University of California-San Francisco · PharmacologyThe Gut-Brain Nexus Lab
Holly A. Ingraham · San Francisco, California
Research Focus
Dr. Holly A. Ingraham's lab at UCSF focuses on understanding how the brain communicates with organs like the bladder and bones to maintain health, especially as we age. The team investigates neural circuits that influence urinary control and the relationship between the brain and bone health. Additionally, they explore the mechanisms behind abdominal pain related to digestive issues. This research aims to develop new strategies to improve health and quality of life for aging populations, particularly women.
neural circuitsurinary incontinencebone healthhypothalamusvisceral painaginggut-brain axismetabolic disorderssex differences
Research Aims
3AIM 01Identify molecular components of brain circuits that affect bladder and colonic function.
AIM 02Investigate how brain-derived factors influence bone mass and bone fat.
AIM 03Elucidate the mechanisms of visceral pain in gut disorders to find alternative treatments.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelschemogeneticscystometrycell culturein vivo testinggenomic approachesserotonin assaysimmunohistochemistrydata analysis
Output against the department
Publications144bottom 40% of dept.274th of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations16ktop 23% of dept.105th of 462
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.