How skin stem cells and their niche control hair growth and aging
Transcriptional regulation of skin stem cells and their niche
This project looks at how skin stem cells and their surrounding niche affect hair growth and hair thinning as people age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285253 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work focuses on hair follicle stem cells (HF-SCs) in the bulge and follows the hair cycle to understand why stem cells are lost and hair miniaturizes with age. The team uses genetic models (including Foxc1 and Nfatc1 knockouts), tissue and cellular analyses, and tracking of stem cell behavior to map molecular and cellular changes in the niche. They examine processes such as apoptosis and stem cell escape from the bulge to identify mechanisms driving reduced hair production over time. Results are intended to reveal molecular targets that could guide future therapies to protect or restore HF-SCs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults experiencing age-related hair thinning who are interested in future treatments targeting follicle aging would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People with hair loss caused by scarring conditions, active autoimmune alopecia, or recent chemotherapy-induced alopecia may not benefit from findings focused on normal follicle aging.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new ways to prevent or reverse age-related hair thinning by protecting or restoring hair follicle stem cells.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies in mice have altered stem cell pathways to change hair growth, but the specific aging-related mechanisms targeted here remain novel and less tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yi, Rui — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Yi, Rui
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.