Science fair and alopecia

Hello,

My name is Devyn Napier and I am a senior in high school. I am extremely interested in the medical field and I attend an all academy school in Concord, Ca. I am in the Medical and Biotechnology Academy and I absolutely love it. I get to wear scrubs to school (so comfortable!) and I was awarded the opportunity to work in the emergency room of John Muir.

In my biological science research class this year, our project is to develop our own science fair experiment. I will then present my research and findings to a panel of judges at the cccsef for the opportunity to win scholarship money for college.

I was diagnosed with alopecia areata when I was three years old and have had it ever since (I am seventeen now), I figured there is nothing in the entire world I would rather experiment with than alopecia.

My plan is to prevent two proteins found in individuals who have alopecia. One (ULBP3) is located on a hair follicle and works as a signal. Now this signal does not normally go off, but, in people with alopecia it does. By doing so, it attracts an immune cell accompanied by the NKG2D protein. What happens here is what we are all familiar with as the autoimmune response.

I was planning on creating a solution to prevent them from binding in the first place. I want to alter their environment and pH and hopefully by doing so, I can prevent them from binding.

I am reaching out because I am in need of advice, opinions, concerns...

I have also reached out to a few dermatologists and was curious if anyone knew any experts on alopecia I could contact?

Any thoughts?

 

Views: 1365

Comment

You need to be a member of Alopecia World to add comments!

Join Alopecia World

Comment by Dielle on December 8, 2013 at 11:42pm

Dr. Jerry Shapiro is one of the leading dermatologists and focuses exclusively on alopecia. He could be a great resource, he is based in New York.

Comment by Jessie on December 8, 2013 at 11:02pm

Hi Devyn, Good Luck and  hopefully we will all be ready your discovery on this blog. There is a leading dermatologist in San Francisco that I saw about 12 years ago. I am so

rry I don't know her name anymore but am sure you could google her easy enough.

again good luck

Comment by losing_it on December 8, 2013 at 10:39pm
Hi Devyn

I am a High School Chem Teacher and think this is a fantastic idea. It's great to know that there are progressive, forward thinking, positive young people with alopecia out there who are taking the bull by the horns and using their training to figure on how we can solve this problem of hair loss.

In terms of a Science Fair, how are you going to demonstrate inhibiting this protein's receptor? It sounds like something that practically would be quite difficult to successfully prove you have done? Or are you making it more theory based? In which case animations would be good I guess?

I think this sounds fascinating and I would love to hear how you get on with it....

Good luck!

Marie
Comment by AC from CA, USA on December 8, 2013 at 10:36pm
Hi Devyn. There is an alopecia specialist near you who is currently doing research and has been doing so for awhile. Her research has been published and I think she would be a good resource. Her name is Paradi Mirmirani. Google her and you will see her credentials. Here's her contact info for the current study: http://www.permanente.net/homepage/kaiser/pages/c12551-48357.html

Best,

Aimee
Comment by Suzanne Kennedy on December 8, 2013 at 10:35pm

Hey...that's so great!  Good luck to you!

Comment by readwrite62 on December 8, 2013 at 10:23pm

http://techventures.columbia.edu/blog/profile/dr-angela-christiano-...  

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/22/science/new-technique-holds-promi...

You should reach out to this Columbia U. prof.  She has the condition.  Good luck!

Disclaimer

Any mention of products and services on Alopecia World is for informational purposes only; it does not imply a recommendation or endorsement by Alopecia World. Nor should any statement or representation on this site be construed as professional, medical or expert advice, or as pre-screened or endorsed by Alopecia World. Alopecia World is not responsible or liable for any of the views, opinions or conduct, online or offline, of any user or member of Alopecia World.

© 2025   Created by Alopecia World.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service