Acclaimed Geneticist and member of NAAF Scientific Advisory Council, Angela Christiano, PhD, finds basis of Alopecia Areata.

On June 30, 2010, Nature Journal, the weekly, international, interdisciplinary journal of science, published an article that unveils the most exciting genetic research on alopecia areata to date. Led by the National Alopecia Areata Foundation Scientific Advisory Council member Dr. Angela Christiano, and using cases from the National Alopecia Areata Registry, a team of investigators from Columbia University Medical Center have found eight genes that contribute to AA, one of which has a possible role in the onset of the disease.

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune skin disease that may result in total or partial loss of hair. Affecting over 5 million Americans, alopecia areata currently has no cure, and no treatment that works across the board. Part of the significance of this recent finding is that many of the genes found to be associated with alopecia areata are also associated with other autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and celiac disease; all autoimmune diseases with pre-existing treatments. This discovery, therefore, is expected to lead to effective clinical trials. “Finally, we have the possibility of developing drugs that specifically target the mechanism behind the disease,” adds Dr. Christiano.

For more news on Dr. Christiano's recent findings, please visit the following:

June 30, 2010- Official Press Release - Acclaimed Geneticist finds basis of Alopecia Areata

June 30, 2010 - Scientists Find Possible Genetic Roots of Type of Hair Loss

June 30, 2010 - CNN - Researchers find gene linked to hair loss

You can find a more comprehensive list of articles and news regarding Dr. Christiano's work at the National Alopecia Areata Foundation Web site