Robb Hollis PhD

Robb Hollis completed his degree in Biomedical Sciences at Newcastle University (2011-2014), undertaking a summer research studentship and undergraduate research project with the Paediatric Brain Tumour Group at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, for which he received the NICR Research Project Prize. He was then awarded an MRC IGMM Ph.D. Studentship at The University of Edinburgh (2014-2018); his Ph.D. focussed on molecular profiling of ovarian cancer specimens, identifying disease subgroups associated with differential treatment response, and patient survival.

He was awarded an MRC-funded Transition Research Fellowship in September 2018, a Target Ovarian Cancer Translational Award in March 2020 (Co-investigator), and a Tenovus Scotland Pilot Grant in April 2020 (Principal investigator). His work focuses on molecular characterization of ovarian carcinomas to identify patient groups with distinct clinical behavior and sensitivity to specific therapies. Robb holds a position as an Honorary Data Analyst within NHS Lothian and is a member of the Edinburgh Ovarian Cancer Database development group. He has provided analytical support for drug licensing applications that have led to new treatment options becoming available for ovarian cancer patients (first-line olaparib, first-line niraparib), and contributed to the translational analysis of the first positive late-phase clinical trial for low-grade serous ovarian cancer.