Institution: University of Manchester and Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Lead Researcher: Dr Matthew Harries

Project Title: Alopecia Areata Rapid Access Clinic (AA-RAC): Can early access improve outcomes in patients with recent-onset AA?

Type of hair loss: alopecia areata, recent onset – meaning within 12 months of noticing symptoms for the first time.

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Researchers at the University of Manchester are looking for people who have first developed symptoms of alopecia areata within the past 12 months. 

Currently, people affected by alopecia areata (AA) often have to wait a long time to access dermatology and treatment for AA. The purpose of this study is to set up an Alopecia Areata Rapid Access Clinic (AA-RAC). It will enable people experiencing symptoms of AA to receive specialist dermatology care quickly and allow the researchers to study the early changes occurring in this condition. This will allow them to learn more about how it develops.

As the AA-RAC is an NHS dermatology clinic, what parts of the study you can take part in depend on where you live.

      A. You live in the Greater Manchester area. 

You need to be registered with a GP in the Greater Manchester area and not currently be under the care of a hospital specialist or dermatologist for AA. 

You may be eliglble to access the AA-RAC, subject to an initial eligibility screening. You will receive the same basic care as you would do with an NHS dermatology referral. However, in addition this clinic offers the following: 

1. You will be seen much sooner than you would do for a routine NHS referral.
2. Your assessment will include a holistic assessment of the physical and emotional impacts of having AA, with extra support provided to encourage healthy lifestyle choices.
3. You will receive a personalised evidence-based treatment plan by a dermatologist with a special interest in hair loss.
4. You will have the option to donate samples (including blood, plucked hair and/or skin biopsies) to help the research.

      B. You do not live in the Greater Manchester area.

You are not eligible to access the AA-RAC for treatment. This is because NHS clinics can only treat patients referred by GPs from their catchment area.

However, you can still contribute to the research by providing clinical data and donating biological samples. This can include blood, plucked hair and/or skin biopsies.

You will meet with Dr Matthew Harries, a Consultant Dermatologist with a special interest in hair loss. While you will not be able to receive treatment from the clinic, you will be provided with advice on your condition.

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Everyone who donates biological samples will be reimbursed £10 for each set of research blood samples and £30 for each skin biopsy taken. This payment is to reimburse you for your inconvenience and travel expenses and not as compensation for loss of earnings.

To express interest in taking part in the study, please contact the research team via phone or e-mail.

Phone: 0161 206 0893

E-mail: Chief Investigator - Dr Matthew Harries [email protected] or Research Nurse - Caroline White [email protected]

Image description: A flyer for a research study titled: “Alopecia Areata Rapid Access Clinic”. It has logos for the University of Manchester and the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, where the study is taking place. It also has the logo of Alopecia UK who have funded the study. The text asks: Adults of any age – do you meet the following criteria? 1. Developed symptoms of alopecia areata within the past 12 months, and 2. Not currently under the care of a hospital or dermatologist for alopecia areata. It lists contact information for the research team, including phone number: 0161 206 0893, and email addresses for Dr Matthew Harries [email protected] and research nurse Caroline White [email protected]. The flyer lists the IRAS number 345271 to confirm the study has been approved by a research ethics committee. The version number is 1.1, dated 21/10/2024.

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This study is funded by a PhD bursary from Alopecia UK, with additional support from a Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) Inflammation & Repair domain small grant award.