain Injury Awareness Month

Why should people get involved this Brain Injury Awareness Month?

“We have so many people in our community living with brain injury, and it’s important to understand how challenging it is—not just for them but for their loved ones and carers as well.

By engaging with Brain Injury Awareness Month, we can increase understanding, provide better support, and encourage more research and clinical advancements. I encourage people to connect with the NRF and our partner, the Orange Butterfly Foundation, both of which are doing fantastic work supporting people with brain injury and funding vital research here in South Australia.”

What are some of the biggest challenges in brain injury research?

"So many! The brain is incredibly complex, and as neuroscientists, we still only understand a fraction of how it works. To effectively study brain injury, we first need to understand normal brain function.

Scientific progress happens incrementally. When a loved one has a brain injury, we want answers and treatments immediately, but as researchers, we have to be methodical—each discovery answers one question but opens up ten more. That’s the path we take to understand disease progression and, ultimately, where to intervene with new treatments."

How important is collaboration in your research?

"Collaboration is everything—no research happens in isolation. Even though I focus on stroke, my colleagues down the hall study brain injury and neurodegeneration. Despite being distinct conditions, we often find unexpected connections between them.

By sharing knowledge and working across disciplines, we learn from each other and make greater strides in our research. The support and collaboration between researchers and clinicians create an environment where real breakthroughs happen.”

What do you wish more people knew about stroke and brain injury?

"People are familiar with the immediate signs of stroke—like facial drooping or speech difficulties—but I want more awareness of the long-term impact.

Over 70% of stroke survivors have impairment in at least one cognitive domain, affecting their quality of life. Many survivors say this is a major issue in their long-term care, so we need to focus more on addressing it."

How do generous donors of the NRF support your research?

"As the NRF Director of Neurosurgical Research, I’m fortunate to really shape the neurosurgical programme at the University of Adelaide. The NRF does a fantastic job of supporting researchers and clinicians alike to do groundbreaking research.

At the University, we focus on basic science research in stroke and brain injury, but thanks to the NRF, we also collaborate closely with clinicians, combining discovery science with their real-world patient experience. This synergy allows us to tackle some of the biggest challenges in brain injury and stroke research.

The NRF’s fantastic supporter base of generous donors and dedicated fundraisers really do have a massive impact. We all know that funding research is expensive and can be difficult to obtain. Having that ongoing support of the NRF is what allows us to continue to do this crucial research. Having the NRF in South Australia is a game-changer for scientists and clinicians alike, and ultimately the patients we’re trying to help"

Learn more and support the latest stroke and brain injury research here.