Food-grade fungal fermentate for promoting hair and beard growth
Introducing a novel bioactive compound derived from food-grade fungal fermentate to prevent hair loss and promote hair/beard growth without side effects. Utilizing Aspergillus oryzae, this innovative solution is ready for advanced validation and clinical trials.
Overview
This breakthrough solution leverages a novel bioactive compound derived from a food-grade fungal fermentate to address hair and beard growth challenges. Using the well-established food-fermenting fungus Aspergillus oryzae, the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Yu lab has developed NPc, a cell-free culture broth of fermented casein. This innovative solution promises to prevent human hair loss and stimulate growth without adverse effects, offering a safe and effective alternative to existing treatments.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Bioactive compound: NPc is derived from fermenting the milk protein casein with Aspergillus oryzae, a GRAS organism.
- In vitro and in vivo testing: Efficacy in promoting hair growth will be evaluated using Human Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells and mouse models.
- Identification of active compounds: Advanced techniques such as LC/MS-MS and NMR spectroscopy will isolate and identify bioactive compounds.
- Clinical applications: Planned clinical studies include NPc-based shampoos and hair sprays for androgenic alopecia patients.
Technology readiness level
This solution is currently at Technology Readiness Level 6, indicating that it has been validated under laboratory conditions and is ready for further testing through advanced validation and clinical trials.
About University of Wisconsin, Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is the state’s flagship public research university, a comprehensive institution with a large research enterprise and broad disciplinary breadth. Industry engages through shared instrumentation, pilot‑scale testbeds, and co-located core facilities that support prototyping and scale-up. An affiliated research and technology park hosts startups and corporate R&D, while integration with a major hospital system enables clinical translation; a statewide extension network connects campus advances to companies and communities across Wisconsin. Research is sustained by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NIH, NSF, DOE, USDA, and DoD, alongside state and industry partnerships. Dedicated commercialization support—through an affiliated foundation and campus offices—provides IP management, licensing, startup mentoring, and flexible, industry-friendly agreements.
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