The mission of the Allen Institute is to unlock the complexities of bioscience and advance our knowledge to improve human health. Using an open science, multi-scale, team approach, the Allen Institute focuses on accelerating foundational research, developing standards and models, and cultivating new ideas to make a broad, transformational impact on science. Founded by philanthropist and visionary Paul G. Allen, the Allen Institute is a recognized leader in large-scale, open science research. Its research institutes include the Allen Institute for Brain Science, Allen Institute for Cell Science, Allen Institute for Immunology and The Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group. The Allen Institute believes that team science significantly benefits from the participation of diverse voices, experiences and backgrounds. High-quality science can only be produced when it includes different perspectives. We are committed to increasing diversity across every team and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.
External link for Allen Institute
615 Westlake Ave N
Seattle, Washington 98109, US
Allen Institute reposted this
Scientists have discovered that not all cell types in the brain age in the same way. They found that some cells, such as a small group of hormone-controlling cells, may undergo more age-related changes in genetic activity than others. The NIH-supported study results support the idea that some cells are more sensitive to the aging process and aging brain disorders than others.
Happy Friday from the Allen Institute for Cell Science! 😁🧫 When you study thousands upon thousands of cells, you're bound to find some patterns that make you smile. This image features a cell line that illuminates lamin B1, a protein in the nuclear envelope. #SciShots
Allen Institute reposted this
Science communicator, neuroscientist, theater nerd. More at kaitlyncasimo.com.
Last call! I'm recruiting teaching faculty to participate in spring 2025 in our NSF IUSE project Allen Institute on the impact of teaching mitosis and cell structure with open science. **Sign up by 1/22!** Flyer text in the alt text! Easily clickable link to our interest form: https://lnkd.in/gKQ2DjBz We're looking for participants with winter/spring 2025 courses only - not summer/fall!
Happy New Year! Please enjoy this bacteria art from our Education & Engagement team 🧫 They use the Allen Institute’s #openscience resources and cutting-edge research to engage with educational, scientific, and public communities to develop their futures in science. Also, they are hiring a summer intern! Job link in the comments ;)
Calling undergrad neuroscience educators! 🧠📚 You have a month left to apply for the "Developing Open Neuroscience Teaching Tools" Workshop. Accepted applicants will get paid travel, meals, and a $1,000 stipend. Apply by Feb. 3: https://lnkd.in/gUX_nEzt
A new year marks new research on the health and well-being of the brain. Our scientists recently published research on brain cells involved with aging. FOX 13 Seattle's Franque Thompson reports (link in comments).
Allen Institute reposted this
Very excited to share our single-cell study on the aging mouse brain published in Nature today! https://lnkd.in/g9un9Dy2 We used cutting-edge single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to profile ~1.2 million brain cells from young (two-month-old) and aged (18-month-old) mice. We found changes of the expression of 2,449 genes in many specific cell types across the brain, indicating either decreased neuronal structure and function or increased inflammation and immune response. In particular, we found an aging hotspot in specific hypothalamic cell types involved in energy homeostasis, which show both decreased neuronal function and increased immune response. I’m proud of the incredible teamwork it took to create this dataset, from which we are already learning so much about what happens in normal aging. This study will serve as a foundation for the investigation of functional changes in aging and the interaction of aging and disease. Thanks for the grant support from National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the BRAIN Initiative!
🧠 The largest study ever on brain #aging points to which areas and cells most impacted by aging and possible connections between diet, inflammation, and brain health. This research, published today in Nature, could pave the way for future therapies to slow or manage the impacts of the aging process. Links in comments, here's what our #neuroscience teams have observed: 📊 Age-associated gene expression changes | Pronounced changes were observed in non-neuronal cell types. Most affected cells include immune cells (microglia and border-associated macrophages), oligodendrocytes, tanycytes (below in green), and ependymal cells. 🔥 Inflammation and neuron protection | In aging brains, genes associated with inflammation became more active, while those related to neuronal structure and function decreased. 🎯 Aging hot spot in the hypothalamus | The most drastic gene expression changes were found in the third ventricle of the hypothalamus. 🥗 Possible connection between lifestyle and brain aging | Neurons that play a role in diet, metabolism, and nutrient absorption changed significantly. This may point to a possible link between lifestyle, brain aging, and susceptibility to age-related disorders. #studyBRAIN
This summer, we partnered with TReND in Africa to host a computational #neuroscience course, built on Allen Institute tools and data, for 20 students from across the African continent. Simangele Shablala, a Ph.D. student at University of KwaZulu-Natal, shares the impact of the course on her career and professional network.
It is a joy to spread holiday cheer through gifts. This year, our teams are contributing gifts to 25 families through a partnership with Mother Nation 🎁
Allen Institute reposted this
Reflecting on 2024: a year of growth and discovery. As we close out 2024, I am filled with gratitude and excited for all that is to come. This year has been a testament to our commitment to team and #openscience at the Allen Institute. Together, we've forged new partnerships and embarked on ambitious efforts towards understanding life and advancing health. I want to take a moment to celebrate a few of our achievements this year. Our immunology team unveiled the Human Immune Health Atlas, a resource that empowers researchers to better understand how our body’s defense system works and evolves with age, accelerating progress towards new therapies and treatments for immune-related illnesses. Our neuroscience research teams also made significant progress in understanding Alzheimer's, uncovering the cellular early warning signs of this devastating disease and unveiling the "pathological clock" that describes its progression. This foundational knowledge has the potential to inspire a wave of research, leading to new drugs and therapies that could bring hope to millions of patients, caregivers, and families. Our cell science team released their first disease cell lines. These tools are enabling researchers to explore how subtle cellular changes impact vital heart functions, paving the way for new treatments and insights into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a common heart condition. Looking ahead, we have even more exciting initiatives on the horizon including more open resources to support the research community, more opportunities to connect and share ideas, and an expansion of our education program to train and inspire the next generation of scientists. Our ambitious vision for the future will continue to drive breakthroughs and insights into biology that will impact all of us. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey and to those who will join us in the year ahead. Here's to a future filled with discovery and innovation! Rui Costa President and CEO, #AtAllenInstitute