HAIR RESEARCH Laboratory

The hair research laboratory is active in the study of many aspects of hair biology. We study the essential development and cycling of hair follicles, how hair follicles become damaged in hair disease and disorder development, and how to treat hair disorders.

We also conduct related skin cancer research. We study cancers directly derived from hair follicles and skin cancers that use similar gene pathways to grow as those seen in hair follicles.

Currently, the hair research laboratory is actively working on:

• Inflammatory hair loss diseases (alopecia areata, scarring alopecias).
• Hormone-related hair loss (male pattern baldness).
• Hair follicle growth and cycling and changes that occur with hair loss.
• The role of the hair follicle in cutaneous wound healing and tissue regeneration.
• The inductive behavior of hair follicle derived cells (follicular neogenesis).
• Growth signaling mechanisms of basal cell carcinomas.

HAIR RESEARCH Laboratory contact address

Kevin J. McElwee Ph.D.
University of British Columbia
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
828 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver B.C. V5Z 1L8 Canada
Email: kmcelwee (at) interchange.ubc.ca
Fax: 604 875 4376