Nicola Allen Explained

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
Fields:Astrocyte BiologyMolecular Neurobiology
Doctoral Advisor:David Attwell
Workplaces:Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Academic Advisors:Ben Barres

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]

Education

Allen 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. She was a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Ben Barres at Stanford University.[5]

Research

Allen's research focuses on how astrocytes regulate synapses in the brain during disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.[6] 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. She later expanded the research on glypican 4, showing that it is needed for the postsynaptic neurons to receive inputs. Allen also showed that astrocytes excrete a protein called Chrdl1, which helps the maturation of the brain.[7] [8] It also increased neuroplasticity in the brains of mice.

Allen uses ribo-tagging, which is a molecular technique to determine which proteins are made by the ribosomes. This technique allowed her to show that astrocytes make a protein that encourages the breakdown of connections between neurons.[9] [10]

Awards and honours

Selected publications

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Salk promotes Nicola Allen and Julie Law to associate professor. Salk Institute for Biological Studies. 2019-08-16.
  2. Web site: What happens when your brain's support cells aren't so supportive?. Salk Institute for Biological Studies. 2019-08-16.
  3. Web site: The Kavli Foundation gifts Salk $3 million for cutting-edge neuroscience research. EurekAlert!. en. 2020-03-07.
  4. Web site: Nicola Allen. World Economic Forum. 2019-08-18.
  5. Web site: Glia Guru. The Scientist Magazine®. en. 2020-03-07.
  6. Web site: Can you hear me now? Ensuring good cellular connections in the brain. Salk Institute for Biological Studies. en. 2020-03-07.
  7. Web site: Nicola Allen receives $2.5 million Chan Zuckerberg Initiative early career award. EurekAlert!. en. 2020-03-07.
  8. Web site: Brain cells called astrocytes have unexpected role in brain "plasticity". Salk Institute for Biological Studies. en. 2020-03-07.
  9. Web site: Aged Astrocytes Prime Brain for Neuroinflammation ALZFORUM. www.alzforum.org. 2020-03-07.
  10. Web site: Astrocytes Are Trusty Helpers of the Brain, But.... 2018-03-06. BioTechniques. en. 2020-03-07.
  11. Web site: Nicola Allen. Salk Institute for Biological Studies. 2019-08-17.

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