Recruitment Information For HST 001 Hair Growth Trial In 2020

Update (6/22/20)

The Manager of Recruitment at the California Dermatology & Clinical Research Institute reached out to me over the weekend to let me know that their site is still seeking participants for the HST-001 trial. Recruitment for the trial is scheduled to close in about 3 weeks so if you live in the San Diego area and would like to be considered to participate, now would be a good time to call their office at (760) 203-3836. I was also sent this video featuring the principal investigator of the study, Dr. Stacy Smith, who talks about the trial.

Original Article

I have received information from the clinical trial site which will be conducting the latest Histogen HST 001 (also known as HSC) trial for the treatment of male pattern hair loss.


Males (ages 25 – 55) who are located in the San Diego, CA area and would like to be considered for participation in the upcoming HST 001 trial may contact Emily Baker of the California Dermatology and Clinical Research Institute through her direct phone line (760) 203-3836.

I am told that screening visits for the HST 001 trial are set to begin next week, the week of May 25, 2020.

About TheCDCR Institute

The California Dermatology and Clinical Research Institute is located in Encinitas, CA (northern San Diego County) and led by Dr. Stacy Smith who has been practicing dermatology in the San Diego area for over 20 years. You can read his extended biohere.

For those interested, a page has been created on the CDCR Institute’s website which details all of the coronavirus / Covid-19precautionstheir office has taken in order to practice safe medicine during the current situation.


This is all great news to hear and it looks like Histogen will indeed be starting their next trial for HST 001/HSC in June 2020.

53 Comments on “Recruitment Information For HST 001 Hair Growth Trial In 2020

  1. Big thanks to the CDCR Institute for sharing this information with Follicle Thought.

    For those genuinely interested in participating in this trial, once again please use the phone number listed for more screening information.

    I would say this trial is one of the most unexpected positive developments of 2020 so far.

  2. The only requirement is to be between 25-55 ?
    No matter which norwood situation?

    • Nils, there are many more inclusion criteria but they were not given at this time, the age range is the only criteria which Emily Baker shared with me. Once people get in touch with her she will screen for more specifics.

  3. Great Job Joseph! Was wondering about this as I live in the San Diego area. However, as we suspected, Yoda is ancient and outside of the criteria by two years…let alone probably once they found out my current regime would probably omit me as a candidate. I’m always afraid I’d get the placebo, I don’t mind observing from the sidelines. Nevertheless, anyway you cut it this is good news!

    • Thanks Yoda, I knew you’d be commenting on this one as you are a local and were interested in the trial. I’m happy to observe this trial as well, hoping for some noteworthy results!

  4. Please explain what histogen is trying to do exactly. Thanks!

    • Mateo, Histogen injects growth factors in the scalp to regrow hair. If you look up “Histogen” in the search bar of this site you can read other articles on the company which contain before and after photos.

    • Hartmut, there is not one currently.

  5. Who here is going to apply to be in this trial? please share

  6. I could imagine that it is quite difficult to find the right candidates.
    People concerned about hair loss may be keen to participate but most likely may not disclose that they are already using a treatment such as Propecia.
    I am not sure if a blood test can reveal that a candidate is using it.

    Its very risky to stop a current relatively succesful treatment hoping that the new one has superior efficacy.
    Obviously there is also the risk of getting the placebo.
    Better to be an observer

    • 我不认为这将是difficult, I think there is a large population of guys who do not pursue treatment for their hair loss (or don’t want to use fin) and would be willing to participate in a new product trial. Sometimes radio advertisement for these types of trials is very effective.

      • Old Yoda might give that chica a call at some point and let her know if they’re short on subjects and want to give a 57 year old on fin/min for a whirl, I’d be game. Also depends on what sort of time/follow up commitment they are looking for, however I imagine it’s a fools errand on my part.

  7. Lucky men from San Diego. There are no trials of any kind in france…pfff

  8. I’m amazed, this post has been up for 24 hours and no one has bitched how long Histogen has been at this without coming to market yet nor anything about the “fake photos”. Geeez, some of you guys are falling off your game!

    • Lol Yoda. I have to say I am pleased that those comments have been absent, but a little surprised that people are not more responsive to the news. I guess Histogen may need to earn some trust back which could happen once this trial announces results later this year.

  9. This is just another one of those treatments “We successfully grown up 3 more hairs“

    In 10 years they can’t even take a proper photos.

  10. Are these trials usually just applied to a small sample of the scalp or to the whole thing? I’d love to participate (based in Long Beach) but wouldn’t want to give up my regime for just a patch test!

