Fiona Hollis

Fiona Hollis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. Her research focuses on the role of brain metabolism and mitochondrial function in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, using rodent and human models to investigate behavioral, cellular, and molecular mechanisms.

• Ph.D., Florida State University College of Medicine
• Postdoctoral Training, Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Switzerland & Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, UNIL, Switzerland

Dr. Hollis's research centers on understanding how mitochondrial dynamics in the brain influence behavior, particularly in the context of social dominance, anxiety, depression, and autism spectrum disorders. She explores how environmental factors such as stress, nutrition, and enrichment can induce 'neural metabolic programming' during development. Her work integrates behavioral assays, high-resolution respirometry, pharmacology, and molecular biology to uncover the links between mitochondrial networks, synaptic function, and behavior.

Her recent publications reveal a strong trend in the intersection of metabolism and mental health, particularly highlighting mitochondrial function in the nucleus accumbens as a key modulator of social behavior and anxiety. She investigates how metabolic interventions (e.g., medium-chain triglycerides) and stress exposure alter brain function and behavioral outcomes, contributing to the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry.

Scientific Awards:

• Featured on F1000Prime as exceptional breaking research (Hollis et al., PNAS 2015)

Dr. Hollis leads an active research laboratory at the University of South Carolina, where she mentors students and collaborates on interdisciplinary projects exploring the metabolic underpinnings of psychiatric diseases. Although specific grant details are not listed, her extensive publication record and research scope suggest active funding. She has collaborated with leading scientists in Switzerland, including Carmen Sandi, and continues to publish in top-tier journals. Her lab is based in Building 1, Rooms D14 (lab) and D15 (office), and she is accessible via email at Fiona.Hollis@uscmed.sc.edu.

The lab environment emphasizes mechanistic studies of mitochondrial-behavior interactions, with a focus on translational relevance to human neuropsychiatric conditions. Future work likely includes expanding human cell-based models, exploring sex-specific effects (e.g., postpartum period), and identifying metabolic biomarkers for mental health disorders.