Jeff Holst

Professor Jeff Holst is a prominent cancer researcher at the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), specializing in cancer metabolism and translational oncology. He holds a Professorship in the School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, and serves as Director of Engagement and Director of the Adult Cancer Program. His research focuses on metabolic pathways in cancers such as melanoma, glioblastoma, breast, and prostate cancer, with an emphasis on amino acid metabolism and therapeutic development.

Research Interests: Dr. Holst explores cancer cell metabolism, particularly amino acid uptake and metabolism, and their role in tumor growth. His lab develops novel methods like 3D explant models for metabolomics and therapeutic screening. Recent work includes targeting glutamine addiction in triple-negative breast cancer and anti-androgen resistance in prostate cancer.

Grants & Funding: He leads major grants including NHMRC Ideas Grants, Tour de Cure Senior Research Grants, and Cancer Council NSW Project Grants. Notable projects include personalized therapy for triple-negative breast cancer, immunotherapy development for glioblastoma, and ex vivo clinical trial platforms for breast cancer.

Teaching & Engagement: He teaches pharmacology courses (PHAR3251, PHAR3111) at UNSW, focusing on cancer therapeutics. His engagement roles include Strategic Advisory Committee membership in the UNSW Cancer Theme, emphasizing translational research and clinical impact.

Labs & Teams: The Translational Cancer Metabolism Laboratory develops therapeutics targeting metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer. Collaborative projects involve partnerships with institutions like the Charlie Teo Foundation and Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.