Understanding Hair Follicle Stem Cells for Hair Regrowth

Hair Follicle Dermal Stem Cell Functions and Potential

NIH-funded research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11124899

This work explores how special stem cells in your skin help hair follicles grow and regenerate.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11124899 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Our hair goes through cycles of growth, rest, and shedding, which is a great way to learn about how adult stem cells work. During the shedding phase, most hair cells die, but a group of important cells called dermal papilla cells survive and move to where stem cells are located. We recently found a new type of stem cell, called hair follicle dermal stem cells (hfDSCs), that can help regrow the hair follicle and contribute to the dermal papilla. This project aims to directly study these hfDSCs to understand their role in hair regrowth and how they contribute to the hair cycle.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to understand biological processes relevant to individuals with various forms of hair loss.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment for hair loss will not directly benefit from this basic science project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new ways to stimulate hair regrowth for people experiencing hair loss.

How similar studies have performed: The discovery of hfDSCs is relatively new, and this project aims to provide the first direct functional studies of these potent cells.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.