Christine Allen, University of Toronto

Research

Read how they describe their research on their University of Toronto profile.

Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences (except clinical aspects)Drug discovery, design and delivery Cancer drug development and therapeutics

Latest papers

Nanomedicines from the patient perspective - 30 years after PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin.
Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 2026 · senior author
The growing impact of machine learning on drug formulation science.
Advanced drug delivery reviews · 2026 · senior author
Polymer microparticles in an evolving drug delivery landscape: challenges and the role of machine learning.
International journal of pharmaceutics · 2025 · senior author

All 136 publications

Latest funding

MitoRevolution: Mitochondrial Transplantation Transforming Regenerative Medicine - from research to patient care to global impact.
SSHRC · 2024 · Co-investigator
$3,934,956
Exploring ATR and PARP Inhibitors for Ovarian Cancer Management: An Innovative Approach
CIHR · 2023 · Nominated PI
$100,000
Harnessing Technological Advances to Re-engineer Polymer Particles for Drug Delivery
NSERC · 2022 · Principal investigator
$165,000

All 32 grants and awards

136 publications.

01

Nanomedicines from the patient perspective - 30 years after PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin.

Wang L, Sehdev S, Nadeem A, Allen C

Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2026.115038 PMID: 42167367

02

The growing impact of machine learning on drug formulation science.

Bao Z, Huynh S, Le Devedec F, Nguyen J, Allen C

Advanced drug delivery reviews2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2025.115761 PMID: 41391821

03

Polymer microparticles in an evolving drug delivery landscape: challenges and the role of machine learning.

Bao Z, Kim J, Le Devedec F, Clasky A, Allen C

International journal of pharmaceutics2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.125906 PMID: 40578461

04

Rapid Release of Doxorubicin from Thermosensitive Liposomes─Contributions of Leakage Versus Unloading.

Hummler H, Regenold M, Allen C, Heerklotz H

The journal of physical chemistry. B2025

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5c01564 PMID: 40638271

05

A formulation dataset of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles for small molecule delivery.

Goren A, Bao Z, Martinez Lozano JP, Allen C

Scientific data2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41597-025-05520-9 PMID: 40640221

06

Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms.

Nazeri M, Watchorn J, Mei S, Zhang A, Allen C, Gu F

HardwareX2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00653 PMID: 40546787

07

A dataset on formulation parameters and characteristics of drug-loaded PLGA microparticles.

Bao Z, Kim J, Kwok C, Le Devedec F, Allen C

Scientific data2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41597-025-04621-9 PMID: 40025040

08

Synergistic effects of thermosensitive liposomal doxorubicin, mild hyperthermia, and radiotherapy in breast cancer management: an orthotopic mouse model study.

Wang X, Allen C

Drug delivery and translational research2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1007/s13346-024-01654-2 PMID: 38977541

09

Data characterizing a panel of biodegradable cross-linked polyester implants for sustained delivery of an anti-viral drug.

Jung S, Bufton J, Bao Z, Cho W, Aguiar D, Allen C

Data in brief2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.111182 PMID: 39802831

10

Optimizing lipid nanoparticles for fetal gene delivery in vitro, ex vivo, and aided with machine learning.

Abostait A, Abdelkarim M, Bao Z, Miyake Y, Tse WH, Di Ciano-Oliveir C, Buerki-Thurnherr T, Allen C, Keijzer R, Labouta HI

Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.10.047 PMID: 39447842

MitoRevolution: Mitochondrial Transplantation Transforming Regenerative Medicine - from research to patient care to global impact.

Co-investigatorSSHRC2024New Frontiers in Research Fund - Transformation

Principal investigators: Andreazza, Ana

$3,934,956

Exploring ATR and PARP Inhibitors for Ovarian Cancer Management: An Innovative Approach

Nominated PICIHR2023Project Grant - Priority Announcement: Cancer Research

Principal investigators: Allen, Christine J; Lheureux, Stephanie

Keywords: Atr Inhibitor; Drug Combination; Drug Delivery; Lipid Nanoparticle; Liposome; Nanomedicine; Nanotechnology; Ovarian Cancer; Parp Inhibitor

$100,000

Harnessing Technological Advances to Re-engineer Polymer Particles for Drug Delivery

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Allen, Christine

$165,000

Darkdynamic Therapy: Photodynamic Therapy without Light

Co-investigatorSSHRC2020New Frontiers in Research Fund - Exploration

Principal investigators: Beharry, Andrew

$244,160

Engineering a therapeutic solid lipid nanoparticle formulation of cannabidiol for treatment of COVID-19-Induced lung inflammation_x000d_

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Allen, Christine

$48,000

Ultrasound activated bubbles to potentiate cancer therapy

Co-investigatorCIHR2019Project Grant

Principal investigators: Matsuura, Naomi; Goertz, David E

Keywords: Biomaterials; Cancer Therapy; Focused Ultrasound; Microbubbles; Perfluorocarbon Contrast Agents

$455,176

Nuclear-targeted X-ray activated photodynamic therapy of pancreatic cancer

Principal investigatorCIHR2018Project Grant

Principal investigators: Wilson, Brian C; Allen, Christine J

Keywords: Cancer; Medical Physics; Nanotechnology; Pancreatic Cancer; Photodynamic; Therapy; X-Ray

