Crowdfunding for Dr. Xu

[hellouser]

Indiegogo is definitely the next best thing after kickstarter in terms of the size of the user base. Infact, the Ubuntu phone on IGG is the most crowdfunded project of all time, I think. There probably is a way for us to use kickstarter, it's just that we'd need the doctor himself to be fully involved.

If not, indiegogo also has the 'flexible funding' option, which would be good. That means that even if we don't make the goal amount of money, we still get everything that's been donated so far, which kickstarter don't offer afaik.

But that raises the question:

If we don't hit the mark, what happens to all the money? Who gets it? Do we hold on to it?

[HairBane]

But that raises the question:

If we don't hit the mark, what happens to all the money? Who gets it? Do we hold on to it?

Why wouldn't we just provide it to UPenn regardless of how much is raised? Anything they can get would be beneficial to speeding things up.

[hellouser]

Why wouldn't we just provide it to UPenn regardless of how much is raised? Anything they can get would be beneficial to speeding things up.

FDA.

They're going to be an enormous roadblock. Not worth the effort unless you want to wait decades.

[HairBane]

FDA.

They're going to be an enormous roadblock. Not worth the effort unless you want to wait decades.

I just mean whoever we're crowdfunding for initially would of course get whatever money was raised even if we didn't make the goal. Well there are plenty of organisations out there working on a cure for hairloss that aren't going to be impeded by the FDA, UPenn just seem like they're the most advanced given they're follica discovery and recent epithelial cell breakthrough. I still think it would be best to wait for some results in the chinese studies and see if they really have improved on Jahoda's DP culturing, then maybe it would be better to help fund the best of those studies through Asian trials very quickly.

[hellouser]

I just mean whoever we're crowdfunding for initially would of course get whatever money was raised even if we didn't make the goal. Well there are plenty of organisations out there working on a cure for hairloss that aren't going to be impeded by the FDA, UPenn just seem like they're the most advanced given they're follica discovery and recent epithelial cell breakthrough. I still think it would be best to wait for some results in the chinese studies and see if they really have improved on Jahoda's DP culturing, then maybe it would be better to help fund the best of those studies through Asian trials very quickly.

I said the same thing actually on *** in regards to this, that we may be jumping the gun. Sure we can get organized and do most of the grunt work now but we still don't have a clear answer if it worked on human scalp and what not. Plus, WHICH team do we fund that isn't bogged down by the FDA's horseshit?

Things need to move FAST... we're not getting any more hairy...

[huawei]

Utilize stretch goals? In doing so the question of "what happens to the money if we fall short" is answered.

It seems as if the number proposed culminates in the occurrence of some rather ground breaking research. That could be the final goal with all other stretch goals leading up to it.

[hellouser]

Utilize stretch goals? In doing so the question of "what happens to the money if we fall short" is answered.

It seems as if the number proposed culminates in the occurrence of some rather ground breaking research. That could be the final goal with all other stretch goals leading up to it.

But if they can already grow brand new follicles at will using DP and epithelial cells, theres really no other ground breaking research to be made. Its game over... all that needs to be done is to get the research into clinical trials as fast as possible.

[deuce]

How long do clinical trials normally take? Hopefully I can enjoy some hair in my 30s. My mid to late 20s really sucked. FUCCCKKK

[hellouser]

How long do clinical trials normally take? Hopefully I can enjoy some hair in my 30s. My mid to late 20s really sucked. FUCCCKKK

Depends where. Typically a year or so per phase but things ALWAYS get dragged on without valid reason. I would NOT want to sponsor an organization that would be as incompetent with timing as Aderans or Histogen.

[Sogeking]

But if they can already grow brand new follicles at will using DP and epithelial cells, theres really no other ground breaking research to be made. Its game over... all that needs to be done is to get the research into clinical trials as fast as possible.

As I understand the mail form Dr. Xu the problem is that they need to multiply the DP cells. Currently it would be similar as HT, you would extract DP cells from behind and then grow them in 3D with epithelial cells and then use them wherever, but you still have a finite number of DP cells.

