- Reaction score
- 2,634
Well guys, I made it to Miami! This thread will now be dedicated to all news and discussions about the congress itself.
First pic of unofficial congress papers (printed them at work in advance to go over everything in the plane)
Here's a glimpse of my view from my hotel:
It's beautiful weather here, much better than it was in Canada anyway, lol. It's 2:30pm right now, and I'll be leaving to check out the area, walk to the Congress locale just to see how long it takes me to get there as well as scope a good spot to conduct interviews with researchers.
Again, thanks everyone for all the help, questions submitted, donations, support and kind words.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's my itinerary for the presentations I'll be attending:
November 18 (Wednesday)
1pm - 4:30pm
Presenters Hang their Posters - Not sure if poster presenters will be available for a chat
5:00pm - 5:25pm
Opening Ceremony w/ Christiano, Bergfeld & Hordinsky (Co-Chairs)
November 19 (Thursday)
7:30am - 8:45am
Posters with Researchers (Even Numbers)
7:30am - 9:00pm
Poster Viewing (Find out when poster presenters will be on site)
11:30am - 11:32
Moderator Introductions - Maria Hordinsky
11:32am - 11:44am
Targeting Immune Cells in AA - Angela Christiano
2:32 - 2:56
B-Catening Signaling marks self renewing stem cells in multiple epithelial tissues - Sara Millar
2:56 - 3:16
Regeneration of Skin Appendages - Cheng Ming Chuong <-- May need to duck early from this to meet with Replicel
3:15pm - 3:45pm
Replicel Interview
3:45pm - 3:57pm
Inducing Hair Follicle Organogenesis with Defined Protein Factors - Sung-Jan Lin <-- I may miss the beginning of this, might still be with Replicel
4:15pm
Interview with Dr. Ken Washenik from Kerastem (same doctor from Aderans)
November 20 (Friday)
7:30am - 8:45am
Posters with Researchers (Odd Numbers)
9:30 - 11:00am
Hormones, Hair Growth and Pattern Hair Loss. Viewing everything.
11:30 - 1:00pm
Stem Cells and Stem Cell niches. Viewing everything.
2:30 - 4pm
Emerging Technologies and Therapies. Viewing everything. (Ken Washenik, Tsuji, Beren Atac, etc.)
November 21 (Saturday)
8:00 - 9:00am
Coffee With Experts - Asking Questions All Around
Versailles; Ken Washenik, Wilma Bergfeld, Cotsarelis, Jahoda, Christiano
9:15am - TBD
Q&A Meeting with Dr. Gail Naughton from Histogen
11:30 - 1pm
Clinical Trials Presentations. Viewing Everything (Replicel, Histogen and Samumed)
1pm - 2:30pm
New Topics Presenations. Viewing Everything (Kevin McElwee included)
Time TBD (likely after 2:30pm)
Dr. Beren Atac and Dr. Gerd Lindner, members of Dr. Lauster's team.
I'll try to get in touch with Dr. Wilma Bergfeld to talk about Samumed, Dr. Cotsarelis to talk about Follica and Ken Washenik to talk about Kerastem.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post your questions!
Last year we collected questions from forum members and had Desmond84 ask the researchers. Please state your question and to whom the question is for. I'll need these by Nov. 16th at the latest so I can make a print out and have on hand. I won't have access to a printer after that. I'll be updating this thread with a complete list of questions for the researchers. I'll start:
Dr. Beren Atac / Dr. Gerd Lindner:
- There has been rumour that your team was searching for funding for clinical trials. Can you comment on this and are there still plans for clinical trials for the creation of hair follicles for the treatment of Androgenic Alopecia?
- Can the dermal papilla's created in the lab have a chance to grow fully terminal hairs if injected/implanted into the scalp? Are CD200, CD34, PGE2 etc. taken into account when tested in the lab?
- Could the multiplied cells in the lab turn into full terminal hair growing follicles if injected into the scalp or do the cells need to turn into follicles in the lab first?
- We've read that currently you are able to only generate microfollicles. Have 'full sized' follicles been attempted or successfully been created? If not, what do you think could be the missing link?
- If your work goes into clinical trials, would you consider running trials in Japan with regards to their new regulations for stem cell based trials?
Dr. George Cotsarelis:
- How do you plan on using FGF-9 with Follica's method?
- Would Follicept's vehicle allow you to bypass injections of FGF-9?
- Does the introduction of FGF-9 require Follica to start the trials all over again?
- Does FGF-9 on it's own create follicles or are the growth factors from wounding or other agents still necessary for follicle formation?
- Has the FGF-9 method been tried in humans?
