Sarah Holt, PhD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center - Seattle, Washington

Dr. Sarah Holt began her collegiate studies at Skidmore College in New York, where she received her BA in Biology and made the Dean’s Honor List. Her work continued at the University of Colorado, Denver, where she received not only honors, but an Epidemiology Traineeship Award in the Department of Health and Human Services. She finished her studies at the University of Washington, Seattle, completing her PhD studies in Molecular Epidemiology. She has worked for such affiliations as the American Public Health Association and the Orthopedic Trauma Association. In addition, she belongs to the Society of Epidemiological Research.

Dr. Holt’s early undergraduate work focused on the study of ovarian cancer. This led her to her postdoctoral work in the genetic epidemiology of prostate cancer. With more than 186,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, she hopes that work in this area may have a huge potential to benefit public health. She is encouraged by the growing knowledge of molecular biology of prostate cancer and the rapidly evolving field of genetic epidemiology, and believes it is the perfect area of research for her to contribute. Dr. Holt is focusing her efforts on discovering genetic predictors of prostate cancer survival and the development of a more personalized approach to treatment.

In addition to her PCF Young Investigator Award, Dr. Holt has received three other grants in the field of cancer research. She has trained in Sustainable Development in Education and Public Health Strategies for the US Peace Corps, as well as several other groups in the last 12 years. Her work in epidemiology, orthopedics and cancer research has appeared in 19 publications, and nine presentations and posters.

Dr. Holt is married with two children. Her family enjoys several outdoor activities, including skiing in the winter, and camping and hiking in the summer. Dr. Holt also participates in marathons and triathlons in the summer without her children, who are not yet old enough to compete. It is clear that competing in marathons is not her only outlet for her ambitiousness. Her work towards prostate cancer research exemplifies the same attitude.