Tsuji-lab (Team Tokyo)

[Tacola]

I just wish they would hurry up!

Hopefully the procedure will be compatible with todays transplants.

[Desmond84]

In the last study they used FUT...I know some ppl are disappointed, but I don't think that will be their approach in human tissue studies!

Something tells me, they will work out a way to implant the germs directly into scalp...that would be so much easier both for them and the patient. We have to wait till they finish their current study

[hellouser]

Thx brother

Honestly, the more I look into these guys, the more I realise how close we are!

Their technique is VERY simple:

1) Need Mesenchymal stem cells (i.e. DP cells, etc)

2) Need Epithelial stem cell

3) Place them into the specialised "Gel drop"

4) Implant into renal capsule (or other growth medium)

5) Watch the hairs grow!

6) Extract the new hairs and implant them into scalp!

Simplicity is the key...when it's simple it is consistent and reproducible

Implanting via injection or a device like regular FUE?

[Desmond84]

Appreciate your posts like no other forum member, Des. Thanks for the update.

Thx brother

Honestly, the more I look into these guys, the more I realise how close we are!

Their technique is VERY simple:

1) Need Mesenchymal stem cells (i.e. DP cells, etc)

2) Need Epithelial stem cell

3) Place them into the specialised "Gel drop"

4) Implant into renal capsule (or other growth medium)

5) Watch the hairs grow!

6) Extract the new hairs and implant them into scalp!

Simplicity is the key...when it's simple it is consistent and reproducible

[clandestine]

Appreciate your posts like no other forum member, Des. Thanks for the update.

[Desmond84]

Hey guys,

Here's something else that hasn't been discussed as far as I know!

As you guys may know, most labs undertaking tissue engineering have been working tirelessly to develop a 3D scaffold to place the stem cells on! That's because stem cells MUST interact with their surrounding cells at all times in order to sustain their functionality!

For example back in 2007, Aderans tried to make one but threw in the towel and went down a different path! Some researchers are still working on a workable scaffold. One group will be presenting their findings at the Hair Congress this year but unfortunately their findings is NOT very promising)

Now here's what is mind boggling about Tsuji lab! Their technique does NOT require a scaffold! They completely went around this problem!!! They simply separate epithelial stem cells from mesenchymal stem cells by putting them into a centrifuge...They then injected these stem cells into a gel drop of Cellmatrix type I-A formed on a siliconised dish!

This "gel drop" worked extremely well and that's how they grew the hairs and the tooth in their studies!!!

What this means is that they are without a doubt working on a human cell model as we speak! Looks like most of the work is done Expect a new media release very soon guys! I reckon we'll hear more from these hair champions by the end of this year!

[Pentarou]

Even if (hopefully) a new treatment with stellar regrowth of DHT damaged follicles becomes a reality, there will still be a need for hair transplants for scarring alopecia suffers, burns victims, etc.

[UK_]

Well, that's a bit disappointing. I was under the impression that they were working on a "ultimate solution" but it sounds a lot more like "unlimited donor hair" than anything at this point. In other words you would still have the same problematic issues of a hair transplant but with unlimited donor hair. Having spoken to people who really like their hair transplants they still admit it doesn't feel entirely natural and if they have transplanted hair and native hair in the same region they can recognize the two different hair types. Transplanted follicles never feel quite the "same" in addition to the fact that they are (at least today) a coarser type of hair from the back of the head.
Don't get me wrong this would be a huge deal, but it's not the same as "germinating" the scalp and starting over with your original hair.

Better than no hair though huh?

[mm05035]

Just to give you guys a quick update:

Over the past week, I have read ALL scientific literature published by Tsuji Lab relating to Hair & Tooth regeneration.

Tsuji lab has most definitely found the cure! They have a 3D scaffold to grow the stem cells and just recently we have found the means to expand these stem cells in culture! (i.e. multiplying hair follicles)

However, the Tsuji team found that even though implanting hair germs worked in terms of forming hair follicles, it yielded hair follicles with different sizes and orientation which were aesthetically unacceptable!

