Nicola Allen

Title(s)Adjunct Professor, Neurobiology
SchoolVc-academic Affairs
Address9500 Gilman Drive #
La Jolla CA 92093
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    Multi-omics analysis of astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease to identify targets to prevent synapse loss
    NIH R01AG089578Sep 1, 2026 - May 31, 2031
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Targeting astrocytes to prevent motor decline in aging
    NIH R21AG091117Sep 30, 2024 - Aug 31, 2026
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Targeted Degradation of Extracellular Proteins to Enhance Brain Plasticity
    NIH DP1NS142487Sep 12, 2024 - Aug 31, 2029
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Contribution of astrocytes to Rett syndrome
    NIH R21NS139073Jun 1, 2024 - May 31, 2026
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Determining the role of astrocyte BMP signaling in cortical astrocyte heterogeneity
    NIH R21NS137659Feb 1, 2024 - Jan 31, 2026
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Unbiased Epigenomic and Transcriptomic Profiling of Non-Neuronal Cells in the Mouse Brain
    NIH RF1DA048816Aug 15, 2019 - Aug 14, 2022
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Astrocyte regulation of synapse maturation
    NIH R01NS105742Mar 1, 2018 - Nov 30, 2022
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Astrocyte regulation of neuronal AMPA glutamate receptors
    NIH R01NS089791Sep 1, 2014 - May 31, 2024
    Role: Principal Investigator

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    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Astrocytes go into presenter mode. Immunity. 2026 Oct 13; 59(10):2620-2622. Labarta-Bajo L, Allen NJ. PMID: 42868996.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    2. Suppression of astrocyte BMP signaling improves molecular signatures and functional deficits in a fragile X syndrome mouse model. Nat Commun. 2026 Apr 23; 17(1). Deng J, Paumier A, Labarta-Bajo L, Brandebura AN, Andrews NA, Kahn SB, Bassil R, Tao T, Pinto AFM, Diedrich JK, Allen NJ. PMID: 42020399; PMCID: PMC13314986.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    3. CK2 inhibition suppresses glial inflammation in models of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Nat Commun. 2026 Apr 22; 17(1). Da Silva IIN, Ramirez D, Parylak SL, Wallace LA, Tucker JK, Erberich JM, Katariya R, McDonald AH, Gallina IS, Tucker AL, Burgado J, Jaeger BN, Barron JJ, Pratt JM, Pena M, Racha V, Lim CK, Fernandes S, Benassi S, Randolph-Moore L, Vadodaria KC, Marchetto MC, Allen NJ, Gage FH. PMID: 42014405; PMCID: PMC13287807.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    4. Astrocyte CCN1 stabilizes neural circuits in the adult brain. Nature. 2026 01; 649(8098):948-958. Sancho L, Boisvert MM, Eddy T, Burgado J, Contreras M, Labarta-Bajo L, Wang E, Tatsumi L, Allen NJ. PMID: 41407862; PMCID: PMC12823447.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    5. The antiviral Interferon pathway drives astrocyte aging and motor decline. bioRxiv. 2025 Nov 13. Labarta-Bajo L, Thanawalla AR, Gutierrez IL, Lei Soe SM, Chick BY, Andritsogianni I, Metanat S, Hargreaves DC, Kaech SM, Azim E, Allen NJ. PMID: 41292969; PMCID: PMC12642469.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    6. Epidermal growth factor receptor is an essential component in E-cadherin force transduction complexes. J Cell Sci. 2025 11 01; 138(21). Zou Y, Allen N, Rauf E, Leckband D. PMID: 40908853; PMCID: PMC12669962.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    7. Astrocyte SEMA3C reduction improves Rett Syndrome phenotypes. bioRxiv. 2025 Oct 11. Lyon KA, Paumier A, Kandikonda A, Melendez A, Allen NJ. PMID: 41279175; PMCID: PMC12632372.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    8. Dysregulation of astrocyte-secreted pleiotrophin contributes to neuronal structural and functional deficits in Down syndrome. Cell Rep. 2025 10 28; 44(10):116300. Brandebura AN, Paumier A, Asbell QN, Tao T, Micael MKB, Sanchez S, Allen NJ. PMID: 40971297; PMCID: PMC12591093.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    9. CK2 inhibition suppresses glial inflammation in the brain. bioRxiv. 2025 Aug 07. Da Silva IIN, Ramirez D, Parylak SL, Wallace LA, Tucker JK, Erberich JM, Katariya R, McDonald AH, Gallina IS, Tucker AL, Burgado J, Jaeger BN, Barron JJ, Pratt JM, Pena M, Racha V, Lim CK, Fernandes S, Benassi S, Randolph-Moore L, Vadodaria KC, Marchetto MC, Allen NJ, Gage FH. PMID: 41030967; PMCID: PMC12478410.