Dr. Allen is a Professor of Pharmacology and Oncology at the University of Alberta. She is a world leader in long-circulating, ligand-targeted liposomal therapeutics. She is an inventor on 18 patents, one of which has led to a liposomal anticancer product and two of which have led to anticancer and anti-inflammatory products in clinical trials. She has published over 200 scientific articles and was awarded the Novartis award from the Pharmacological Society of Canada and a Cygnus award from the Controlled Release Society, both in 2000. She was the recipient of the ASTech award for Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Technology in 2001, the International Alec Bangham Award in 2002 and the Leadership Award of the Pharmaceutical Society of Canada in 2004. She was elected to the Royal Society of Canada in 2005.