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June 2007


Hair Researchers Gather for World’s Largest Hair Congress


Having a bad hair day?

The world’s leading experts on hair research are convening in Vancouver June 13-16 for the 5th International Congress on Hair Research.

The meeting is expected to be the largest hair research meeting ever held, with clinicians and scientists examining many aspects of hair disease and treatment.

Topics include nutrition and hair growth, hirsutism or excessive hair growth, hair loss in women, chemotherapy induced hair loss, stem cell therapy, hair surgery, as well as stress and hair.

Dr. Jerry Shapiro, clinical professor, UBC Dept. of Dermatology and Skin Science, is conference chair. “We’re bringing well-seasoned researchers and young investigators together to share ideas and help direct the future of hair research.”

Hair loss is not simply a matter of aesthetics but can also influence career advancement and emotional well being, adds Shapiro, who is a member of Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) and clinical research director at the Hair Research Laboratory at the Skin Care Centre at VGH.

Almost 400 investigators from countries including Japan, India, Korea, the U.S. and Australia will be making presentations at the event.

The North American hair loss industry is estimated at $7 billion annually, according to the Canadian Hair Research Foundation. Approximately 50 per cent of Canadian men and women experience hair disorders, says Shapiro.

Vancouver is a hub of international hair research with world leading experts located at VCHRI, VGH site and the Dept. of Dermatology and Skin Science in UBC’s Faculty of Medicine.

Research interests include the role of hair follicles in wound healing, management of hair loss, and the immune properties of hair.

A full congress program is available at www.hair2007.com.

Dr. Jerry Shapiro is a world authority on hair disorders. The author and co-author of numerous publications on hair biology and hair diseases, Shapiro has trained post-doctoral fellows from around the world and regularly offers expert comment to media.

Dr. Kevin McElwee is one of only a few people in the world who holds a doctoral degree in hair biology. An expert in cellular mechanics of hair loss and growth, he directs basic science research at the Hair Research Laboratory, one of six labs at the Skin Care Centre at VGH.

He recently received a 2007 six-year Scholar Award from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, B.C.’s premier funding agency for health research.

McElwee is also a member of VCHRI at the Skin Care Centre at VGH and a faculty member in UBC’s Dept. of Dermatology and Skin Science.