So, they designed a second study, which involved implanting the hair germs in the "subrenal capsule" of mice (an area of kidney) and allowed the germs to grow to an acceptable maturity. They then extracted these mature hair follicles and implanted it on the back of the mouse neck using the FUT method!

Pretty much, what Tsuji is working on now is finding a method to grow the hair germs to maturity in a human to allow for FUT implantation!

Obviously, we can't grow it on our kidneys, so they're working on some vascularised tissue model to grow these seeds on!

I think that's everything I could gather! Don't hesitate to ask anything guys I'll try my best to answer it...

desmond, i really feel relieved every time i read your posts!thank you very much for your contribution!

[Desmond84]

Well, that's a bit disappointing. I was under the impression that they were working on a "ultimate solution" but it sounds a lot more like "unlimited donor hair" than anything at this point. In other words you would still have the same problematic issues of a hair transplant but with unlimited donor hair. Having spoken to people who really like their hair transplants they still admit it doesn't feel entirely natural and if they have transplanted hair and native hair in the same region they can recognize the two different hair types. Transplanted follicles never feel quite the "same" in addition to the fact that they are (at least today) a coarser type of hair from the back of the head.
Don't get me wrong this would be a huge deal, but it's not the same as "germinating" the scalp and starting over with your original hair.

True, but don't forget that they are still in pre-clinical phase meaning that they might figure out a way to pre-determine hair orientation when they implant hair germs!

This indeed may be possible. For example, if they find that a particular 3D scaffold can force the hair to grow in a particular direction, they can simply implant the germs into the scalp and skip the need for a FUT!

We'll know more when they publish their next study

All I can say is that don't underestimate the Japanese! So far, they've blown all competition out of the ball park! They come up with radical crazy ideas and follow it to the end...

[x4342]

Well, that's a bit disappointing. I was under the impression that they were working on a "ultimate solution" but it sounds a lot more like "unlimited donor hair" than anything at this point. In other words you would still have the same problematic issues of a hair transplant but with unlimited donor hair. Having spoken to people who really like their hair transplants they still admit it doesn't feel entirely natural and if they have transplanted hair and native hair in the same region they can recognize the two different hair types. Transplanted follicles never feel quite the "same" in addition to the fact that they are (at least today) a coarser type of hair from the back of the head.
Don't get me wrong this would be a huge deal, but it's not the same as "germinating" the scalp and starting over with your original hair.

[bananana]

Just in the last 5 years so many companies starter working on solutions for mpb, we havent had that kind of activity EVER.

Science is developing/growing exponentially. Think about it, today we have faster and more powerful cell phones then computers were just a few years ago.
Google glass was a complete SCI FI gadget just a few years ago - now it's reality.
I'm a graphic designer and I can tell you just 5 year ago an affordable 3d printer was a crazy dream, now you can buy one for as low as $1500-2000!

Who knows how many breakthroughs will occur in the next 5 years alone.

Now we have Nigam, Histogen, Aderans, Replicel and who knows how many unknown companies working on the cure, so forget the 15-20 years timeline.

It's more like 3-6 and I bet we'll have NW7-NW2 solution.

[Thinning87]

Indeed....

[The Alchemist]

2020 to me sounds like a very acceptable point in time to have a cure - I can shave for seven years - but I'm afraid this stuff would take longer.

Great news is that this is probably the cure. Bad news is...

If these guys are still in the basic research phase, there is no way this will be available anywhere near 2020. If they started clinical trials tomorrow, then I *might* say 2020 is a realistic timeframe. But, they are a long way from clinical trials. Give them another 3-5 years (and it could be much longer than that) to figure it out, apply for clinical trials, recruit patients and then go through 3 or more phases, get approval, partnerships and then commercialize.... you're looking at 15-20 or more years.

[Thinning87]

Henkeh,

This is the real cure that everyone is talking about brother

But we have to be patient! Realistically speaking it won't be available worldwide at least till 2020...

What's important is that we have a working solution. That is the first step to happiness

2020 to me sounds like a very acceptable point in time to have a cure - I can shave for seven years - but I'm afraid this stuff would take longer.