GN.22 Research Group Signing Off
Jason Wats MD 
The decision to publicly assist the Human Trials Research team was not taken lightly, and everyone within our team was aware of the risks we would be undertaking by being the public face of a project that was no longer under our control.
Unfortunately all of our main concerns materialized, and the amount of public scrutiny that we have had to endure made it very clear, at least to me, why Research Groups tend to be enclosed environments. Note that this was not just limited to the comments we received within our own community, as many of them were encouraging, positive, or constructive criticism.
As we entered into the Human Trials, at least 50% of the comments we were filtering out due to their offensive or insulting nature, all aimed at our staff and ultimately putting our professional integrity in question.
The comments were not limited to our site; we have received numerous emails from colleagues pointing out multiple instances where our work was put in question. Do note that criticism has not been directed at our published data or methodologies being carried out; they all seemed to follow a very similar pattern, consisting in uncontrolled personal attacks with the sole objective to denigrate our image and professional careers.
These comments and accusations can be found across the most prominent Hair Loss thematic communities across the web, and most range from outrageous to defamatory. Today we inclusively received yet another series of comments contesting my personal academic credentials, claiming that I was inept to conduct a research due to a scarcity in scientific publications. Now as scientists, we have a certain degree of tolerance for speculation and scrutiny, this is however limited to the object of study and the process being conducted.
While I strongly agree that free speech is a fundamental Human right, I believe that it does not give anyone the right to publicly publish unsubstantiated allegations that could potentially jeopardize someone’s career without backing these claims with factual evidence. As a result, we are seeking legal advice in order to address this issue and to mitigate against published statements that have had, and continue to have, a negative impact on our staff’s professional integrity. (Including my own)
Unfortunately we have surpassed our tolerance threshold, and this has lead to a collective decision to stop updating this blog, effective immediately. We are currently holding talks in order to assess the potential future of the community, as technically it never belonged to us. Hopefully there will be an update regarding this in the near future.
Rest assured we are not abandoning Norma, it’s far more important than any of us individually, and it certainly would not make any sense at this point to retract from the outstanding progress that has been made.
To everyone who has supported us, we plan to provide an email address that you can use to inquiry about project progress. There are a couple of available options we are considering, from setting up regular project status through a newsletter, to opening an invite only Discussion Group. Whatever the solution might become, we do not intend to keep you out of the loop. Sarah will make a final post addressing this, but the plan is to open this to users who are already registered in our database who have provided valuable contributions to the community.
I would like to thank everyone who has accompanied us through this amazing journey and nourished our team though words of encouragement and constructive engagement. At the end of a long night locked in a lab/office, you were the reason why the long hours paid off.
Thank you.
Jason Wats MD
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There’s always a few bad apples that have to ruin it for everyone else! I think what you all are doing is amazing and it’s too bad that the community can’t accept this new way of sharing information with the public as it progressively comes to you as a breakthrough. Instead it is being attacked, along with your team because it’s something new no one has ever done before and I guess some people just can’t handle change in a positive way. I would love to be a part of any newsletter or private group that comes about and look forward to hearing more information about this opportunity. As always, keep up the great work and don’t ever be discouraged!
We do seem not to have all those letters as they being
filtered. But a monthly newsletter will do the job very nicely.
So please add my email.
It all seemed so great less than month ago when we all thought human trials were about to begin. Worst part, I never got my lunch date with Sara. Lol. it’s ok, it’s always darkest before sun rise.
Please include me in! I look forward to any news you guys are willing to share.
P.S. TaKeeLa should be included, I found out about astressin-b from him on another site and he said nothing but good things.
Keep up the good work guys, hope it all works out and remember not to let the few outweigh the voice of many cause most of us appreciate this community far more than you may know. Thank you and god speed.
Why there is no registry of these clinical trials? It is private? Why so little information?
The patent was requested in 2006 to growth of hair, so why delay?
And why these questions are not answered?
In my opnion, astressin B has great potential. I hope that works and will be available soon.
I’m very sorry that this has happened but I completely understand. Please add me to your newsletter list and let me know if I can help in any way. I wish you and you team the best of luck. What you had was great and some people just couldn’t stay positive and on task. Please always know that whatever you are doing there are many people out here wishing the best for you and supporting you in ways that you will never know of. P.S. I have tried to enter my email a few times but I’m never able to confirm for some reason. I hope that my support has earned an invite to future information. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
CRFE OE MICE, I am actually going to save Jason the energy and address this.