Anyways I agree that whatever we collect should go to someone regardless of the amount.
And I think Dr. Xu is really far along. I don't think we will be able to collect 4 mil, but still we need to start financing research ourselves. Why?


Well given the current economic situation (a lot of countries in debt with low GDP) and political (Chinas neverending eyeing of neighbouring countries, Russias conquest of Crimea) a lot of countries will change their GDPs accordingly in favor of military and energetics spending( EU in order to get gas from other sources). The funding for research like hair loss will get cut. So thats why we need to swoop in.

[nameless]

But if they can already grow brand new follicles at will using DP and epithelial cells, theres really no other ground breaking research to be made. Its game over... all that needs to be done is to get the research into clinical trials as fast as possible.

If they can grow functional perfect follicles that are the exact same as the terminal follicles in your scalp already,and if simply injecting those follicles into the scalp will result in the follicle securing all of the necessary attachments necessary to thrive then I would think that would mean "game over" as you suggest.

But I don't think that anyone has said that they can do that yet. That may change at the 2014 Hair Loss Congress but whether or not that is the case remains to be seen. Check out this recent statement by Jahoda in which he states that to this date nobody has been able to make perfect follicles:

http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/research/hair-cloning-researchers-outline-hurdles-towards-hair-loss-therapy/

[Arashi]

If they can grow functional perfect follicles that are the exact same as the terminal follicles in your scalp already,and if simply injecting those follicles into the scalp will result in the follicle securing all of the necessary attachments necessary to thrive then I would think that would mean "game over" as you suggest.

But I don't think that anyone has said that they can do that yet. That may change at the 2014 Hair Loss Congress but whether or not that is the case remains to be seen. Check out this recent statement by Jahoda in which he states that to this date nobody has been able to make perfect follicles:

http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/rese...-loss-therapy/

This actually is a good post Jarjarbinx, I congratulate you. Very good progress has been made recently, Jahoda's breakthrough a year ago really marked the beginning of the end. However how far researchers currently are, that still remains to be seen. Some extremely interesting speeches at WCHR2014 will shed light on this. Best case scenario: they've grown cosmetically viable hair on *foreskin* on SCID mice. But very likely this even hasnt been achieved yet and might be due for next year. Who knows. We're close, that's for sure, but how close exactly, that we hopefully will know in 2 months although it seems we wont have anybody at that conference and that would be really a shame cause in that case, WCHR2014 will pass by and we will still have to wait for official publications, months after that ...

[beetee]

How's the progress going on starting up a crowd funding resource where we can donate?

The $4 million goal is probably too steep, and it may be hard to get individuals organized to assist with starting a project, but if someone, perhaps the person who is in contact with UPenn, would just start a project then I believe it has the potential to generate some significant donations.

The trick would be getting the page up so people can donate as opposed to getting bogged down in the talking/debating about setting it up stage.

[Thinning87]

How's the progress going on starting up a crowd funding resource where we can donate?

The $4 million goal is probably too steep, and it may be hard to get individuals organized to assist with starting a project, but if someone, perhaps the person who is in contact with UPenn, would just start a project then I believe it has the potential to generate some significant donations.

The trick would be getting the page up so people can donate as opposed to getting bogged down in the talking/debating about setting it up stage.

I disagree, $4 million is a very easy target to reach. I think what needs to be done though is to involve Xu directly in the crowdfunding.

I asked kickstarter why they couldn't take us on, and they said that

1) Project outcome needs to be specified clearly with quantifiable metrics
2) They don't do science

SDSurfing: any progress on your end?

[hellouser]

The trick would be getting the page up so people can donate as opposed to getting bogged down in the talking/debating about setting it up stage.

A page isn't enough. You need an entire site/platform to show that this project is being taken seriously. Unfortunately, most people are too content with their life (especially those with hair) to give a shit and do something... and that includes people suffering from hair loss, as is exhibited by so many negative nancies on the forums here and elsewhere.