- Has Follica been able to grow thick terminal hair in human scalp clinical trials?
- How do you feel about the 21st Century Act and will it benefit the release of Follica's treatment or Kythera's setipiprant?
- What levels of PGD2 are present in early Androgenetic Alopecia vs. late Androgenetic Alopecia?
- Setipiprant was used with VERY high amounts (up to 1000mg) for use against Asthma. Will it be this much for Androgenetic Alopecia? How much will be used?
- Would a topical formula be more effective or does Setipiprant have to be taken orally?
Dr. Angela Christiano:
- Dr. Claire Higgins recently mentioned that the dermal papilla has to be put into the dermas to work and there are some rollers with spikes being developed to do that. Can you comment on this?
- New York Times posted an article about you starting a company called Rapunzel. Can you tell us more about it?
- Are there any similarities in FPB to male pattern baldness? As in, elevated levels of PGD2 or something else?
- Can you comment about your findings with 3D Dermal Papilla cells you were using in mice for human hair? Could this have any bearing with Rapunzel?
Dr. Wilma Bergfeld:
- Can you tell us more about Samumed's phase 2B trial and why it was needed?
- Are you aware of the 21st century act and do you feel it will benefit Samumed in a faster release? Other thoughts?
Dr. Gail Naughton:
- How far are you in clinical trials for Histogen's HSC complex?
- Does HSC have any relation to hypoxia?
- Other than capital/money, what in your view is the biggest obstacle in getting your HSC treatment to the market? There has been speculation that there are problems with controlling cell treatments to create "good" cells vs. "bad" cells.
- What do you say to people who say that even hair that is regrown through HSC will still be susceptible to DHT/PGD2 production?
- Have you seen any correlation or is there any reason to believe that this treatment is more effective on younger patients than older patients? Or vice versa?
- We know that CD34 and CD200 progenitor cells are lacking greatly and may be the missing link for proper terminal hair growth. Does HSC increase the count of these cells? If so, could a constant upregulation of these cells in thinning/bald areas bring back follicles to their full size?
- Is there a rough estimate of how much the procedure will cost per injection?
- Can patients chose how often they receive injections?
- When will HSC be available to consumers?
- What exactly is HSC made of? Some people are using general terms like 'growth factors' but... what are they?
- When Histogen does become available, where will it be available?
- Could a treatment from Replicel (DSC cell injections) benefit from Histogen (ie; finasteride supplemented by minoxidil gives great synergy)
Dr. Rolf Hoffmann:
- A recent article claimed shisheido will release a cure in 2018, can you comment on this? Furthermore the article states: "First medical staff will take some cells to reprogram as induced pluripotent stem cells, the scientific breakthrough that won Shinya Yamanaka the Nobel Prize and a fancy new washing machine back in 2012. At the moment it seems fibroblasts are the go-to ones for the job. These can be found in joints and scar tissue. That sounds a wee bit painful but there is already research into alternative methods such as getting them from urine.Then doctors will remove a piece of your scalp a few millimeters in diameter and just as deep as your roots. This will yield a small sample of the cells which trigger hair growth." Is this the method bring pursued by shiehido? Or is it just the replicel technology?
- What is the status of Replicel's clinical trials?
- When will trials start?
- What is the status of Shiseido's clinical trials using Replicel's technology?
- Any details on the Shiseido trials (sample size, repeat injections, dosage, etc).
- I recall Mr. Hall during his interview with Spencer from Bald Truth Talk stating that Phase II would be dosing down. Was this a poor choice of words, or are they using a lower dosage (cells/injection)? My assumption is that the cells are losing their inductive properties, in which case fewer (more potent) may be better
- In their original study with mice (pg 1269) they found injecting the cell associated with wounding yielded superior results. Have they considered wounding with humans
- Has Shiseido enhanced or modified the procedure to their knowledge? I believe the use of iPS cells was a mistranslation but otherwise
Dr. Ken Washenik
- Can you tell us how Kerastem works?
- How far into the clinical trials is Kerastem?
- When will Kerastem be available for patients?
- The website lists several global locations. Where will the procedure be done?
- Some of our readers believe that the layer of fat tissue in thinning scalp is too low in quantity. Does Kerastem increase the fat count? Bald areas seem to have very thin scalp/skin.
- How often would injections need to be done to maintain hair?
- There have been other clinics offering treatments similar to Kerastem, ones with ADSC as well as Prostemics which offers AAPE. How does Kerastem's product differ?
- What will the dosage be per injection? How much of the fat will be used?
- Will the injections be used in a solution like saline?