For one thank you for your anonymous post, its very helpful and its a clear example of transparency, something we people like yourself claim we are not very keen on.
1. We gave provided an answer to this in the past, if you have had looked through past posts you would know. Trials are only registered after the first Patient has been rolled out.
2. We do not request, nor do we DEAL with patents, we are a RESEARCH TEAM.
3. They were.
Craig, you are a great example of this fantastic community, I must say we have seen/printed some of your posts and queries while the research project was on going, was wonderful to have you on board!
Please add me to your newsletter list !!!
I look forward to any news
Hola soy sudamericano y e sufrido de caída de cabello desde los 25 y e venido siguiendo los avances de su equipo de científicos en todos los reportes publicados y déjenme decirles que si no existiera gente como ustedes que apuestan y creen en algo el mundo hubiera perdido muchas cosas positivas q nos an facilitado y hecho la vida mas cómoda y con respecto a esas personas o grupo de personas que publican ataques y mentiras que solo buscan desestabilizar su labor creo q también esta abierta la posibilidad q no sean simples comentarios individuales sino también de ciertos sectores que perderían fortunas si este producto llega a ser la cura definitiva a la alopecia ya que el micro trasplanté capilar es un negocio redondo para quienes lo ofrecen en fin espero seguir enterado de todos los logros alcanzados por su equipo de investigación. Gracias
Please add me to your newsletter. I support you guys.
Much appreciation to everyone here. It was a lot of great, positive energy directed to something that is beyond anyone here individually as stated. Sarah, Jason, et. al. involved with the research, I tip my hat to you and wish you folks all the best in your personal and professional lives. Be positive and only good shall come to us all. Viva Astressin-B. Whatever comes of this research from your team and others, it will help broaden our understanding of the wonderful thing we call life.
Is Craig the only one invited to the party so far? I wanna get updates…..!
Very sad news. Your research has the potential to revolutionize so many lives worldwide. If eligible, I would like to be considered for any proposed newsletter list. My best to you in all your future endeavours.
There is no bad news in this. I actually respect this and it’s the downside of having an anonymous blog.
Please do update us with the newsletter address and I wish you ALL the luck with this
Cheers,
Marc
Thank you for your efforts and good luck with the research to come! If possible I would love to be a part of the newsletter and or discussions that are to come.
Thanks again!
PLEASE don’t pay attention to idiots trolling away.
Unfortunately the internet is inhabited by numerous numbskulls who like to take pot shots anyone doing any productive work. This is because they are not doing any themselves so feel pleasure in cutting down others and denigrating them.
PLEASE continue updating the blog and don’t punish your numerous supporters for whom your research carries hope.
As for lawyers and stuff, just leave it be. Its a needless expense and a distraction. Idiots will be idiots and no amount of legal wrangling is going to cure them of that disease.
Please add me to the newsletter and keep up the good work. Thanks
Always catching up with your latest news, I want to be a part of the newsletter, thank you very much.
keeep sure you were like a dream for us ,,,,,but please donot forget your project ,,, i will wait for updates or news via media because the matter ’s not easy,,,it’s scientific research that may make your names unforgettable ,,,if nothing appeared i will make this trials in africa on my own as a doctor ,,, and you all would be informed ,,, thanks
Ghandi said when people rock the boat, ”first they laugh at you, then they ignore you, then they attack you, THEN YOU win. We wouldn’t get anywhere in this world if people give up what they feel is right……………….. keep going guys………………………
I think you could potentially reconsider this option. You could install the facebook plugin to take away anonymity which forces users behave more reasonably or you could disable comments and have a FAQ section that you update as things progress with archived answers and responses. Perhaps taking down any things that personally identify members of the group other than names and how they are affiliated is something else to consider.
On updates they should be short and simply describe events and progress that have occurred to avoid retractions. A third option on comments might be to open a window for comments to be made and then close that window after you feel like nothing needs to be added on the subject. There’s a lot you can do if you want to reduce this negative maintenance without distances yourself too much from the people you are trying to help.
I’ve followed you guys and your amazing work for a while but havent posted before on your blog. If possible I’d like to be part of your newsletter, feel free to add my e-mail please. Wish you the best of luck.
I have been following your research since first day and would like to be updated in future. Please add me to your newsletter. It is good to hear that Norma project is not dead. I saw posts in last thread which made me afraid but thanks to you doc for keeping us updated.