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    10. Astrocyte glypican 5 regulates synapse maturation and stabilization. Cell Rep. 2025 Mar 25; 44(3):115374. Bosworth AP, Contreras M, Sancho L, Salas IH, Paumier A, Novak SW, Manor U, Allen NJ. PMID: 40048429; PMCID: PMC12013928.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    11. Astrocytes in aging. Neuron. 2025 01 08; 113(1):109-126. Labarta-Bajo L, Allen NJ. PMID: 39788083; PMCID: PMC11735045.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    12. Astrocyte Regulation of Synapse Formation, Maturation, and Elimination. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2024 08 01; 16(8). Chung WS, Baldwin KT, Allen NJ. PMID: 38346858; PMCID: PMC11293538.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 26     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    13. Suppression of astrocyte BMP signaling improves fragile X syndrome molecular signatures and functional deficits. bioRxiv. 2024 Jun 24. Deng J, Labarta-Bajo L, Brandebura AN, Kahn SB, Pinto AFM, Diedrich JK, Allen NJ. PMID: 38979341; PMCID: PMC11230279.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    14. Dysregulation of astrocyte-secreted pleiotrophin contributes to neuronal structural and functional deficits in Down Syndrome. bioRxiv. 2023 Nov 28. Brandebura AN, Asbell QN, Micael MKB, Allen NJ. PMID: 37808668; PMCID: PMC10557700.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1  
    15. A class of anti-inflammatory lipids decrease with aging in the central nervous system. Nat Chem Biol. 2023 02; 19(2):187-197. Tan D, Konduri S, Erikci Ertunc M, Zhang P, Wang J, Chang T, Pinto AFM, Rocha A, Donaldson CJ, Vaughan JM, Ludwig RG, Willey E, Iyer M, Gray PC, Maher P, Allen NJ, Zuchero JB, Dillin A, Mori MA, Kohama SG, Siegel D, Saghatelian A. PMID: 36266352; PMCID: PMC9898107.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    16. Reactive astrocyte nomenclature, definitions, and future directions. Nat Neurosci. 2021 03; 24(3):312-325. Escartin C, Galea E, Lakatos A, O'Callaghan JP, Petzold GC, Serrano-Pozo A, Steinhäuser C, Volterra A, Carmignoto G, Agarwal A, Allen NJ, Araque A, Barbeito L, Barzilai A, Bergles DE, Bonvento G, Butt AM, Chen WT, Cohen-Salmon M, Cunningham C, Deneen B, De Strooper B, Díaz-Castro B, Farina C, Freeman M, Gallo V, Goldman JE, Goldman SA, Götz M, Gutiérrez A, Haydon PG, Heiland DH, Hol EM, Holt MG, Iino M, Kastanenka KV, Kettenmann H, Khakh BS, Koizumi S, Lee CJ, Liddelow SA, MacVicar BA, Magistretti P, Messing A, Mishra A, Molofsky AV, Murai KK, Norris CM, Okada S, Oliet SHR, Oliveira JF, Panatier A, Parpura V, Pekna M, Pekny M, Pellerin L, Perea G, Pérez-Nievas BG, Pfrieger FW, Poskanzer KE, Quintana FJ, Ransohoff RM, Riquelme-Perez M, Robel S, Rose CR, Rothstein JD, Rouach N, Rowitch DH, Semyanov A, Sirko S, Sontheimer H, Swanson RA, Vitorica J, Wanner IB, Wood LB, Wu J, Zheng B, Zimmer ER, Zorec R, Sofroniew MV, Verkhratsky A. PMID: 33589835; PMCID: PMC8007081.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1296     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    17. Brain tumours manipulate neighbouring synapses. Nature. 2020 02; 578(7793):46-47. Allen NJ. PMID: 32020106.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    18. Star Power: Astrocytes Regulate Behavior. Cell. 2019 05 16; 177(5):1091-1093. Allen NJ. PMID: 31100265.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    19. Pathogenic Variants in GPC4 Cause Keipert Syndrome. Am J Hum Genet. 2019 05 02; 104(5):914-924. Amor DJ, Stephenson SEM, Mustapha M, Mensah MA, Ockeloen CW, Lee WS, Tankard RM, Phelan DG, Shinawi M, de Brouwer APM, Pfundt R, Dowling C, Toler TL, Sutton VR, Agolini E, Rinelli M, Capolino R, Martinelli D, Zampino G, Dumic M, Reardon W, Shaw-Smith C, Leventer RJ, Delatycki MB, Kleefstra T, Mundlos S, Mortier G, Bahlo M, Allen NJ, Lockhart PJ. PMID: 30982611; PMCID: PMC6507040.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. Mice Lacking Glypican 4 Display Juvenile Hyperactivity and Adult Social Interaction Deficits. Brain Plast. 2018 Dec 26; 4(2):197-209. Dowling C, Allen NJ. PMID: 30598870; PMCID: PMC6311356.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 17  
