HAIR RESEARCH Laboratory

Hair follicles are most apparent to the general population for their primary role of growing hair fiber. Hair loss is a significant cosmetic issue, with many alopecias involving skin and hair follicle inflammation. However, hair follicles do much more than just grow hair. Hair follicles cycle through periods of growth and rest associated with significant skin remodeling. Cutaneous wounds in hair bearing skin activate cell proliferation in adjacent hair follicles and hair follicle derived cells significantly contribute to tissue regeneration. Hair follicles are believed to retain pluripotent epithelial and mesenchymal stem cell populations with recent studies suggesting hair follicle stem cells may be promoted to differentiate into nerve and bone marrow – like cells. The Hair Research Laboratory program is focused on the many diverse roles of the hair follicle in cutaneous disease and tissue regeneration. With a long term historical focus on hair follicle specific inflammatory diseases, current studies encompass tissue remodeling and regeneration and immune privilege in hair follicles. The role of the hair follicle in the skin immune system and cutaneous inflammation has become a key component of our research.

Primary research interests in the Hair Research Laboratory:

1) Hair follicle specific inflammatory diseases including the suspected autoimmune hair loss disease alopecia areata and scarring alopecias.
2) The immune privilege of hair follicles and their putative role as conduits and reservoirs for pathogens.
3) The role of the hair follicle in cutaneous wound healing and tissue regeneration.
4) Hair follicle associated neoplasias particularly basal cell carcinomas.
5) Hair follicle inductive behaviour of hair follicle derived mesenchyme cells.