I’ve been following your research since first day, from France. i’m disappointed in what happens, and really hope that you will not stop your research.Eaven if it’s my first contribution in this community, be sure that I was checking all days this blog, hoping new informations and advanced, because our only hope is to defeat the alopecia, and you were the symbol of this battle!! So please add me to your newsletter or discussion group, we really want to follow your exciting research.
Alexandre
Sarah, please include me in any future updates. I am sorry for all the hassles you have had to endure in pursuit of your honorable mission to help those suffering from hairloss.
Hi !
I would be honored to receive the newsletter.
Kind regards,
plz add my name also
Pls,
I would be honored to receive the newsletter.
Thank you
Hi,
I’m afraid I only discovered your site a few weeks ago, when doing research for my daughters condition.
I wish you all the best, and hope that you continue to make great strides with Astressin B as it has the potential to change millions of lives throughout the world.
Keep the faith, and you will win the day.
With kindest regards.
Please add me to the list.
Thank you and keep up the great work.
And remember you have tons of supporters who are silently following along and hoping for your success.
Please sign me in for the newsletter.
Thnx.
Please add me to your newsletter … I really appreciate your research. it holds the most potential thus far.
High Regards!
I agreeion its potential because it’s minimally invasive and uncomplicated without the risks that procedures involving stemcells because it just goes into the bloodstream. It’s also a holistic approach that targets the body’sown mechanisms to grow hair rather and improve other functions rather than working against the processes that are only a part of why it ceases to grow. I also thought that the development time may be potentially less because like peptides had been tested before and the method was very simple. I would like it if you included me in future updates.
Hi Sarah/Jason & team,
Sorry about the PR hassles. I’m just chiming in to say good luck pursuing your research in a more private fashion, and i’d love to be included in your newsletter. Thanks
Good luck for your research.
(and add me please ;o) )
Thank you for all that you’ve done and that you still do. As we say, hope springs eternal, and I will always believe in you guys. Please add me to your newsletter.
Sorry to hear it’s come to this. I’ve been following this blog for months and it does get old reading some of the negative comments. Hope you guys add me to the newsletter too so I can continue to follow.
Hey guys, I have been quietly following you for the last 9 months. Even though I have been very silent I’m still very eager to knowing everything you publish. Please add me to your newsletter. Thanks!!
<3 <3 <3
As a mother of 10-years daughter suffering from alopecia universalis I greatly appriciate your efforts. Your team make us hope and believe that one day we can efficiently resist this problem. Could you please add me to newsletter list to be able to follow the future developments?
Wow! so upsetting that there seem to be more people out there that destroy hope then bring it..
It seems to be the way of the world now days..
It is totally understandable that you guys have now decided to operate like most research teams and limit public interaction and yet so sad that it has come to this..
I wish you guys all the best.. I hope for all the normal positive people that something great comes out of this.
Thanks guys..
I’m confident that some people who are jealous about Norma’s growth is attacking in the blog. I appreciate your initiative of monthly newsletter and if you have invitee only discussions please include me.
Keep up the good work and please add me to the newsletter list. Thanks for everything you have done to date so far.
Michael’s suggestions sound pretty good, I hope you could consider something along those lines. The work you’re doing has given great hope to so many people, and it’s a terrible thing to think that we would not be all able to hear the latest on your progression anymore. Keep up the brilliant work you’re doing. Should there be a newsletter, obviously I’d love to be able to read it too, even if this is my first comment on this site.
Please add me to your news letter
Such as shame, I regularly follow your updates and posts. I like 99% of the people out there support you an what you are trying to achieve. I do hope there is a way you can keep us all updated. Please include me on any invitee list you develop.
I’ve been following your site for some time and I would love to constructively critique the methods and published data but overall there isn’t much of this in the updates. I’m not sure if that’s for legal or for some other reasons (perhaps safety?). I’ve also never denigrated the group anonymously on other forums. I’ve done a few Google searches and it is difficult finding anything about the two people named on this website. Is this slander really that significant?
please add me to your newsletter. keep up the good work.
I have been following for months, but never commented. Please add me to the newsletter.
I feel very sad about this, I was following everyday the site and I think it is a shame.
Palease include me in newsletter.
Thank you.
Hi Norma et. al.
May we hear your solution to the problem ?
Before completely signing off could we have
the promised/missing cortisol chapters.
I have tried signing up for the newsletter many times but when I try to confirm it doesn’t let me. Please add me to the newsletter list! Thank you!
Same issue as Takeela. Please include me in the newsletter list
Many thanks!
P.s. Keep up your amazing work.
