Institution: University of Glasgow

Location: Glasgow and surrounding area

Date: Started in 2018, continues to collect samples 

Type of alopecia: Alopecia areata (including patchy, totalis, universalis). Samples are also collected from people without AA, for comparison. 

The Alopecia Areata Biobank is collecting samples of blood, skin swabs, skin biopsies and stool from volunteers with alopecia areata (including alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis) to investigate how immune cells cause hair loss. The team are also looking for samples from people without alopecia areata, for comparison purposes. The initial aim of the project is to discover which immune cells are different in people with AA, AU, AT compared to the other groups. The team will then investigate how these cells alter the immune response in the blood, skin and intestine of people with AA. They will also aim to look at the bacteria within the stool and skin swab samples to see how these may differ and contribute to hair loss in AA. 

The team aim to use these tests to find the factors of the immune system that are most important in causing alopecia areata. 

If you live in the Glasgow area and are interested in donating blood, skin swabs, skin biopsies and/or stool, please click here for more information of how to take part in the Biobank. 

Interested scientists can apply for access to samples from the Biobank by contacting Professor Simon Milling at the University of Glasgow. 

Updates from the Biobank

Kym wrote blog posts for us to keep us updated on the outcomes of her research project, which used samples from the Biobank. Her project is now finished, but the Biobank continues to operate to support further alopecia areata research. 

To read these updates, visit the Glasgow Biobank project page.