General Questions For Everyone:
- Will treatments for men also benefit women diagnosed with Androgenetic Alopecia?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First pic of unofficial congress papers (printed them at work in advance to go over everything in the plane)
Here's a glimpse of my view from my hotel:
It's beautiful weather here, much better than it was in Canada anyway, lol. It's 2:30pm right now, and I'll be leaving to check out the area, walk to the Congress locale just to see how long it takes me to get there as well as scope a good spot to conduct interviews with researchers.
Again, thanks everyone for all the help, questions submitted, donations, support and kind words.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's my itinerary for the presentations I'll be attending:
November 18 (Wednesday)
1pm - 4:30pm
Presenters Hang their Posters - Not sure if poster presenters will be available for a chat
5:00pm - 5:25pm
Opening Ceremony w/ Christiano, Bergfeld & Hordinsky (Co-Chairs)
November 19 (Thursday)
7:30am - 8:45am
Posters with Researchers (Even Numbers)
7:30am - 9:00pm
Poster Viewing (Find out when poster presenters will be on site)
11:30am - 11:32
Moderator Introductions - Maria Hordinsky
11:32am - 11:44am
Targeting Immune Cells in AA - Angela Christiano
2:32 - 2:56
B-Catening Signaling marks self renewing stem cells in multiple epithelial tissues - Sara Millar
2:56 - 3:16
Regeneration of Skin Appendages - Cheng Ming Chuong <-- May need to duck early from this to meet with Replicel
3:15pm - 3:45pm
Replicel Interview
3:45pm - 3:57pm
Inducing Hair Follicle Organogenesis with Defined Protein Factors - Sung-Jan Lin <-- I may miss the beginning of this, might still be with Replicel
4:15pm
Interview with Dr. Ken Washenik from Kerastem (same doctor from Aderans)
November 20 (Friday)
7:30am - 8:45am
Posters with Researchers (Odd Numbers)
9:30 - 11:00am
Hormones, Hair Growth and Pattern Hair Loss. Viewing everything.
11:30 - 1:00pm
Stem Cells and Stem Cell niches. Viewing everything.
2:30 - 4pm
Emerging Technologies and Therapies. Viewing everything. (Ken Washenik, Tsuji, Beren Atac, etc.)
November 21 (Saturday)
8:00 - 9:00am
Coffee With Experts - Asking Questions All Around
Versailles; Ken Washenik, Wilma Bergfeld, Cotsarelis, Jahoda, Christiano
9:15am - TBD
Q&A Meeting with Dr. Gail Naughton from Histogen
11:30 - 1pm
Clinical Trials Presentations. Viewing Everything (Replicel, Histogen and Samumed)
1pm - 2:30pm
New Topics Presenations. Viewing Everything (Kevin McElwee included)
Time TBD (likely after 2:30pm)
Dr. Beren Atac and Dr. Gerd Lindner, members of Dr. Lauster's team.
I'll try to get in touch with Dr. Wilma Bergfeld to talk about Samumed, Dr. Cotsarelis to talk about Follica and Ken Washenik to talk about Kerastem.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post your questions!
Last year we collected questions from forum members and had Desmond84 ask the researchers. Please state your question and to whom the question is for. I'll need these by Nov. 16th at the latest so I can make a print out and have on hand. I won't have access to a printer after that. I'll be updating this thread with a complete list of questions for the researchers. I'll start:
Dr. Beren Atac / Dr. Gerd Lindner:
- There has been rumour that your team was searching for funding for clinical trials. Can you comment on this and are there still plans for clinical trials for the creation of hair follicles for the treatment of Androgenic Alopecia?
- Can the dermal papilla's created in the lab have a chance to grow fully terminal hairs if injected/implanted into the scalp? Are CD200, CD34, PGE2 etc. taken into account when tested in the lab?
- Could the multiplied cells in the lab turn into full terminal hair growing follicles if injected into the scalp or do the cells need to turn into follicles in the lab first?
- We've read that currently you are able to only generate microfollicles. Have 'full sized' follicles been attempted or successfully been created? If not, what do you think could be the missing link?
- If your work goes into clinical trials, would you consider running trials in Japan with regards to their new regulations for stem cell based trials?
Dr. George Cotsarelis:
- How do you plan on using FGF-9 with Follica's method?
- Would Follicept's vehicle allow you to bypass injections of FGF-9?
- Does the introduction of FGF-9 require Follica to start the trials all over again?
- Does FGF-9 on it's own create follicles or are the growth factors from wounding or other agents still necessary for follicle formation?
- Has the FGF-9 method been tried in humans?
- Has Follica been able to grow thick terminal hair in human scalp clinical trials?
