Dr Scott Allen

PhD

School of Medicine and Population Health

Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience

Scott Allen
Profile picture of Scott Allen
s.p.allen@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9103
΢Ȧ Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)

Full contact details

Dr Scott Allen
School of Medicine and Population Health
΢Ȧ Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)
385a Glossop Road
΢Ȧ
S10 2HQ
Profile

I am an established researcher in the field of metabolic dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases with a strong mechanistic and translational focus. My research focuses on using emerging technologies to understand mechanisms of metabolic dysfunction that occur in the CNS. My long-term goals are to use this understanding to develop gene therapy, small molecule, and nutritional strategies to slow down progression in diseases such as motor neurone disease. My work bridges the gap between bench science and clinical science directly, with projects combining both fields of translational neuroscience. My current main research projects are.

  1. Using patient derived cell models to understand how defects in purine metabolism result in loss of astrocyte support for motor neurones and whether that can be corrected by gene therapy.
  2. Identifying mechanisms of glycolytic dysfunction in MND and identifying small molecules that ameliorate the dysfunction.
  3. Identifying the nutritional needs of people with MND by identifying metabolic signatures in patient biofluids.
  4. Combining in vivo fly modelling with patient derived cell models to understand the role of hypoxia in MND/FTD.
  5. Assessing the effect of aging and C9orf72-HREs on metabolic function and the response to hypoxia, combined with metabolic biomarker identification in blood.
Qualifications

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

2016-2019
Motor Neurone Disease Association Senior, Non-Clinical Fellow
΢Ȧ Institute for Translational Neuroscience, the University of ΢Ȧ

2009-2015
Senior Post-Doctoral Researcher
΢Ȧ Institute for Translational Neuroscience, the University of ΢Ȧ

2006-2008
Post-Doctoral Researcher
AstraZeneca

2004-2006
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
The University of Manchester, Faculty of Life Sciences

2000-2004
PhD The University of Manchester
Faculty of Life Sciences

Research interests

The main research focus of my group is identifying the role of dysfunctional energy generation in neurodegenerative conditions, with particular interest in Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and dementia. Our primary aim is to develop therapeutic strategies by:

  1. Using phenotypic metabolic screening to identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention using patient-derived fibroblasts, induced neural progenitor cell derived human astrocytes/neurones and PBMCs
  2. Using fly models of MND and dementia to understand disease mechanisms in vivo
  3. Develop nutritional supplementation regimes for people with MND.

In vitro we use various cell models, including primary patient cells and genetically reprogrammed human progenitor cells and in vivo we use models such as Drosophila Melanogaster to investigate the role of astrocyte and neurone energy metabolism and how they affect disease progression. We are specifically interested in;

  1. How astrocyte purine pathway dysfunction effects pathogenesis in CNS disorders such as MND and MS.
  2. How metabolism responds to disease specific cellular stress such as hypoxia.
  3. How MND affects the metabolic response to ageing in astrocytes
  4. How nutritional status analysis can inform patient care in MND (collaboration with Dr Haris Stavroulakis and Professor Christopher McDermott).
  5. How disrupted glycolysis effects the cellular antioxidant response via MGO (collaboration with Dr Richard Mead)
  6. How oxygen glucose deprivation affects mitochondrial function (collaboration with Professor Arshad Majid)
  7. How glycosylation is altered in MND.
  8. Analysis of MND pathogenic mechanisms in Drosophila Melanogaster (collaboration with Dr Ryan West).
  9. Metabolomic analysis to assess metabolic substrate levels in iNPC astrocytes (collaboration with Prof Hector Keun, ICL and Dr Heather Walker UoS).
  10. The role of artificial sweeteners in MND disease pathogenesis 

The main research tools and techniques used in my laboratory are:

  1. Human iNPC astrocytes and neurones derived from fibroblasts through direct reprogramming
  2. PBMCs, serum, plasma and urine from people with MND (collaboration with Dr Theocharis Stavroulakis and Prof Christopher McDermott).
  3. Mouse cortical neurones
  4. Metabolic screening using an OmniLog™ metabolic profiling system.
  5. Metabolic flux analysis using an XF96 bioanalyser.

