Rejuvenating aged hair follicle stem cells
Aging and Rejuvenation of Skin Stem Cells
This project tests ways to wake up aged hair follicle stem cells so older adults with thinning hair might regain hair growth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257277 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will use fast genetic tools and viral delivery methods in laboratory models to screen many candidate genes that may reverse the dormant state of aged hair follicle stem cells. They will manipulate gene activity in mice and in cultured skin cells and observe how stem cells and nearby dermal fibroblasts respond. Most experiments are preclinical and designed to speed discovery without waiting years for traditional genetic mouse lines. The goal is to identify specific genes and pathways that could be targeted in future treatments for age-related hair and skin repair problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal future trial candidates would be older adults experiencing age-related hair thinning who are willing to enroll in clinical studies at academic centers.
Not a fit: People whose hair loss is caused by scarring conditions, active autoimmune disease, or recent chemotherapy may not benefit from approaches targeting age-related stem cell dormancy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for therapies that restore hair growth or improve skin regeneration in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies indicate old stem cells can be rejuvenated, but using high-throughput gene screening to find specific rejuvenating genes is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Harvard University — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hsu, Ya-Chieh — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Hsu, Ya-Chieh
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.