Gregg C. Allen, Ph.D.

TAMHSC Arrows COM Arrows Basic Sciences Arrows NExT Arrows Faculty Arrows Gregg C. Allen, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics

2002 Medical Research and Education Building, 8447 State Highway 47
Bryan, Texas 77807-3260
Phone: 979-436-0329
Fax: 979-436-0086
Email: gallen@medicine.tamhsc.edu

Education and Post-Graduate Training

Ph.D., Texas A&M University

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Vanderbilt University

B.S., University of Oregon

Teaching Interests

My primary interests in teaching are undergraduate medical education in the Anatomical Sciences. During the fall semester, I serve as a full-time faculty member in the Medical Gross Anatomy and Medical Histology courses. I also teach in the Medical Neuroscience course in spring semester. I also pursue scholarly teaching activities focusing upon pedagogy and teaching theory to further enhance the educational experience of future medical professionals as well as participation in the training of the next generation of medical educators through development of a Masters Program in Anatomical Sciences.

Research Interests

My primary research interest focuses on the unique properties of neurons that generate circadian rhythms and the interactions between them that mediate their ability to coordinate molecular and physiological rhythms in tissues and, ultimately, regulate rhythmic behaviors. Using a combination of molecular, cellular, and behavioral analyses in the mouse model my research aims to identify how cells within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus function as a biological clock in generating circadian output signals that synchronize rhythmic processes within diverse tissues throughout the body.

Selected Publications

Teaching/Education Publications

Allen, GC, Cunningham, AC, Thompson, BJ, Dalley, AF, Wente, SR, Norden, JJ, Richmond, A and Chalkley, R (2008) “The Anatomy of a Scientist-Educator Postdoctoral Training Program.” Am. Assoc. Anatomists (AAA) at Experimental Biology 2008 Annual Meeting Abstr.

Cunningham, AC, Allen, GC, Thompson, BJ, Dalley, AF, Wente, SR, Norden, JJ and Chalkley, R (2007) “Found: More Anatomy Instructors.” Am. Assoc. Clinical Anatomists (AACA) 2007 Annual Meeting Abstr.

Cunningham, AC, Allen, GC, Thompson, BJ, Elzie, CA, Ramnanan CJ, Dalley, AF, Wente, SR, Norden, JJ and Chalkley, RG (2007) “The Vanderbilt Scientist-Educator Program.” 2007 Annual IRACDA Conference Abstr.

Thompson, BJ, Cunningham, A, Allen, G, Dalley, AF, Wente, SR and Chalkley, RG (2007) “Preparing Tomorrow’s Medical Educators.” Am. Assoc. Anatomists (AAA) at Experimental Biology 2007 Annual Meeting Abstr.

Research Publications

Farnell, YZ, Allen, GC, Neuendorff, N, West, JR, Wei-Jung, AC and Earnest, DJ (2009) “Effects of Neonatal Alcohol Exposure on Vasoactive-Intestinal Polypeptide Neurons in the Rat Suprachiasmatic Nucleus.” Alcohol 43:387-396.

Ruan, G-X, Allen, GC, Yamazaki, S and McMahon, DG (2008) “An Autonomous Circadian Clock in the Inner Mouse Retina Regulated by Dopamine and GABA.” PLOS Biology 6(10):e249. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio. 0060249.

Hundahl, CA, Allen, GC, Nyengaard, JR, Dewilde, S, Carter, BD, Kelsen, J and Hay-Schmidt, A (2008) “Neuroglobin in the Rat Brain: Localization.” Neuroendocrinology (May 2 Epub DOI: 10.1159/000129698).

Farnell, YZ, Allen, GC, Nahm, S-S, Neuendorff, N, West, JR, Chen, W-JA and Earnest, DJ (2008) “Neonatal Alcohol Exposure Differentially Alters Clock Gene Oscillations within the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Cerebellum and Liver of Adult Rats.” Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. 32:544-552.

Gamble, K, Allen, GC, Zhou, T and McMahon, DG (2007) “Gastrin-releasing Peptide Mediates Light-Like Resetting of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Circadian Pacemaker through CREB and Per1 Activation.” J. Neurosci. 27:12078-12087.

Menger, GJ, Allen, GC, Neuendorff, N, Nahm, SS, Thomas, TL, Cassone, VM and Earnest, DJ (2007) “Circadian Profiling of the Transcriptome in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts: Comparison with Rhythmic Gene Expression in SCN2.2 Cells and the Rat SCN.” Physiol. Genomics 29:280-289.

Allen, GC, Farnell, YZ, Maeng, J-U, West JR, Chen, W-JA and Earnest, DJ (2005) “Long-Term Effects of Neonatal Alcohol Exposure on Photic Re-entrainment and Phase-Shifting Responses of the Activity Rhythm in Adult Rats.” Alcohol 37:79-88.

Allen, GC, West, JR, Chen, W-JA and Earnest, DJ (2005) “Neonatal Alcohol Exposure Permanently Disrupts the Circadian Properties and Photic Entrainment of the Activity Rhythm in Adult Rats.” Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. 29:1845-1852.

Allen, GC, Qu, X and Earnest, DJ (2005) “TrkB-Deficient Mice Show Diminished Phase Shifts of the Circadian Activity Rhythm in Response to Light.” Neurosci. Letters 378:150-155.

Farnell, YZ, West, JR, Chen, W-J, Allen, GC and Earnest, DJ (2004) “Developmental Alcohol Exposure Alters Light-Induced Phase Shifts of the Circadian Activity Rhythm in Rats.” Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. 28:1020-1027.

Allen, GC, Farnell, Y, Bell-Pedersen, D, Cassone, VM and Earnest, DJ (2004) “Effects of Altered Clock Gene Expression on the Pacemaker Properties of SCN2.2 Cells and Oscillatory Properties of NIH/3T3 Cells.” Neuroscience 127:989-999.

Allen, G, Rappe, J, Earnest, DJ and Cassone, VM (2001) “Oscillating on Borrowed Time: Diffusible Signals from Immortalized SCN Cells Regulate Circadian Rhythmicity in Cultured Fibroblasts.” J. Neurosci. 21:7937-7943.

Liang, F-Q, Allen, G and Earnest, D (2000) “Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Circadian Regulation of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus by Light.” J. Neurosci. 20:2978-2987.