Scientists decode molecular secret behind hair loss, regrowth without transplant
They found five key systems in the body that manage the hair growth cycle. In people with hair loss, these systems stop talking to each other properly, causing hair follicles to "go to sleep."To fix this, the scientists suggest using certain treatments to wake the hair follicles up again. This could include boosting helpful signals, blocking harmful ones, using tools to fix faulty genes, or even using stem cells to support hair growth.Human trials could begin within the next two years, as early lab tests on animals have shown positive results.'This changes everything,' said Dr. Debraj Shome, Department of Facial Plastic Surgery and Facial Cosmetic Surgery, The Esthetic Clinics, one of the lead researchers of the paper. 'Hair follicles don't die, they just go silent. And now we know how to make them active again.'Today, most treatments for hair loss only slow it down or cover it up. But this new research aims to tackle the root cause and help people grow their own hair back.Dr. Depti Bellani, one of the lead authors of the paper, added: 'We're not just trying to stop hair loss anymore—we're trying to restart growth.'If the upcoming tests go well, hair restoration in the future could rely not on cosmetics but on the body's own ability to grow hair."In the future, hair regrowth treatments are likely to become more personalized. Doctors may use a person's genetic information and specific body markers to design treatments that match the exact cause of their hair loss. New medicines, including some small molecules like valproic acid and CHIR99021, will aim to target the key signals that control hair growth—making treatments safer and more effective," the paper read.Gene editing tools like CRISPR could help fix genetic problems that lead to hair loss. And in more severe cases, combining stem cell therapies with tissue engineering may help rebuild or regrow hair follicles from scratch.- EndsMust Watch
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Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
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Time of India
5 days ago
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Hair Regrowth Without Transplant? New Molecular Approach Offers Hope
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Business Standard
6 days ago
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Researchers map hair growth pathways for non-surgical hair restoration
Mumbai-based The Esthetic Clinics (TEC), in collaboration with QR678 Research, have co-authored a research paper that maps the complete molecular network governing human hair growth—potentially offering the clearest path yet to hair restoration without the need for surgery, medication, or transplantation. Shome added that the global hair transplant market is currently valued at $15.22 billion and is projected to reach $23.32 billion by 2030. Published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy, the paper was developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from India and the United States. It redefines androgenetic alopecia (AGA)—the most common form of hair loss. Significantly, the study is among the first to integrate stem cell biology, gene therapy, and molecular signalling into a unified therapeutic approach for treating AGA. 'For decades, we have treated hair loss as a cosmetic issue. This paper consolidates what we now understand about the biological breakdown behind it—and reframes baldness as a malfunction of the body's regenerative system,' said Debraj Shome, senior author and Director at TEC. The paper focuses on five main molecular pathways—Wnt/β-catenin, Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP), Notch, and AKT/MAPK—that work together to control the hair follicle's growth cycle. In cases of AGA, this communication system breaks down—especially due to reduced Wnt activity and increased BMP signals—causing hair follicles to become inactive or dormant. The research proposes several therapeutic strategies to biologically 'reset' hair follicles, such as using stem cell therapies to restore a healthy follicle environment, among other approaches. The Esthetic Clinics noted that some of these approaches have shown results in lab-grown tissues and animal models, with early-stage clinical trials expected to begin within the next two years.
