Holly Ingraham, PhD

Professor

About Our Research: Please visit our website at https://ingrahamlab.ucsf.edu for an overview of our current research efforts in the basic science of "Hormones and Nerves in Female Physiology," which aims to improve women's health.

About Me: Those who devote their lives to creative pursuits are often inspired by a singular event. Mine came from my great-grandfather, whose 1890 Bausch & Lomb microscope, abandoned in a closet after being shipped west from Worcester, Massachusetts, came into my possession when I was 10 years old. I picked it up and began exploring the biological world of Northern California, never to stop. However, sporadic events are insufficient to sustain a lifetime of curiosity and discovery. That support would come through the State of California via its amazing and accessible public education system, beginning at Revelle College at UCSD, and through the NIH, which has continuously supported my curiosity-based discovery research program for over 25 years. Unwavering support also comes from my family and mentors, who provide the personal strength and resiliency needed to overcome moments of disappointment, insecurity, and self-doubt. I thoroughly enjoy my life as a scientist and continue to be addicted to the rare experimental successes that are sprinkled among the many failures inherent in the scientific process.

About Mentoring: In partnership with San Francisco State University, I also direct the UCSF IRACDA Scholars Program, which aims to build our nation's biomedical workforce and faculty. Our efforts, along with generous funding from an NIGMS K12 grant and the UCSF School of Medicine, provide career development programming for a small cohort of postdoctoral fellows. Our local efforts today will make a national difference tomorrow.

  • Distinguished Public Lecture Series – Fralin Medical Center, Virginia Tech, 2026

  • Grilione Seminar for College of Sciences, SJSU, 2026

  • Harris Memorial Lectureship – International Congress of Neuroendocrinology, JAPAN, 2026

  • Lois Taylor Ellison, MD Lecture – Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 2026

  • Presidential Public Lecture Series – Simons Foundation, NYC, 2026

  • Dolan Pritchett Honorary Lecture, Perlman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 2025

  • FASEB Excellence in Science Lifetime Achievement Award, 2024

  • Women’s History Month Symposium Lectureship, UC Davis, Davis, CA, 2024

  • Wu Lectureship, Institute for Human Nutrition, New York, NY, 2024

  • Edwin B. Astwood Award for Outstanding Research in Basic Science, Endocrine Society, 2023

  • Marlene A. DeLuca Endowed Lectureship, UCSF, San Diego, CA, 2023

  • Society of Endocrinology Trans-Atlantic Medalist and Lecture, Glasgow,, 2023

  • UCSF Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award, 2023

  • Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) Lectureship, U. of Arizona, Tucson,, 2023

  • Distinguished Bert O’Malley Endowed Lectureship, BCM, Houston, TX, 2022

  • John and Margaret Faulkner Lectureship, University of Michigan, MI, 2022

  • Kendall-Hench Lectureship in Endo/Metabolism, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 2022

  • Elected Member National Academy of Sciences (NAS), 2021

  • Herzstein Endowed Professor in Molecular Physiology, 2020

  • Senior Scholar Award, GCRLE Foundation, 2020

  • 42nd Steenbock Lectureship Award, U. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 2019

  • Elected Member American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAA&S), 2019

  • Joseph Larner Memorial Lectureship Award in Pharmacology, U. of Virginia, VA, 2018

  • Chancellor's Award Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Leadership, 2017

  • Elected Fellow of American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2012

  • Brook Byers Basic Science Award, 2002

  • NIH-Independent Scientist Development Award, 1997-2002

  • June 15, 2024 - March 31, 2029 - Rejuvenating Skeletal Health Through A Novel Brain-Bone Axis , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: U01AG086165
  • September 1, 2023 - August 30, 2028 - UCSF IRACDA Scholars Program , . Sponsor: NIGMS, Sponsor Award ID: K12GM081266
  • September 1, 2023 - May 31, 2028 - Understanding Mechanisms and Sex-Differences in Visceral Pain , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01DK135714
  • August 1, 2015 - July 31, 2025 - UCSF Nutrition Obesity Research Center , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: P30DK098722
  • March 1, 2020 - February 28, 2025 - Dissecting a hormone-responsive processor for female activity and repetitive behavior , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01DK121657
  • October 1, 2019 - September 30, 2024 - Arcuate ERa Signaling in Central Control of Female Bone Metabolism , Pincipal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH/NIA, Sponsor Award ID: R01 AG062331-01A1
  • September 30, 2019 - May 31, 2024 - Arcuate ERa Signaling in Central Control of Female Bone Metabolism , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01AG062331
  • October 1, 2019 - September 30, 2022 - Mapping gut-spinal cord connections in visceral pain , Co-Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH/NINDS, Sponsor Award ID: U01 NS113869
  • September 1, 2020 - August 30, 2022 - Novel Drivers in Central Control of Female Reproduction , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: , Sponsor Award ID: GCRLE Award
  • August 3, 2007 - July 31, 2022 - UCSF IRACDA Scholars Program , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: K12GM081266
  • April 1, 2014 - March 31, 2019 - Mapping Hypothalamic Neurocircuits Controlling Physical Activity , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01DK099722
  • August 1, 1993 - March 31, 2014 - Developmental Programs of Neural Circuits in the Mouse Medial Hypothalamus , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01DK063592
  • September 30, 2004 - July 31, 2013 - Modulating Nuclear Receptor Activity via Sumoylation , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01DK070024
  • July 15, 2005 - May 31, 2012 - Structural Analyses of NR5 Orphan Nuclear Receptors , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01DK072246
  • July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2011 - Molecular Mechanisms of Atrazine in Altering the Endocrine Gene Network , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21ES017136
  • August 15, 2000 - July 31, 2006 - STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF NUCLEAR RECEPTORS , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: P01DK058390
  • April 15, 1998 - March 31, 2004 - CELLULAR SIGNALING IN REPRODUCTIVE TRACT DEVELOPMENT , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01HD036233
  • August 1, 1993 - July 31, 2002 - GENE REGULATION IN MAMMALIAN SEX DETERMINATION , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01HD030725
  • July 1, 1997 - June 30, 2002 - GENE EXPRESSION IN MAMMALIAN REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: K02HD001178
  • July 15, 1999 - June 30, 2000 - 30TH GORDON CONFERENCE ON HORMONE ACTION , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R13DK056229
  • July 1, 1993 - June 30, 1997 - MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF PITUITARY DEVELOPMENT , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01DK046048

Holly Ingraham, PhD