    21. Astrocyte-Secreted Chordin-like 1 Drives Synapse Maturation and Limits Plasticity by Increasing Synaptic GluA2 AMPA Receptors. Neuron. 2018 12 05; 100(5):1116-1132.e13. Blanco-Suarez E, Liu TF, Kopelevich A, Allen NJ. PMID: 30344043; PMCID: PMC6382071.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 107     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    22. Glia as architects of central nervous system formation and function. Science. 2018 10 12; 362(6411):181-185. Allen NJ, Lyons DA. PMID: 30309945; PMCID: PMC6292669.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 480     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    23. Astrocytes, neurons, synapses: a tripartite view on cortical circuit development. Neural Dev. 2018 05 01; 13(1):7. Farhy-Tselnicker I, Allen NJ. PMID: 29712572; PMCID: PMC5928581.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 221     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    24. Oriented Nanofibrous Polymer Scaffolds Containing Protein-Loaded Porous Silicon Generated by Spray Nebulization. Adv Mater. 2018 Mar; 30(12):e1706785. Zuidema JM, Kumeria T, Kim D, Kang J, Wang J, Hollett G, Zhang X, Roberts DS, Chan N, Dowling C, Blanco-Suarez E, Allen NJ, Tuszynski MH, Sailor MJ. PMID: 29363828; PMCID: PMC6475500.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    25. The Aging Astrocyte Transcriptome from Multiple Regions of the Mouse Brain. Cell Rep. 2018 01 02; 22(1):269-285. Boisvert MM, Erikson GA, Shokhirev MN, Allen NJ. PMID: 29298427; PMCID: PMC5783200.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 404     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    26. Cell Biology of Astrocyte-Synapse Interactions. Neuron. 2017 Nov 01; 96(3):697-708. Allen NJ, Eroglu C. PMID: 29096081; PMCID: PMC5687890.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 561     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    27. Astrocyte-Secreted Glypican 4 Regulates Release of Neuronal Pentraxin 1 from Axons to Induce Functional Synapse Formation. Neuron. 2017 Oct 11; 96(2):428-445.e13. Farhy-Tselnicker I, van Casteren ACM, Lee A, Chang VT, Aricescu AR, Allen NJ. PMID: 29024665; PMCID: PMC5663462.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 108     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    28. The diverse actions of astrocytes during synaptic development. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2017 12; 47:38-43. Bosworth AP, Allen NJ. PMID: 28938161.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 39     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    29. Making Human Stars: A New Method to Generate Human Astrocytes. Neuron. 2017 Aug 16; 95(4):725-727. Allen NJ. PMID: 28817792.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    30. Neurodevelopmental Changes in Excitatory Synaptic Structure and Function in the Cerebral Cortex of Sanfilippo Syndrome IIIA Mice. Sci Rep. 2017 04 18; 7:46576. Dwyer CA, Scudder SL, Lin Y, Dozier LE, Phan D, Allen NJ, Patrick GN, Esko JD. PMID: 28418018; PMCID: PMC5394534.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 21     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    31. Role of astrocyte-synapse interactions in CNS disorders. J Physiol. 2017 03 15; 595(6):1903-1916. Blanco-Suárez E, Caldwell AL, Allen NJ. PMID: 27381164; PMCID: PMC5350444.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 105     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    32. Astrocytes Control Synapse Formation, Function, and Elimination. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2015 Feb 06; 7(9):a020370. Chung WS, Allen NJ, Eroglu C. PMID: 25663667; PMCID: PMC4527946.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 454     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    33. The role of neuronal versus astrocyte-derived heparan sulfate proteoglycans in brain development and injury. Biochem Soc Trans. 2014 Oct; 42(5):1263-9. Farhy Tselnicker I, Boisvert MM, Allen NJ. PMID: 25233401.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 22     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    34. Synaptic plasticity: Astrocytes wrap it up. Curr Biol. 2014 Aug 04; 24(15):R697-9. Allen NJ. PMID: 25093563.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    35. Astrocyte regulation of synaptic behavior. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 2014; 30:439-63. Allen NJ. PMID: 25288116.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 185     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    36. Role of glia in developmental synapse formation. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2013 Dec; 23(6):1027-33. Allen NJ. PMID: 23871217.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 45     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    37. Astrocyte glypicans 4 and 6 promote formation of excitatory synapses via GluA1 AMPA receptors. Nature. 2012 May 27; 486(7403):410-4. Allen NJ, Bennett ML, Foo LC, Wang GX, Chakraborty C, Smith SJ, Barres BA. PMID: 22722203; PMCID: PMC3383085.