POSITION
Post-Doctoral Fellow
CREDENTIALS
Bachelor of Arts (University of Galway, Ireland),
MSc (Neuropharmacology – University of Galway, Ireland),
MSc (Neuroscience – University of Saskatchewan),
PhD (Neuroscience – University of Victoria)
MY RESEARCH INTERESTS
Keywords: Psychedelics, Brain injury, Mood disorders, Antidepressants, Animal Models
I am interested in the mechanisms of action underlying rapid-acting therapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders. By employing a range of animal models and behavioral, pharmacological, immunohistochemical, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging techniques, my current projects explore the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, the psychoactive prodrug found in “magic mushrooms”, as a treatment for acquired brain injury. Additionally, we plan to evaluate the clinical efficacy of psilocybin in treating 1) patients with chronic brain injury, and 2) post-traumatic stress disorder in victims of intimate partner violence. By integrating preclinical and clinical research, we hope to develop innovative treatments that significantly improve patient outcomes.
PUBLICATIONS
1. Allen J, Dames SS, Foldi CJ, Shultz SR. 2024. Psychedelics for acquired brain injury: a review of molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Molecular Psychiatry.
2. Johnston JN, Allen J, Shkolnikov I, Sánchez-Lafuente CL, Reive B, Scheil K, Liang S, Christie B, Kalynchuk LE, Caruncho HJ. 2023. Reelin rescues behavioral, electrophysiological, and molecular metrics of a depressive-like phenotype in a similar manner to ketamine. eNeuro.
3. Allen J, Pham L, Bond ST, Spitz G, O’Brien WT, Shultz SR, Drew BG, Wright DK, McDonald SJ. 2023. Acute effects of single and repeated mild traumatic brain injury on levels of neurometabolites, lipids, and mitochondrial function in male rats. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience.
4. Johnston JN, Kadriu B, Allen J, Gilbert JR, Henter ID, Zarate CA. 2023. Ketamine and Serotonergic Psychedelics: An Update on the Mechanisms and Biosignatures Underlying Rapid-Acting Antidepressant Treatment. Neuropharmacology.
5. Allen J, Romay-Tallon R, Mitchell MA, Brymer KJ, Johnston J, Pinna G, Kalynchuk LE, Caruncho HJ. 2022. Reelin has antidepressant-like effects after repeated or singular peripheral injections. Neuropharmacology.
6. Allen J, Caruncho HJ, Kalynchuk LE. 2021. Severe life stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and depressive behavior: A pathophysiological and therapeutic perspective. Mitochondrion 56: 111-17.
CONTACT
Email: jtallen93@uvic.ca
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=IShdAIkAAAAJ&hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-allen-5b6817a5/
OTHER
A fun fact about me: So far, I have lived in England, Ireland, Australia, and Canada.
My hobbies include: drumming, skateboarding, creative writing, travelling, and nature.