Proteoglycans signaling to hair follicles to drive growth and renewal
Official title: Instructive roles of mesenchymal proteoglycans in hair follicle morphogenesis and maintenance
Funded at State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11421509 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A portion of hair growth may be boosted by how dermal cells’ proteoglycans tell hair follicle cells to grow and renew.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $542,868 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR083543-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421509 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with hair loss conditions or thinning hair who consent to participate in hair biology studies or related clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not directly affected by hair growth disorders may have limited benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project looks at how hair follicles communicate with surrounding dermal cells. It focuses on proteoglycans from dermal papilla cells and their influence on integrin signaling in hair matrix keratinocytes to promote growth. The team will study how proteoglycan production is controlled, how these molecules shape dermal papilla formation, and how they affect hair follicle formation and regeneration. The work uses lab models to uncover molecular signals that could underlie hair growth and maintenance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new ways to support hair growth and prevent hair loss.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that extracellular matrix components can influence hair follicle behavior, suggesting this approach is promising.
Where this research is happening
-
State University New York Stony Brook
Stony Brook, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Jiang — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Chen, Jiang
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.