Current Projects

  1. The role of adenosine deaminase in MND- Funded by the MND Association.
  2. Investigating how the MGO-NRF2 cellular protection pathway is affected in MND. In collaboration with Prof Hector Keun (Imperial College London) and Dr Richard Mead. Funded by the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Faculty of Health PhD Scholarship.
  3. Investigating nutritional status in MND. Collaboration with Dr Theocharis Stavroulakis and Prof Christopher McDermott. Funded by the NIHR, the Darby Rimmer Foundation and the ΢Ȧ BRC and the Motor Neurone Disease Association
  4. Investigating the effect of C9orf72 on mitochondrial neuronal function. Collaboration with Prof Heather Mortiboys. Funded by the Battelle Association and the MND Association.
  5. How hypoxia affects metabolic energy generation in MND in collaboration with Dr Ryan West. Funded by the MND Association
  6. The link between Neat1 and glycolysis. In collaboration with Dr Tatyana Shelkovnikova. Funded by the MND Association.
  7. The effect of aging and C9orf72 expansion on carbon flow under normoxia and hypoxia in C9orf72-ALS. Funded by the MND Association, in collaboration with Dr Ryan West and Prof Dame Pamela Shaw
  8. How fructose metabolism affects energy generation in MND astrocytes and neurones. Seeking funding, including externally funded PhD students.
  9. How polyol metabolism affects astrocytes and neuronal function with age in sporadic MND. Seeking funding, including externally funded PhD students.
Publications

Journal articles

  • Pirri D, Tian S, Tardajos-Ayllon B, Irving S, Donati F, Allen SP, Mammoto T, Vilahur G, Kabir L, Bennett J , Rasool Y et al (2024) . Circ Res. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Au WH, Miller-Fleming L, Sanchez-Martinez A, Lee JAK, Twyning MJ, Prag HA, Raik L, Allen SP, Shaw PJ, Ferraiuolo L , Mortiboys H et al (2024) . Life Science Alliance, 7(9), e202402853-e202402853. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Roscoe S, Skinner E, Kabucho Kibirige E, Childs C, Weekes CE, Wootton S, Allen S, McDermott C & Stavroulakis T (2023) . Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hall B, George JG & Allen SP (2021) . Histol Histopathol, 18404. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Gerou M, Hall B, Woof R, Allsop J, Kolb SJ, Meyer K, Shaw PJ & Allen SP (2021) . Neurobiology of Aging. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Allen SP, Seehra RS, Heath PR, Hall BPC, Bates J, Garwood CJ, Matuszyk MM, Wharton SB & Simpson JE (2020) . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(21). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Floare M-L & Allen SP (2020) . Neuroscience Insights, 15. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lee JAK, Hall B, Allsop J, Alqarni R & Allen SP (2020) . Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Allen S (2020) . Neural Regeneration Research, 15(9), 1654-1654. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Allen SP, Hall B, Woof R, Francis L, Gatto N, Shaw AC, Myszczynska M, Hemingway J, Coldicott I, Willcock A , Job L et al (2019) . Brain, 1-20. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stopford M, Allen S & Ferraiuolo L (2019) . Bio-protocol, 9(17). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Allen S, Hall B, Castelli L, Frances L, Woof R, Siskos A, Kouloura E, Gray E, Thompson A, Talbot K , Higginbottom A et al (2019) . Brain, 142(3), 586-605. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Feng S, Bowden N, Fragiadaki M, Souilhol C, Hsiao S, Mahmoud M, Allen S, Pirri D, Ayllon BT, Akhtar S , Thompson AAR et al (2017) . Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 37(11), 2087-2101. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Allen SP, Duffy LM, Shaw PJ & Grierson AJ (2015) . Neurobiology of Aging, 36(10), 2893-2903. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Raman R, Allen SP, Goodall EF, Kramer S, Ponger L-L, Heath PR, Milo M, Hollinger HC, Walsh T, Highley JR , Olpin S et al (2015) . Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology, 41(2), 201-226. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Allen SP, Rajan S, Duffy L, Mortiboys H, Higginbottom A, Grierson AJ & Shaw PJ (2014) . Neurobiol Aging, 35(6), 1499-1509. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Richardson K, Allen SP, Mortiboys HJ, Grierson AJ, Wharton SB, Ince PG, Shaw PJ & Heath PR (2013) . Plos One, 6(8), e68256-e68256. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mead RJ, Higginbottom A, Allen SP, Kirby J, Bennett E, Barber SC, Heath PR, Coluccia A, Patel N, Gardner I , Brancale A et al (2013) . Free Radic Biol Med, 61, 438-452. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Allen S, Balabanidou V, Sideris DP, Lisowsky T & Tokatlidis K (2005) . Journal of Molecular Biology, 353(5), 937-944. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lu H, Allen S, Wardleworth L, Savory P & Tokatlidis K (2004) . Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279(18), 18952-18958. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lu H, Golovanov AP, Alcock F, Grossmann JG, Allen S, Lian L-Y & Tokatlidis K (2004) . Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279(18), 18959-18966. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Allen S, Lu H, Thornton D & Tokatlidis K (2003) . Journal of Biological Chemistry, 278(40), 38505-38513. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Vial S, Lu H, Allen S, Savory P, Thornton D, Sheehan J & Tokatlidis K (2002) . Journal of Biological Chemistry, 277(39), 36100-36108. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Roscoe S, Allen SP, McDermott C & Stavroulakis T () . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 1-14. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Roscoe SA, Allen SP, McDermott CJ & Stavroulakis T () . Nutrition Reviews. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Allen SP, Al Sultan A, Kabucho Kibirige E, Tonkiss E, Hamer KJ, Castelli LM, Lin Y-H, Roscoe S, Stefanidis N, Mead RJ , Highley JR et al () . Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 15, 1151848-1151848. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Cooper‐Knock J, Julian TH, Feneberg E, Highley JR, Sidra M, Turner MR, Talbot K, Ansorge O, Allen SP, Moll T , Shelkovnikova T et al () . Brain Pathology. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Boddy S, Islam M, Moll T, Kurz J, Burrows D, McGown A, Bhargava A, Julian TH, Harvey C, Marshall JNG , Hall BPC et al () . Brain Communications. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Bell SM, Burgess T, Lee J, Blackburn DJ, Allen SP & Mortiboys H () . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(23), 8924-8924. RIS download Bibtex download

