Holly A. Ingraham

Biosketch

Holly A. Ingraham, Ph.D., is the Herzstein Endowed Professor in the Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Dept. at UCSF. Her research focuses on sex differences and hormone-responsive nodes in the brain and peripheral tissues that maintain metabolic, skeletal, and gut physiology in females. Through question-driven basic science, Ingraham aims to elucidate the molecular underpinnings of adaptive responses in female physiology across the lifespan to understand better how hormonal fluctuations during the reproductive and post-reproductive periods impact women’s health. She has made fundamental contributions to the field of hormone signaling and sex-dependent physiological regulatory mechanisms. Her most recent high-impact studies have been highlighted in the New York Times Science Section (10/26/21) and the NIH Director’s Blog (8/1/24). Ingraham has chaired and served on scores of NIH and other scientific review panels. She serves on scientific advisory boards and is a Founder of a new biotech venture to improve women’s health. In addition to her scientific awards, Ingraham is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Science. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego.

Research Interests

Biological sex is one of nature's most robust variables. My research seeks to define sex differences and hormone-responsive nodes in the brain and peripheral tissues that maintain metabolic, skeletal, and pelvic physiology in females. We focus on three areas. Age-related skeletal decline: After a 5-year search for a brain-derived hormone that increases and strengthens bones, we found that this hormone increases in lactating mothers, offsetting the significant bone loss during milk production. Metabolic Decline following estrogen depletion: After showing how estrogen triggers a pathway in the brain to increase physical activity in females, follow-up studies show that this activity node projects to the hindbrain to control urine and fecal voiding. This work is highly relevant to inactivity and urinary incontinence, in aging or following drug-induced menopause. Gut Visceral Sensitivity: We are working to define the gut-brain conduit that propagates intestinal visceral pain syndromes, such as IBS, which disproportionately affects women. After defining EC cells as the major driver of gut pain, our group recently uncovered how estrogen signaling heightens visceral pain. We aim to understand how females adapt and meet the demands of different life stages, to improve women’s health and create breakthroughs in human health.