University of Florida Holds Fat-Derived Hair Loss Treatment Trial
The idea that modified body fats injected into the scalp could be used to treat genetic hair loss is gathering ever more momentum, with the University of Florida the latest in a growing list of organisations to be trialling it.
In registering their prospective single-site study involving up to eight people the US team say that they like several others will be assessing both how the body reacts to the treatment and whether or not the injection causes new hair to grow.
White Adipose Tissue
Similar trials are already recruiting or underway in Nashville and, as part of Kerastem Technologies’ wide-reaching ‘STYLE’ trial, in up to eight other US cities.
In a nutshell, scientists harvest Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) cells from body fat (adipose) because the regenerative cell populations from adipose tissue are increasingly demonstrating an important role in multiple medical conditions where damaged tissue needs repairing.
The UF team explains that “it has been postulated that SVF cells may promote hair regeneration by increasing the hair-inducing ability of dermal papillae (DP) cells.”
The Florida trial will last six months, with participants made up entirely of people with the genetic hair loss conditions Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Hair Loss. These hereditary conditions are widespread, and though MPB is more common, the Floridian team states in its trial registration that up to 60 per cent of Caucasian women are affected by the time they are in their 70s. And, as they correctly point out, “The presence of alopecia in woman is particularly stressful.”
The injection used in the trial is not intended to treat whole-head hair loss: instead a 2x2 cm square of the scalp where hair loss is evident will be identified, with the density of hair measured six weeks, three months and six months after the injection. The Florida team hope to start their trial in July of this year, with the study to be completed by July 2018.
There is little doubt that these are exciting times in the field of hair loss research.
As well as modified body fat as a possible solution, scientists are also look at everything from extracting growth factors from blood (something known as platelet rich plasma or 'PRP') and re-injecting it into the scalp, to a number of cancer and plaque psoriasis drugs as a potential treatment. Additionally, studies are underway to investigate how stem cell therapy and perhaps less optimistically concentrated garlic can help people with various hair loss conditions.
Many of these new trials aim to treat severe baldness, from autoimmune conditions such as Alopecia Universalis which cannot otherwise be treated successfully. Others aim to improve on the already clinically-proven and only currently MHRA licensed and FDA approved treatments for genetic hair loss.
Despite the many trials currently underway, there are a number of hair loss solutions already established so, in order to get to the root of the problem as quickly as possible, it is advisable to have a consultation with a specialist. They can diagnose your hair loss condition and recommend appropriate treatments, based on their findings, for your immediate consideration.
In registering their prospective single-site study involving up to eight people the US team say that they like several others will be assessing both how the body reacts to the treatment and whether or not the injection causes new hair to grow.
Regenerative cell populations
Similar trials are already recruiting or underway in Nashville and, as part of Kerastem Technologies’ wide-reaching ‘STYLE’ trial, in up to eight other US cities.
In a nutshell, scientists harvest Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) cells from body fat (adipose) because the regenerative cell populations from adipose tissue are increasingly demonstrating an important role in multiple medical conditions where damaged tissue needs repairing.
The UF team explains that “it has been postulated that SVF cells may promote hair regeneration by increasing the hair-inducing ability of dermal papillae (DP) cells.”
The Florida trial will last six months, with participants made up entirely of people with the genetic hair loss conditions Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Hair Loss. These hereditary conditions are widespread, and though MPB is more common, the Floridian team states in its trial registration that up to 60 per cent of Caucasian women are affected by the time they are in their 70s. And, as they correctly point out, “The presence of alopecia in woman is particularly stressful.”
The injection used in the trial is not intended to treat whole-head hair loss: instead a 2x2 cm square of the scalp where hair loss is evident will be identified, with the density of hair measured six weeks, three months and six months after the injection. The Florida team hope to start their trial in July of this year, with the study to be completed by July 2018.
Exiting times in hair loss
There is little doubt that these are exciting times in the field of hair loss research.
As well as modified body fat as a possible solution, scientists are also look at everything from extracting growth factors from blood (something known as platelet rich plasma or 'PRP') and re-injecting it into the scalp, to a number of cancer and plaque psoriasis drugs as a potential treatment. Additionally, studies are underway to investigate how stem cell therapy and perhaps less optimistically concentrated garlic can help people with various hair loss conditions.
Many of these new trials aim to treat severe baldness, from autoimmune conditions such as Alopecia Universalis which cannot otherwise be treated successfully. Others aim to improve on the already clinically-proven and only currently MHRA licensed and FDA approved treatments for genetic hair loss.
Despite the many trials currently underway, there are a number of hair loss solutions already established so, in order to get to the root of the problem as quickly as possible, it is advisable to have a consultation with a specialist. They can diagnose your hair loss condition and recommend appropriate treatments, based on their findings, for your immediate consideration.
The Belgravia Centre
The Belgravia Centre is a world-renowned group of a hair loss clinic in Central London, UK. If you are worried about hair loss you can arrange a free consultation with a hair loss expert or complete our Online Consultation from anywhere in the world for home-use treatment.
View our Hair Loss Success Stories, which includes the world's largest gallery of hair growth photos and demonstrates the level of success that so many of Belgravia's patients achieve.
