Julie Hollien

Julie Hollien is a Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Utah, leading research on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress mechanisms and their implications in neurodegenerative diseases. Her work bridges molecular cell biology with disease pathology, focusing on protein homeostasis pathways critical in conditions like Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's.

Her academic background includes:

• B.A. from Reed College
• Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Hollien's research program investigates the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) and Regulated Ire1-Dependent Decay (RIDD), revealing how mRNA decay pathways regulate lysosome positioning and protein aggregate clearance. Her lab demonstrated that RIDD-mediated degradation of Blos1 mRNA triggers perinuclear lysosome clustering, enhancing clearance of disease-associated aggregates like mutant Huntingtin. This work establishes critical links between ER stress, RNA regulation, and neurodegeneration using Drosophila and mammalian models.

Analysis of her publication trends shows sustained focus on ER stress adaptation mechanisms, with recent work expanding into therapeutic implications for neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders. Her articles consistently explore intersections between RNA biology, organelle dynamics, and disease pathogenesis, demonstrating translational relevance from fundamental mechanisms to disease models.

She directs an active research laboratory at the University of Utah that employs molecular, cellular, and genetic approaches to dissect stress response pathways. Her team investigates how RNA decay mechanisms influence cellular physiology during proteotoxic stress, with ongoing work exploring therapeutic modulation of these pathways for neurodegenerative conditions.