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 |
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]
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]
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]
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 |
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]
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]
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]