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 413     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    38. Development of a method for the purification and culture of rodent astrocytes. Neuron. 2011 Sep 08; 71(5):799-811. Foo LC, Allen NJ, Bushong EA, Ventura PB, Chung WS, Zhou L, Cahoy JD, Daneman R, Zong H, Ellisman MH, Barres BA. PMID: 21903074; PMCID: PMC3172573.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 240     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    39. Control of excitatory CNS synaptogenesis by astrocyte-secreted proteins Hevin and SPARC. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Aug 09; 108(32):E440-9. Kucukdereli H, Allen NJ, Lee AT, Feng A, Ozlu MI, Conatser LM, Chakraborty C, Workman G, Weaver M, Sage EH, Barres BA, Eroglu C. PMID: 21788491; PMCID: PMC3156217.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 372     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    40. Gabapentin receptor alpha2delta-1 is a neuronal thrombospondin receptor responsible for excitatory CNS synaptogenesis. Cell. 2009 Oct 16; 139(2):380-92. 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. PMID: 19818485; PMCID: PMC2791798.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 531     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    41. Neuroscience: Glia - more than just brain glue. Nature. 2009 Feb 05; 457(7230):675-7. Allen NJ, Barres BA. PMID: 19194443.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 393     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    42. Charge compensation for NADPH oxidase activity in microglia in rat brain slices does not involve a proton current. Eur J Neurosci. 2008 Sep; 28(6):1146-56. De Simoni A, Allen NJ, Attwell D. PMID: 18783372; PMCID: PMC2628425.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    43. The classical complement cascade mediates CNS synapse elimination. Cell. 2007 Dec 14; 131(6):1164-78. 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 SW, Barres BA. PMID: 18083105.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1856     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    44. Signaling between glia and neurons: focus on synaptic plasticity. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2005 Oct; 15(5):542-8. Allen NJ, Barres BA. PMID: 16144764.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 125     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    45. A preferential role for glycolysis in preventing the anoxic depolarization of rat hippocampal area CA1 pyramidal cells. J Neurosci. 2005 Jan 26; 25(4):848-59. Allen NJ, Káradóttir R, Attwell D. PMID: 15673665; PMCID: PMC6725613.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 48     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    46. The effect of simulated ischaemia on spontaneous GABA release in area CA1 of the juvenile rat hippocampus. J Physiol. 2004 Dec 01; 561(Pt 2):485-98. Allen NJ, Attwell D. PMID: 15459240; PMCID: PMC1665352.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    47. Reversal or reduction of glutamate and GABA transport in CNS pathology and therapy. Pflugers Arch. 2004 Nov; 449(2):132-42. Allen NJ, Káradóttir R, Attwell D. PMID: 15338308.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 31     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    48. Sequential release of GABA by exocytosis and reversed uptake leads to neuronal swelling in simulated ischemia of hippocampal slices. J Neurosci. 2004 Apr 14; 24(15):3837-49. Allen NJ, Rossi DJ, Attwell D. PMID: 15084665; PMCID: PMC6729351.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 56     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    49. Modulation of ASIC channels in rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons by ischaemia-related signals. J Physiol. 2002 Sep 01; 543(Pt 2):521-9. Allen NJ, Attwell D. PMID: 12205186; PMCID: PMC2290513.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 70     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    50. Quantitative imaging of glutathione in hippocampal neurons and glia in culture using monochlorobimane. J Neurosci Res. 2001 Dec 01; 66(5):873-84. Keelan J, Allen NJ, Antcliffe D, Pal S, Duchen MR. PMID: 11746414.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 46     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    51. A chemokine-glutamate connection. Nat Neurosci. 2001 Jul; 4(7):676-8. Allen NJ, Attwell D. PMID: 11426215.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
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