Dr. Angela M. Christiano is an Associate Professor of
Dermatology and Genetics & Development at Columbia University. Her
laboratory's work is focused on the genetics and biology of hair loss,
which began as a result of her own experience with alopecia areata. The
compelling story of her personal history, together with her landmark discoveries
of the first two genes involved in inherited hair loss, have made her a
valuable spokeswoman for the issue of hair loss. She was recently featured
in a story on female hair loss on Good Morning America, and has
written the foreword for the recently published book The Truth About
Women's Hair Loss, by Spencer David Kobren. She will be discussing
recent advances in research and treatments for different types hair loss
and also excessive hair growth, two important issues for millions of women.
Dr. Christiano has published more than 145 peer-reviewed publications and
more than 40 reviews in the area of inherited skin disorders, and she serves
as the Editor of Experimental Dermatology.
The overall theme of the research in Dr. Christiano's
laboratory at Columbia is to develop rationally designed genetic therapies
for cutaneous diseases through understanding the underlying pathogenetic
mechanisms. The emphasis is on prevention of genetic disease through early
diagnosis, and treatment when prevention is not possible. Her research
efforts are supported in part by the NIH-National Institute of Arthritis,
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.
