Nicola Allen

Nicola Allen
Alma materUniversity of Manchester (B.S.)

University College London (Ph.D.)

Stanford University (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Known forRole of astrocytes in brain plasticity
AwardsBen Barres Early Career Acceleration Award - Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Pew Scholar, Ellison Medical Foundation Scholar, Dana Foundation Award, Whitehall Foundation Award
Scientific career
FieldsAstrocyte Biology Molecular Neurobiology
InstitutionsSalk Institute for Biological Studies
Doctoral advisorDavid Attwell
Other academic advisorsBen 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.[5] She was a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Ben Barres at Stanford University.[6]

Research

Allen'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

  • 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

  • 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

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