Chapters

  • Castelli L, Vasta R, Allen SP, Waller R, Chiò A, Traynor BJ & Kirby J (2024) , International Review of Neurobiology (pp. 209-268). Elsevier RIS download Bibtex download

Conference proceedings papers

  • Allen SP, Hall B, Castelli L, Francis L, Woof R, Higginbottom A, Myszczynska M, Allen CF, Stopford MJ, Webster CP , De Vos K et al (2018) . Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics, Vol. 1859 (pp e23-e23) RIS download Bibtex download

Preprints

  • Lee JAK, Granger S, Roome K, Allen SP, Ferraiuolo L, Shaw PJ & Mortiboys H (2025) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Pirri D, Tian S, Tardajos-Ayllon B, Irving S, Donati F, Allen SP, Mammoto T, Vilahur G, Miller C, Schenkel T , Chambers EV et al (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Roscoe S, Skinner E, Kibirige EK, Childs C, Weekes CE, Wootton S, Allen S, McDermott C & Stavroulakis T (2022) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. RIS download Bibtex download
Grants
  • 2022- MNDA Association, £278,500. Investigating the role of adenosine deaminase in ALS.
  • 2021- Progressive MS Alliance, 75,000 Euros. Investigating adenosine signalling in MS.
  • 2021- Darby Rimmer Foundation, £34,372. Understanding Nutrition in MND.
  • 2021- Battelle PhD + MND Association, £95,000. Mitochondrial phenotyping in MND.
  • 2020- Academy of Medical Sciences, £99997. Investigating the MGO-NRF2 pathway in MND.
  • 2018- Alzheimer’s Research UK, £98,594.70. Equipment grant application for an i2/H35 Hypoxic Chamber PI, Scott Allen
  • 2016- Neurocare Charitable Trust £72,000. Equipment proposal for an OmniLog™ system. PI, Scott Allen
  • 2015- The Motor Neurone Disease Association-£248,000. Senior Non-Clinical Fellowship
  • 2014-Neurocare Charitable Trust-£5600. Metabolic Profiling Pilot Study funding
  • 2010- Neurocare Charitable Trust £71,967. Equipment proposal for Seahorse XF24 Bioanalyser. PI, Scott Allen

