John Allen

John Allen, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). His research focuses on the neuropharmacology of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), particularly dopamine and serotonin receptors, to advance drug discovery for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

• Research Interests: Neuropharmacology, GPCR signaling, drug discovery for addiction and neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's, Huntington's), translational research.
• Grants: Active grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), MapLight Therapeutics, and New Atlas Biotechnologies, LLC.
• Methodologies: CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, live cell imaging, high-throughput screening, behavioral rodent models.
• Recent Trends: Emphasis on GPR52 agonists for stimulant use disorders, biased signaling in dopamine receptors, and orphan receptor validation.
• Email: joaallen@utmb.edu