Forging the Future: 2018 Alopecia Areata Research Summit Summary Report

The 2018 Alopecia Areata Research Summit, organized by the National AA Foundation, gathered 113 participants to discuss the state of AA research, clinical outcomes, patient engagement, and disease burden. Key findings included the potential effectiveness of Jak inhibitors and platelet-rich plasma injections in treating AA, and the need for personalized treatment approaches. The summit emphasized the importance of understanding the genetic and immunologic mechanisms of AA. Future research priorities were identified, including developing treatment guidelines, studying hair follicle biology, and investigating therapy responses among different disease subgroups. A study of 45,016 patients established the current prevalence of AA in the US. The summit concluded with a commitment to continue advancing research for AA patients and their families.