Cutaneous gene therapy explored the use of skin for somatic gene therapy over more than 20 years, employing strategies like direct gene transfer and indirect transfer via cultured cells. Both viral and nonviral vectors were utilized for gene addition and editing. While it began translating into clinical medicine, as evidenced by the first clinical gene therapy project for an inherited skin disorder, further advancements were still necessary.
414 citations,
August 2005 in “Nature” Activating TERT in mice skin boosts hair growth by waking up hair follicle stem cells.
87 citations,
February 2004 in “Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery” Hair follicle stem cells helped heal a severe scalp burn without needing traditional skin grafts.
39 citations,
December 2001 in “JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute” Using a gene therapy with the Sonic Hedgehog gene helps mice regrow hair faster after losing it from chemotherapy.
48 citations,
August 2001 in “Experimental dermatology” Researchers created a quick, cost-effective way to make skin-like tissue from hair follicles and fibroblasts.
124 citations,
April 2000 in “Nature biotechnology” 130 citations,
January 2000 in “Nature biotechnology” 
231 citations,
October 1999 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation” Activating the Sonic hedgehog gene in mice can start the hair growth phase.
