Latest news with #StemCellResearch&Therapy
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Hair Regrowth Without Transplant? New Molecular Approach Offers Hope
Mumbai: A team of scientists by mapping the complete molecular network of human hair, have identified several treatment procedures that can potentially eliminate the need for surgery or transplants for restoring hair growth. According to a recent study published in "Stem Cell Research & Therapy" integrating stem cell biology, gene therapy, and molecular signalling can potentially help to treat hair loss conditions like androgenetic alopecia (AGA) without the need of a transplant. The study co-authored by a multidisciplinary team from US and India, involving researchers of QR678, a hair regrowth formulation and The Esthetic Clinics (TEC) , suggest androgenetic alopecia (AGA)—the most common form of hair loss—not as an irreversible condition, but as a breakdown in regenerative signalling that can potentially be reversed.' Under the study, the researchers analysed five key molecular pathways—Wnt/β-catenin, Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP), Notch, and AKT/MAPK—that collectively manage the hair follicle lifecycle. During their analysis, researchers found that in conditions like AGA, the communication between these aforementioned pathways breaks down, particularly with Wnt suppression and BMP overactivation, causing follicles to fall into dormancy. To correct such breakdowns the study outlined that gene-editing tools like CRISPR and stem cell therapies can help to correct misfiring signals, rebuild a supportive microenvironment. As per the researchers some of these treatments have already shown success in lab-grown tissue and animal models, and early clinical trials are expected to begin within the next two years. 'By mapping out the molecular misfires behind hair follicle dormancy, we now have a clearer pathway to develop therapies that don't just slow hair loss—but potentially reverse it by reawakening the body's own regenerative systems,' said Dr Michael Gold, dermatologist and founder of Gold Skin Care Center, USA. 'Hair follicles don't disappear; they go dormant due to disrupted cellular signals. By identifying how these signals fail—and how they can be restored—we move closer to resetting the system at a molecular level. It's a fundamental shift in how hair loss can be understood, and ultimately, reversed,' Dr Debraj Shome, senior author and Director at TEC, added. Scientists involved in the study suggest the global hair loss treatment market, valued around $4 billion (₹34,000 crore) available solutions includes only external therapies–-drugs, and treatment procedures—surgery, transplants. Whereas, the study's findings signal a space for exploring gene- and cell-based molecular therapies—a therapeutic domain that follows a completely different approach with differentiated targeting and treatment mechanisms.
India Today
21-07-2025
- Health
- India Today
Scientists decode molecular secret behind hair loss, regrowth without transplant
Scientists have figured out the molecular system in our body that controls how hair grows. This could lead to new treatments that help people regrow hair naturally, without needing surgery, medicines, or hair in Stem Cell Research & Therapy, the study suggests that the most common type of hair loss (called androgenetic alopecia) isn't permanent. Instead, it's caused by a breakdown in the signals that tell hair to grow, and that process might be team combined years of research to understand what causes hair to stop growing. 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 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 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 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
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Understanding cell signals could change the way hair loss is treated, study finds
A study titled 'Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Hair Follicle Regeneration and Potential Therapeutic Strategies' published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2025) explains how hair loss, especially androgenetic alopecia (AGA), is caused by problems in the body's natural hair growth signals -- not just hormones or ageing. The review focuses on five important biological pathways -- Wnt/β-catenin, Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), BMP, Notch, and AKT/MAPK that help control when hair grows, falls and regrows. Study highlights The study found that in people living with AGA, the signals that help hair grow (like Wnt and Shh) are blocked, while signals that stop growth (like BMP and TGF-β) are more active. This leads to smaller, weaker hair follicles that stop producing hair over time. 'These signals work together like a team,' Debraj Shome, co-founder and director at The Esthetic Clinics and Depti Bellani, senior manager medical affairs and research at QR678 and lead authors of the study explain. 'To fix the problem, we need to focus on all of them -- not just one.' Current treatments like minoxidil (topical solution that works by increasing blood flow to the scalp and extending the hair's growth phase) and finasteride (oral medication that reduces the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that contributes to hair follicle miniaturisation and hair loss) can slow down hair loss or help with some regrowth, but they do not treat the real reason why follicles stop working. The study highlights new types of treatments that are being tested, such as small molecules that can restart growth signals, stem cell therapy and gene editing. Formulations such as QR678, developed by the authors' research team, are also part of this new approach. Shift in hair loss treatment Experts say this could mark a big shift in how hair loss is treated. Instead of just covering up the symptoms, future treatments may be able to restart the hair follicle's natural growth process. However, the study also warns that activating these signals too much, especially Wnt or AKT -- can be risky and must be done carefully. With over 50% of men and 25% of women affected by AGA by the age of 50, the authors say it's time to look at hair loss not just as a cosmetic problem, but as a health issue that can be treated by understanding how the body's regenerative systems work. 'This isn't just about growing hair,' they said. 'It's about waking up the body's natural repair systems and helping hair follicles work the way they're meant to.' The authors also stress the importance of collaboration across medical specialties to move this research forward. Since hair loss is linked to hormonal changes, immune responses, and genetic factors, a combined approach involving dermatologists, endocrinologists, geneticists, and regenerative medicine experts is essential. 'Personalised treatment plans based on each person's biological profile will likely give better results,' the authors note. They add that wider clinical trials, safety studies and shared research efforts will be key to turning these scientific findings into real, effective therapies for patients. Various forms of hair loss and regenerative medicine The study also points out that other forms of hair loss, such as scarring alopecia, autoimmune types like alopecia areata and hair loss caused by chemotherapy are linked to similar problems in the body's regenerative signalling systems. This suggests that the same scientific approach could help treat a wider range of hair loss conditions. The authors say that the hair follicle is more than just a cosmetic structure, it functions like a mini-organ and offers valuable insight into how tissues heal, how the immune system protects certain cells, and how stem cells behave. By studying hair follicles, researchers can also learn more about the body's broader ability to repair itself, making hair loss an important area of focus in regenerative medicine.
