Toril Holien

Toril Holien is Professor at the Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her research centers on TGF-β family signaling in multiple myeloma and other cancers, dissecting how ligands such as TGF-β, activins, BMPs and GDFs modulate SMAD-dependent transcription and apoptosis. She leads a vibrant group that welcomes graduate and visiting students, and she has co-authored >50 peer-reviewed papers since 2008.

Research Interests

• Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily signaling in cancer
• Multiple myeloma biology and therapy resistance
• SMAD1/5-mediated apoptosis and c-MYC repression
• Tumor microenvironment, angiogenesis and dissemination
• Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and bone disease in myeloma
• Translational use of photodynamic therapy and extracorporeal photopheresis

Her recent publications reveal a translational trajectory spanning in-vitro mechanistic studies, pre-clinical mouse models and early-phase clinical trials. A dominant theme is the exploitation of BMP/SMAD signaling to overcome myeloma cell survival, alongside biomarker-driven prediction of drug sensitivity.

Scientific Recognition

• Principal Investigator on multiple national and international projects
• Extensive collaboration network evidenced by multi-institutional publications
• Invited reviews in Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews and other high-impact journals

Advising & Grants

• Current PhD students: Md Abu Hanif (Edan), Eli Svorkdal Hess
• Current master’s students: Iben Qiu Yang Brøgger, Fenne Pien Breukink
• Former graduates: Ingrid Quist-Løkken (PhD/MD 2025), Clara Andersson-Rusch (PhD 2024), Oddrun Elise Olsen (PhD 2017 & 2020)
• Hosts Erasmus and visiting trainees annually

Her laboratory is embedded within NTNU’s translational cancer research environment, offering cutting-edge facilities for cell biology, molecular profiling and animal models.