Nicola J. Allen is a British neuroscientist.[1] Allen studies the role of astrocytes in brain development, homeostasis, and aging. Her work uncovered the critical roles these cells play in brain plasticity and disease.[2] Allen is currently an associate professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Hearst Foundation Development Chair.[1][3]
Nicola Allen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alma mater | University of Manchester (B.S.)
University College London (Ph.D.) Stanford University (Postdoctoral Fellow) |
| Known for | Role of astrocytes in brain plasticity |
| Awards | Ben Barres Early Career Acceleration Award - Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Pew Scholar, Ellison Medical Foundation Scholar, Dana Foundation Award, Whitehall Foundation Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astrocyte Biology Molecular Neurobiology |
| Institutions | Salk Institute for Biological Studies |
| Doctoral advisor | David Attwell |
| Other academic advisors | Ben Barres |
Education
editAllen conducted her undergraduate studies in Anatomical Sciences at the University of Manchester in England.[4] She completed her doctoral degree in Neuroscience at University College London in the United Kingdom in the lab of David Attwell.[5] She was a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Ben Barres at Stanford University.[6]
Research
editAllen's research focuses on how astrocytes regulate synapses in the brain during disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.[5][7] In 2012 while she was a postdoc in the lab of Ben Barres, she showed that astrocytes secrete glypican 4 and 6, which is needed to create glutamatergic synapses between neurons.[6] She later expanded the research on glypican 4, showing that it is needed for the postsynaptic neurons to receive inputs.[7] Allen also showed that astrocytes excrete a protein called Chrdl1, which helps the maturation of the brain.[8][9] It also increased neuroplasticity in the brains of mice.[9]
Allen uses ribo-tagging, which is a molecular technique to determine which proteins are made by the ribosomes.[2] This technique allowed her to show that astrocytes make a protein that encourages the breakdown of connections between neurons.[2][10][11]
Awards and honours
edit- Ben Barres Early Career Acceleration Award from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) - 2018[5]
- Pew Scholar - 2015[5]
- Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Long Term Fellowship - 2005–2008[5]
- European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) Long Term Fellowship - 2004–2005[5]
- Wellcome Trust PhD Fellowship - 1999–2003[5]
Selected publications
edit- Allen, Nicola J.; Eroglu, Cagla (2017). "Cell Biology of Astrocyte-Synapse Interactions". Neuron. 96 (3): 697–708. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2017.09.056. ISSN 0896-6273. PMC 5687890. PMID 29096081.
- Allen, Nicola J.; Bennett, Mariko L.; Foo, Lynette C.; Wang, Gordon X.; Chakraborty, Chandrani; Smith, Stephen J.; Barres, Ben A. (2012). "Astrocyte glypicans 4 and 6 promote formation of excitatory synapses via GluA1 AMPA receptors". Nature. 486 (7403): 410–414. Bibcode:2012Natur.486..410A. doi:10.1038/nature11059. ISSN 1476-4687. PMC 3383085. PMID 22722203.
- Allen, Nicola J.; Attwell, David (2002). "Modulation of ASIC channels in rat cerebellar purkinje neurons by ischaemia-related signals". The Journal of Physiology. 543 (2): 521–529. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2002.020297. ISSN 1469-7793. PMC 2290513. PMID 12205186.
References
edit- ^ a b "Salk promotes Nicola Allen and Julie Law to associate professor". Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- ^ a b c "What happens when your brain's support cells aren't so supportive?". Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- ^ "The Kavli Foundation gifts Salk $3 million for cutting-edge neuroscience research". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "Nicola Allen". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Nicola Allen". Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Glia Guru". The Scientist Magazine®. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Can you hear me now? Ensuring good cellular connections in the brain". Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "Nicola Allen receives $2.5 million Chan Zuckerberg Initiative early career award". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Brain cells called astrocytes have unexpected role in brain "plasticity"". Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "Aged Astrocytes Prime Brain for Neuroinflammation | ALZFORUM". www.alzforum.org. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "Astrocytes Are Trusty Helpers of the Brain, But..." BioTechniques. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2020.