- How do you feel about the 21st Century Act and will it benefit the release of Follica's treatment or Kythera's setipiprant?
- What levels of PGD2 are present in early Androgenetic Alopecia vs. late Androgenetic Alopecia?
- Setipiprant was used with VERY high amounts (up to 1000mg) for use against Asthma. Will it be this much for Androgenetic Alopecia? How much will be used?
- Would a topical formula be more effective or does Setipiprant have to be taken orally?
Dr. Angela Christiano:
- Dr. Claire Higgins recently mentioned that the dermal papilla has to be put into the dermas to work and there are some rollers with spikes being developed to do that. Can you comment on this?
- New York Times posted an article about you starting a company called Rapunzel. Can you tell us more about it?
- Are there any similarities in FPB to male pattern baldness? As in, elevated levels of PGD2 or something else?
- Can you comment about your findings with 3D Dermal Papilla cells you were using in mice for human hair? Could this have any bearing with Rapunzel?
Dr. Wilma Bergfeld:
- Can you tell us more about Samumed's phase 2B trial and why it was needed?
- Are you aware of the 21st century act and do you feel it will benefit Samumed in a faster release? Other thoughts?
Dr. Gail Naughton:
- How far are you in clinical trials for Histogen's HSC complex?
- Does HSC have any relation to hypoxia?
- Other than capital/money, what in your view is the biggest obstacle in getting your HSC treatment to the market? There has been speculation that there are problems with controlling cell treatments to create "good" cells vs. "bad" cells.
- What do you say to people who say that even hair that is regrown through HSC will still be susceptible to DHT/PGD2 production?
- Have you seen any correlation or is there any reason to believe that this treatment is more effective on younger patients than older patients? Or vice versa?
- We know that CD34 and CD200 progenitor cells are lacking greatly and may be the missing link for proper terminal hair growth. Does HSC increase the count of these cells? If so, could a constant upregulation of these cells in thinning/bald areas bring back follicles to their full size?
- Is there a rough estimate of how much the procedure will cost per injection?
- Can patients chose how often they receive injections?
- When will HSC be available to consumers?
- What exactly is HSC made of? Some people are using general terms like 'growth factors' but... what are they?
- When Histogen does become available, where will it be available?
- Could a treatment from Replicel (DSC cell injections) benefit from Histogen (ie; finasteride supplemented by minoxidil gives great synergy)
Dr. Rolf Hoffmann:
- A recent article claimed shisheido will release a cure in 2018, can you comment on this? Furthermore the article states: "First medical staff will take some cells to reprogram as induced pluripotent stem cells, the scientific breakthrough that won Shinya Yamanaka the Nobel Prize and a fancy new washing machine back in 2012. At the moment it seems fibroblasts are the go-to ones for the job. These can be found in joints and scar tissue. That sounds a wee bit painful but there is already research into alternative methods such as getting them from urine.Then doctors will remove a piece of your scalp a few millimeters in diameter and just as deep as your roots. This will yield a small sample of the cells which trigger hair growth." Is this the method bring pursued by shiehido? Or is it just the replicel technology?
- What is the status of Replicel's clinical trials?
- When will trials start?
- What is the status of Shiseido's clinical trials using Replicel's technology?
- Any details on the Shiseido trials (sample size, repeat injections, dosage, etc).
- I recall Mr. Hall during his interview with Spencer from Bald Truth Talk stating that Phase II would be dosing down. Was this a poor choice of words, or are they using a lower dosage (cells/injection)? My assumption is that the cells are losing their inductive properties, in which case fewer (more potent) may be better
- In their original study with mice (pg 1269) they found injecting the cell associated with wounding yielded superior results. Have they considered wounding with humans
- Has Shiseido enhanced or modified the procedure to their knowledge? I believe the use of iPS cells was a mistranslation but otherwise
Dr. Ken Washenik
- Can you tell us how Kerastem works?
- How far into the clinical trials is Kerastem?
- When will Kerastem be available for patients?
- The website lists several global locations. Where will the procedure be done?
- Some of our readers believe that the layer of fat tissue in thinning scalp is too low in quantity. Does Kerastem increase the fat count? Bald areas seem to have very thin scalp/skin.
- How often would injections need to be done to maintain hair?
- There have been other clinics offering treatments similar to Kerastem, ones with ADSC as well as Prostemics which offers AAPE. How does Kerastem's product differ?
- What will the dosage be per injection? How much of the fat will be used?
- Will the injections be used in a solution like saline?
General Questions For Everyone:
- Will treatments for men also benefit women diagnosed with Androgenetic Alopecia?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------