$371,024

Ultrasound-Mediated Drug Delivery to the Spinal Cord

Co-investigatorCIHR2018Project Grant

Principal investigators: O'Reilly, Meaghan

Keywords: Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier; Drug Delivery; Focused Utrasound,; Image-Guided Therapy; Spinal Cord

$673,200

Heat Activated Liposomal Delivery of Chemo and Molecular Therapy in Combination with Radiotherapy for Treatment of Breast Cancer Recurrence at the Chest Wall

Nominated PICIHR2017Project Grant

Principal investigators: Allen, Christine J; Jaffray, David A

Keywords: Breast Cancer; Chest Wall Recurrence; Drug Delivery; Hyperthermia; Image-Guided Drug Delivery; Radiation Therapy; Thermosensitive Liposomes

$459,000

Engineering BioChoice Lignin-Based Microparticles for Applications in Veterinary Medicine

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Engage Grants Program

Principal investigators: Allen, Christine

$25,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Michael Milosevic

Radiation Medicine

4 shared papers, latest 2018

Reina Bendayan

Pharmaceutical Sciences

4 shared papers, latest 2015

David Jaffray

Pharmaceutical Sciences

4 shared papers, latest 2015

Kullervo Hynynen

Medical Biophysics

2 shared papers, latest 2020

Kazuhiro Yasufuku

Department of Surgery

2 shared papers, latest 2015

Jonathan Irish

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

1 shared papers, latest 2015

Emmanuel Ho

Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

1 shared papers, latest 2017

Nicholas Mitsakakis

Biostatistics Division

1 shared papers, latest 2015

Adam Waspe

Neurosciences and Mental Health

1 shared papers, latest 2022

Joshua Rosenblat

Anesthesiology and Pain Management

1 shared papers, latest 2011

Robert Weersink

Radiation Oncology/Medical Physics

1 shared papers, latest 2014

Michael Adrian Brook

Chemistry & Chemical Biology

1 shared papers, latest 2012

John F Valliant

Chemistry & Chemical Biology

1 shared papers, latest 2015

Hai-Ling Cheng

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

1 shared papers, latest 2018

Richard Keijzer

Pediatric Surgery

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2023

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences (except clinical aspects) Dear Professor Allen, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Nanomedicines from the patient perspective - 30 years after PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Exploring ATR and PARP Inhibitors for Ovarian Cancer Management: An Innovative Approach" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Christine Allen

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Nanomedicines from the patient perspective - 30&#xa0;years after PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin.

The growing impact of machine learning on drug formulation science.

Polymer microparticles in an evolving drug delivery landscape: challenges and the role of machine learning.

Rapid Release of Doxorubicin from Thermosensitive Liposomes&#x2500;Contributions of Leakage Versus Unloading.

A formulation dataset of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles for small molecule delivery.

Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms.

A dataset on formulation parameters and characteristics of drug-loaded PLGA microparticles.

Synergistic effects of thermosensitive liposomal doxorubicin, mild hyperthermia, and radiotherapy in breast cancer management: an orthotopic mouse model study.

Data characterizing a panel of biodegradable cross-linked polyester implants for sustained delivery of an anti-viral drug.

Optimizing lipid nanoparticles for fetal gene delivery in vitro, ex vivo, and aided with machine learning.

MitoRevolution: Mitochondrial Transplantation Transforming Regenerative Medicine - from research to patient care to global impact.

Exploring ATR and PARP Inhibitors for Ovarian Cancer Management: An Innovative Approach

Harnessing Technological Advances to Re-engineer Polymer Particles for Drug Delivery

Darkdynamic Therapy: Photodynamic Therapy without Light

Engineering a therapeutic solid lipid nanoparticle formulation of cannabidiol for treatment of COVID-19-Induced lung inflammation_x000d_

Ultrasound activated bubbles to potentiate cancer therapy

Nuclear-targeted X-ray activated photodynamic therapy of pancreatic cancer

Ultrasound-Mediated Drug Delivery to the Spinal Cord

Heat Activated Liposomal Delivery of Chemo and Molecular Therapy in Combination with Radiotherapy for Treatment of Breast Cancer Recurrence at the Chest Wall

Engineering BioChoice Lignin-Based Microparticles for Applications in Veterinary Medicine

Frequent collaborators

Micheline Piquette-Miller

Payam Zahedi

Jinzi Zheng

Michael Milosevic

Reina Bendayan

David Jaffray

Kullervo Hynynen

Kazuhiro Yasufuku

David Dubins

Heiko Heerklotz

Jonathan Irish

Emmanuel Ho

Nicholas Mitsakakis

Adam Waspe

Joshua Rosenblat

Ivan Yeung

Robert Weersink

Gilbert Walker

Michael Adrian Brook

John F Valliant

Hai-Ling Cheng

Richard Keijzer

Nanomedicines from the patient perspective - 30 years after PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin.

Rapid Release of Doxorubicin from Thermosensitive Liposomes─Contributions of Leakage Versus Unloading.