Dr. Nicola Allen

AcademiaNet logoMember since
Nominated by
Employed by
  • The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Academic Discipline / Fields
Health and welfare, Health
Languages
English
Doctorate
  • Neurotransmitter dysfunction in cerebral ischemia
PostDoc Qualification
  • Astrocyte regulation of neuronal synapse formation

Area of Specialisation

  • Role of astrocytes in brain function

Research Interests

  • Role of astrocytes in brain development and function:
    Synaptic development
    Synaptic plasticity and learning
    Synaptic repair in disease

Distinctions and Awards

  • Pew Biomedical Scholars Award, 2015
  • Ellison Medical Foundation New Scholar in Aging Award
  • Sammy Kuo Award for Neuroscience Research, Stanford University
  • Prentice-Hall Prize for Anatomical Sciences, University of Manchester

Short CV/Education and Training

  • 0000 Postdoctoral training in Neuroscience, Stanford University USA
  • 2003 Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University College London UK
  • 1998 B.Sc. (Hons) in Anatomical Sciences, University of Manchester UK

Selected Publications

  • Blanco-Suarez E, Caldwell ALM, Allen NJ (2017) Role of astrocyte-synapse interactions in CNS disorders. Journal of Physiology (London), 595 (6), p1903-1916.
  • Allen NJ (2014) Astrocyte regulation of synaptic behavior. Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology, 30, p439-463.
  • Allen NJ, Bennett ML, Foo LC, Wang GX, Chakraborty C, Smith SJ, Barres BA (2012) Astrocyte glypican 4 & 6 promote formation of excitatory synapses via GluA1 AMPA receptors. Nature, 486, p410-414.
  • Foo LC, Allen NJ, Bushong EA, Ventura PB, Chung WS, Zhou L, Cahoy JD, Daneman R, Zong H, Ellisman MH, Barres BA (2011) Development of a method for the purification and culture of rodent astrocytes. Neuron, 71, p799-811.
  • Eroglu C, Allen NJ, Susman MW, O'Rourke NA, Park CY, Ozkan E, Chakraborty C, Mulinyawe SB, Annis DS, Huberman AD, Green EM, Lawler J, Dolmetsch R, Garcia KC, Smith SJ, Luo ZD, Rosenthal A, Mosher DF, Barres BA (2009) Gabapentin receptor alpha2delta-1 is a neuronal thrombospondin receptor responsible for excitatory CNS synaptogenesis. Cell, 139, p380-392.
  • Allen NJ and Barres BA (2009) Glia – more than just brain glue. Nature, 457, p675-677.
  • Stevens B, Allen NJ, Vazquez LE, Howell GR, Christopherson KS, Nouri N, Micheva KD, Mehalow AK, Huberman AD, Stafford B, Sher A, Litke AM, Lambris JD, Smith SJ, John SWM, Barres BA (2007) The Classical Complement Cascade Mediates CNS Synapse Elimination. Cell, 131, p1164-1178.
  • Allen NJ, Rossi DJ and Attwell D (2004) Sequential release of GABA by exocytosis and reversed uptake leads to neuronal swelling in simulated ischaemia of hippocampal slices. Journal of Neuroscience, 24, p3837-3849.

Membership in Scientific Bodies/Juries

  • Society for Neuroscience
  • International Society for Neurochemistry

Contact

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