Gulf Insider
27-06-2025
- Health
- Gulf Insider
New Stem Cell Therapy Shows 'Promising' Results For Treating Hair Loss In Preclinical Trials
Researchers at the San Carlos Clinical Hospital in Madrid may have targeted a potential solution for hair loss. A recent study analyzed the effect of injecting mice's skin with stem cells from human fat — 'adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs)' — as a means of treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA), more commonly known as male- or female-pattern hair loss. The team found that male mice achieved the best hair regrowth after three weeks when they received low-dose ASCs, combined with an energy-boosting molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Low-dose and high-dose ASC treatments along with ATP led to no hair regrowth improvement in females, but medium-dose ASC plus ATP led to greater regrowth. The researchers concluded that hair regrowth was improved in 'all experimental groups' where male mice received stem cell solutions supplemented with ATP. Researchers at the San Carlos Clinical Hospital in Madrid may have targeted a potential solution for hair loss. (iStock) The findings were published in the journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy. Lead study author Dr. Eduardo López Bran — dermatologist and professor at The Complutense University of Madrid — shared his expectations for the study in an interview with Fox News Digital. 'We expected good results, but not such a high level of success,' he said. 'We're talking about a very high degree of hair regrowth in both male and female mice.' With appropriate doses, the researchers achieved 'very high percentages' of hair regrowth, noting that 100% of the male mice and up to 90% of the female mice regrew hair. With appropriate doses, the researchers achieved 'very high percentages' of hair regrowth, noting that 100% of the male mice and up to 90% of the female mice regrew hair. (Actual mice from the study not pictured.) (iStock) 'These results demonstrate that advanced therapies may represent a new therapeutic approach for many diseases for which no effective treatments are currently available,' Bran went on. 'Achieving such promising results in the preclinical phase with a completely novel approach to androgenetic alopecia — one that avoids chronic treatment and is also safe — is a significant scientific milestone.' 'We're talking about a very high degree of hair regrowth in both male and female mice.' The main limitation of the study was the thinness of mouse skin, Bran noted, which 'posed a challenge in administering the therapy.' 'This required the development of protocols to minimize experimental variability, and will be a key factor when studies in humans begin,' he said. 'Research advances are pointing toward possible solutions that, in the future, may offer long-lasting results without the need for continuous treatment to maintain benefits.' (iStock) These new findings should be 'interpreted with caution and scientific rigor,' Bran cautioned. 'Although the results in mice represent significant progress, it is also true that it is essential to wait for clinical benefits in humans to be confirmed.' The researcher encouraged those with androgenetic alopecia to continue consulting with their dermatologists and to follow prescribed treatments as research develops. 'It is important to remain hopeful. Research advances are pointing toward possible solutions that, in the future, may offer long-lasting results without the need for continuous treatment to maintain benefits,' Bran added. 'This study is small, and more research is needed on this method as a potential treatment option.' Looking ahead to human clinical trials, researchers are 'actively working' on confirming safety for men and women between 18 and 50 years old with moderate androgenetic alopecia, the researcher noted. 'If everything progresses as expected, the most optimistic timeline points to the treatment becoming available in approximately five years,' he said. Looking ahead to human clinical trials, researchers are 'actively working' on confirming safety for men and women between 18 and 50 years old with moderate androgenetic alopecia. (iStock) In a separate interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Brendan Camp, M.D., a New York-based dermatologist who was not involved in the study, commented on the potential for this method. 'While not commercially available, this study suggests that injection of stem cells supplemented with ATP into scalp skin could potentially encourage hair regrowth in individuals with androgenetic alopecia,' he reiterated.
