A reported $4.7 million is being invested into a cure for baldness by the British Government, according to Reuters.

And the Cambridge-based company receiving the grant is certainly looking ‘ahead’ to finding a cure!

Biosciences firm, Intercytex, is building a robot to help treat the predominantly male problem of baldness which is triggered by the male hormone, dihydrotestosterone. While often the butt of jokes, baldness can cause a range of psychological issues to individuals, including lower self-esteem and resultant relationship problems.

Using technologically advanced methods, the robot removes hair follicles from the back of the patient’s neck, multiplies them and replants them in the balding regions of the head.

The use of robotics will help to speed up the otherwise slow process of cell multiplication.

Says Intercytex chief executive, Nick Higgins: “We take cells responsible for hair growth, multiply them and then inject them in the head. We tease out the cells responsible for growing a new hair.

“The challenge is to make sure they grow thick enough and quick enough so they are cosmetically acceptable.”

The safety of the procedure has so far been ascertained on a small number of volunteers. The research is now in its Intermediate Phase.

The procedure itself involves a half-hour operation under anesthesia and then a three week waiting period while the cells are grown. The replanting can then happen, once again in surgery.