  11. Too bad the trial isn’t open to ladies. I’m local, don’t use anything and would be happy to participate.

  12. @FollicleThought They also uploaded very suspicious photos. That is saying enough.

  13. I’m imagining for a day when actually Master Yoda and Bryan is in line for getting HST001

    • Now that’s what I’m talking about Ruddy…good thought! I lost faith in Histogen but never piled on as I believe they are a legitimate player. However this news, while it’s far from a slam dunk, can only be construed as good news. Imagine a world where treatments are abandoned only because things didn’t go as planned and timelines slipped.

      • 你是我父亲的年龄和我能说你的杯子half-full type man. Back in 2018 you and mjones actually make me aware of current treatment and how newbie neglect those treatment being over-optimistic of future treatment. I visit derm then and he prescribed me fin on alternative days. Tho i take daily and it perfectly maintained my hairline these 2 years Thank You. Congratulations on your success too

        • Rudransh, that’s great to hear my friend! I’m sure you’ve had little to no appreciable side effects as well. You might consider minox to boost the regrowth, a good compliment to fin. Good luck, and as my hair loss guru Dr. Richard Lee used to say…”Keep it growing”!

  14. Although i agree its childish, but i understand the feelings of people like Bryan(everyone here does))).
    Corona or not, with AA you can’t be happy a lot)))
    Lets hope hairclone can end our suffering by next summer, at least stop HL… Applying now around 3 meds, cause NW3a makes me desprate…

    • Not everyone feels that way actually. Plus, histogen so far has more data proof than hairclone, all in all I bet they will have a similar strength. Maybe they will work great together.

    • Yoda started loosing his hair at 17, I’m now 57. While it’s not perfect I’m grateful for fin/min and the variations of those that have helped me over the years. If not, my goose would’ve been cooked hairwise years ago. Also faith, initiative and realistic hope. I understand feeling desperate and despair, particularly at a young age, however pissing on a parade won’t make it any better, probably worse.

    • There could be some updates next week, not definite, stay tuned. Thanks for the support.

  15. three months studies are not very meaningful.
    even with a hair transplant, it takes four weeks for the first hair to grow.
    That’s why I’m very excited about Samumed’s Phase 3 study.
    I think that will surprise many pp.

    • Nils, where does the comment about three month studies come in here? I don’t follow.

        • Oh ok, but I’m fairly sure it’s not related to Histogen now.

    • The last word from them was they were preparing for a phase 3 trial in the US. Most likely, the coronavirus issue prevented that from starting and likely the company is now deciding on when to initiate the trial in 2020.

  16. I predict Histogen will maybe give marginal to maybe moderate results at best and NOT bring back a full head of hair.

    • Admin, sure there are certainly many people that are keen to be in this trial who are not on any treatments. But people already on treatments are also keen to be in the trial hoping its the path to a happier life. Most of them know that there are two risks abandoning the current treatment.
      1). HST001 is not as good as hoped for
      2) You get the placebo

      Result: they may lose hair because they gave up existing treatments.

      解决方案是不要disclose existing treatments and be accepted into the trial.

      If this happens the trial results are not valid especially if you have a high percentage of cheaters.
      And I believe, there are many who would cheat

      And that was my question in my previous post. How can the researchers ensure that the participants stick to the rules?

      If they cant you more or less have to question any results that are obtained in hair loss research regardless what kind of treatment

      • This is a definite hypothetical which could be applied to every hair trial which has ever been conducted (except for the first minoxidil trial).

        I suppose a simple blood test would solve the issue, but I don’t know whether trials will include this? For the most part, I expect when people sign their name of the dotted line that the high majority are telling the truth, I don’t think a few outliers can change the reputation of a potential therapy.

        Another point is in the investigator lead trial by Dr. Ziering, multiple women had good results including a black woman who had some light de novo growth / regowth at her hairline – a difficult task to accomplish through injection. And we know that women do not really have substantial options that they could be using alongside a trial (not that I think any of them were hiding treatments to begin with).

    • It’s widely known that HST001/HSC will not bring back a full head of hair (for the last 10 years or so), it’s still one of the most useful and exciting potential products in the whole industry pipeline.

  17. Is there any update from Follica? They said time ago to start the final trial within the first Half of 2020…..

  18. For several years, Japanese clinics have been treating with HSC.
    Has anyone been treated?

    • I didn’t think there has been any clinic with HSC for a while now. At one point there was a brief availability.

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