Our Funders

  • The Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA)
  • Neurocare
  • Alzheimer's Research UK
  • MS Alliance
  • Darby Rimmer Foundation
  • ΢Ȧ BRC
  • Battelle Association
Teaching activities

I co-lead the Ethics in Neuroscience MSc module for the Department. I teach on the MSc courses in Advanced Therapies, Clinical Neuroscience, Translational Neuroscience, and Molecular Medicine focussing on metabolomics. I have supervised 22 MSc students, 7 PhD students, (as well as 6 technicians and 3 post-doctoral researcher) and numerous undergraduate students. I am a ECR Departmental Lead and ECR prize committee Chair, an MSc mentor and a Personal Academic Tutor for medical students.

Professional activities and memberships
  • Member of the Royal Society International Exchange Grant Panel
  • Reviewer for several funding bodies, including the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), the Medical Research Council (MRC), the British Biotechnology Scientific Research Council (BBSRC), Action for A-T
  • Reviewer for several Journals including Brain Communications, Molecular Neurobiology, Cell Regeneration,  Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry amongst others. Editorial Board Member of Archives of Neurology and Neuro Disorders
  • Scientific link on the ΢Ȧ Motor Neurone Disorder Research Advisory Group (SMND-RAG)
  • External Examiner for the University of Hull MSc in Biomedical Sciences course
  • REF-UoA4 Neuroscience Lead for the SMPH
  • KE Champion for Neuroscience
Awards

2023

  • Faculty PhD Scholarship Investigating the link between metabolism, MGO and Nrf-2 ~£84,000
  • MND Association- PhD Consumables Funding Investigating the link between metabolism, MGO and Nrf-2 £27,000.
  • MND Association PhD projects Neat1 in ALS in ALS ~£114,917(CO-PI) 50%
  • MND Association PhD project-Hypoxia in ALS ~£114,917 (CO-PI) 50%
  • MND Association Small grant funding Developing Nutritional Strategies in ALS £43,000 (CO-PI-30%).
  • Departmental Funding. Developing a Brand for the Lay summary scheme £4500
  • BRC Funding Developing a Brand for the Lay summary scheme £4500.
  • BRC Funding Wet Biomarker Development £146,000 (CO-PI)

2022

  • MND Association, £278,500. Investigating the role of adenosine deaminase in ALS.

2021

  • Progressive MS Alliance, 75,000 Euros. Investigating adenosine signalling in MS.
  • Darby Rimmer Foundation, £34,372. Understanding Nutrition in MND.
  • Battelle PhD + MND Association, £95,000. Mitochondrial phenotyping in MND.

2020

  • Academy of Medical Sciences, £99997. Investigating the MGO-NRF2 pathway in MND.

2018

  • Alzheimer’s Research UK, £98,594.70. Equipment grant application for an i2/H35 Hypoxic Chamber PI, Scott Allen

2016

  • Neurocare Charitable Trust £72,000. Equipment proposal for an OmniLog™ system. PI, Scott Allen

2015

  • The Motor Neurone Disease Association-£248,000. Senior Non-Clinical Fellowship
     

2014

  • Neurocare Charitable Trust-£5600. Metabolic Profiling Pilot Study funding
     

2010

  • Neurocare Charitable Trust £71,967. Equipment proposal for Seahorse XF24 Bioanalyser. PI, Scott Allen

Our Funders

The Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA)

Academy of Medical Sciences

Neurocare

Alzheimer's Research UK

MS Alliance

Links

Neuroscience Institute