Nicola Allen

Allen conducted her undergraduate studies in Anatomical Sciences at the University of Manchester in England.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/people/nicola-allen/|title=Nicola Allen|website=World Economic Forum|access-date=2019-08-18}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-scientist.com/profile/glia-guru-31580|title=Glia Guru|website=The Scientist Magazine®|language=en|access-date=2020-03-07}}

Allen's research focuses on how astrocytes regulate synapses in the brain during disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.{{Cite web|url=https://www.salk.edu/news-release/can-hear-now-ensuring-good-cellular-connections-brain/|title=Can you hear me now? Ensuring good cellular connections in the brain|website=Salk Institute for Biological Studies|language=en|access-date=2020-03-07}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/si-nar120518.php|title=Nicola Allen receives $2.5 million Chan Zuckerberg Initiative early career award|website=EurekAlert!|language=en|access-date=2020-03-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.salk.edu/news-release/brain-cells-called-astrocytes-have-unexpected-role-in-brain-plasticity/|title=Brain cells called astrocytes have unexpected role in brain "plasticity"|website=Salk Institute for Biological Studies|language=en|access-date=2020-03-07}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.alzforum.org/news/research-news/aged-astrocytes-prime-brain-neuroinflammation|title=Aged Astrocytes Prime Brain for Neuroinflammation {{!}} ALZFORUM|website=www.alzforum.org|access-date=2020-03-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.biotechniques.com/cell-and-development-biology/traitors-of-the-aging-brain/|title=Astrocytes Are Trusty Helpers of the Brain, But...|date=2018-03-06|website=BioTechniques|language=en|access-date=2020-03-07}}

• Ben Barres Early Career Acceleration Award from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) - 2018{{Cite web|url=https://www.salk.edu/scientist/nicola-allen/|title=Nicola Allen|website=Salk Institute for Biological Studies|access-date=2019-08-17}}
• Pew Scholar - 2015
• Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Long Term Fellowship - 2005–2008
• European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) Long Term Fellowship - 2004–2005
• Wellcome Trust PhD Fellowship - 1999–2003

• {{Cite journal|last=Allen|first=Nicola J.|last2=Eroglu|first2=Cagla|author-link2=Cagla Eroglu|date=2017|title=Cell Biology of Astrocyte-Synapse Interactions|journal=Neuron|language=en|volume=96|issue=3|pages=697–708|doi=10.1016/j.neuron.2017.09.056|pmid=29096081|pmc=5687890|issn=0896-6273}}
• {{Cite journal|last=Allen|first=Nicola J.|last2=Bennett|first2=Mariko L.|last3=Foo|first3=Lynette C.|last4=Wang|first4=Gordon X.|last5=Chakraborty|first5=Chandrani|last6=Smith|first6=Stephen J.|last7=Barres|first7=Ben A.|author-link7=Ben Barres|date=2012|title=Astrocyte glypicans 4 and 6 promote formation of excitatory synapses via GluA1 AMPA receptors|journal=Nature|language=en|volume=486|issue=7403|pages=410–414|doi=10.1038/nature11059|pmid=22722203|pmc=3383085|bibcode=2012Natur.486..410A|issn=1476-4687}}
• {{Cite journal|last=Allen|first=Nicola J.|last2=Attwell|first2=David|date=2002|title=Modulation of ASIC channels in rat cerebellar purkinje neurons by ischaemia-related signals|journal=The Journal of Physiology|language=en|volume=543|issue=2|pages=521–529|doi=10.1113/jphysiol.2002.020297|issn=1469-7793|pmc=2290513|pmid=12205186}}

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Category:21st-century British biologists

Category:21st-century British women scientists

Category:British women biologists

Category:Alumni of University College London

Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Salk Institute for Biological Studies people