Charles H. Turner, Ph.D.
Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Orthopaedic Surgery

Contact:
723 W. Michigan St. SL 220C
Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317)- 274-3226
turnerch@iupui.edu
NIH Biosketch (*.pdf)

Education:
B.S.M.E. Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University (1983)
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University (1987)

Research area : treatments for osteoporosis and the design of bone implants

Dr. Turner works on treatments for the bone disease osteoporosis and design of bone implants. Osteoporosis occurs when bone becomes porous due to aging or poor health. In addition, some medications like corticosteroids or immune suppressant drugs can cause osteoporosis. Numerous medications have been developed to fight osteoporosis and several of these were tested in Dr. Turner's laboratory. Dr. Turner's currently research focuses on molecular genetics using transgenic and congenic mice to identify new ways to make bone stronger.

Selected Publications:

1. Turner, C. H. (2005) The biomechanics of hip fracture. Lancet 366: 98-9.

2. Turner, C. H ., A. G. Robling (2004) Exercise as an anabolic stimulus for bone.  Current Pharmaceutical Design 10: 2629-2641 .

3. Roeder, R. K., M. M. Sproul, C. H. Turner (2003) Hydroxyapatite whiskers provide improved mechanical properties in reinforced polymer composites.  Journal of Biomedical Materials Research 67A: 801-12 .

4. Koller, D. L., J. Schriefer, Q. Sun, K. L. Shultz, L. R. Donahue, C. J. Rosen, T. Foroud, W. G. Beamer, C. H. Turner (2003) Genetic effects for femoral biomechanics, structure, and density in C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ inbred mouse strains.  Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 18: 1758-1765 .

5. Ahlborg, H. G., O. Johnell, C. H. Turner , G. Rannevik, M. K. Karlsson (2003) Bone loss and bone size after menopause.  New England Journal of Medicine 349: 327-334 .

6. Robling, A. G., J. Li, K. L. Shultz, W. G. Beamer, C. H. Turner (2003) Evidence for a skeletal mechanosensitivity gene on mouse Chromosome 4.  FASEB Journal 17: 324-326 .

7. Turner, C. H. (2002) Mechanotransduction in skeletal cells.  Current Opinion in Orthopaedics 13: 363-367 .

8. Turner, C. H. (2002) Biomechanics of bone:  Determinants of skeletal fragility and bone quality.  Osteoporosis International 13: 97-104 .

9. Peacock, M., C. H. Turner , M. J. Econs, T. Foroud (2002) Genetics of osteoporosis.  Endocrine Reviews 23: 303-326 .

10. Turner, C. H. , D. B. Burr, J. M. Hock, R. Brommage, M. Sato (2001) The effects of PTH (1-34) on bone structure and strength in ovariectomized monkeys. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 496: 165-179 .

Dr. Turner's Homepage