Keep up the good work. Some people will do anything to stir the pot. I, for one, wish everyone affiliated with this project all the best regardless of the results. Also, I hope to be included in whatever you decide…. whether it be a newsletter or a discussion group. I have been wearing for almost 20 years due to an auto accident to cover a few scars, and places like HC seemed to be making alot of $$ off of me with an average/ below average product. Again, keep up the good work, and I hope to be included in future discussions.
Jeep up the good work and please add me to the newsletter. Another option would be to turn this into a private blog. There are many here that have been following in a positive manner. We are all so eager to find out info as fast as it can. Heck, i wish there was a daily update, even if you just said yiu were sick and not much done that day.
Takeela, is there an actual signup page?
Hi Jason / Sarah,
I am very sorry to hear what had happened. I am sure every good follower of you can understand your feeling.
This is definitely going to be a wonderful contribution to the human kind. I am from India and please do let me know if you want some kind of information from my part.
Even though I dont make much update, I am a hard core follower of this research through this blog. I humbly request you to add me in your newsletter.
Thanks
Please add me to the newsletter list!
Hi guys,
I am very sorry for all the difficulties you’re facing, mostly of this kind. Science must always be questioned so that it can move on, but not this way. Although i have never posted any comments on this blog, i followed the steps of your work about astressin-b with great enthiousiasm and deep interest since the breakthrough, a year ago, and i have always been hectic to read here news about it.
Please feel free to add me in your newsletter if you can, i’d love to.
Sincerely yours
Hi guys,
I am very sorry for all the difficulties you’re facing, mostly of this kind. Science must always be questioned so that it can move on, but not this way. Although i have never posted any comments on this blog, i followed the steps of your work about astressin-b with great enthiousiasm and deep interest since the breakthrough, a year ago, and i have always been hectic to read here news about it.
Please feel free to add me in your newsletter if you can, i’d love to.
Sincerely yours (from France)
Hi all,
as a constant (but silent – english is not my mothers tongue) reader of your blog so far: Please add me to your list!
All the best to you and keep up the good work!
Thanks a lot.
Hi Sarah, I have been trying to sign up for your newsletter but I am not sure if it is working for me. It seems to not let me finish out the process of signing up. I would love to receive your newsletter.
Greetings,
Sorry to hear about all the jerks online making unreasonable demands and attacking you guys personally. I often cannot believe the gull of some folks who actually talk to you (researchers) as if you owed them something.
If you end up creating a newsletter for Norma, or just quick little emails similar to what you have generously been doing on the website for a long time, I would be flattered and honored to be included in the goings-on of your amazing research.
Thanks so much for everything you’ve done, and I wish you the best!
Antonio.
Joe, on the right hand side of this page there is a banner that says News and Updates, then a space for your name and email I believe this is how you sign up for the newsletter but not 100% sure.
Sign me in!
Jason, Sarah and the rest of the team – really sorry for all the trolling and flaming that has affected you guys, but please do remember that you have made a tangible difference in the lives of many of us who literally, had given up hope. I really do think that something positive will come out of your research and I hope you persevere and please do continue updating us regarding the progress. It means a lot to us all.
By the way, twits will always be there who attack you and your credibility. There is nothing like anonymity which brings out the worst of our attitudes. But I hope it does not affect your work and you keep a positive attitude. Thank you and thanks to your entire team.
I totally agree with one of the commenters who said that in face of those sad facts, a monthly or so newsletter will very much do the job of updating communitty. Although unfortunately not putting us all in contact, it is a fairly good solution for now.
And of course, I beg my email to be included in the newsletter =)
All the best for all of the team!
PS: I am also trying to sign the newsletter and the confirmation link I receive to click on is broken. So I can not activate my new email address. Please, any assistence will be very much welcomed
How long before these human trials are carried out overseas in places like South Korea, Singapore, Germany, etc. that has government supported state of the art lab facilities along with private backing? Patent and intellectual rights might be far reaching but I don’t think this will impede research into Astressin-B. Call me naive but I think if the will is strong enough, it will find a way. If the astressin-b research & human trials is still ongoing as Dr. Wats suggests, then we are all better off for it. It’s better than the alternative, which would be for this to get filed away and go nowhere which has happened to many a promising studies. Obviously the hairloss-research team of members need some breathing room so they will part ways with this open forum and do away with the constant barage of neverending badgering for more info related to human trials. If I could make a suggestion to anyone reading this, go to http://www.sentia-medsci.com and email the true astressin-b patent owner and requestinfo on when they will begin their own human trials. The sooner these trials can get underway, the better off we’ll all be in my opinion in the name of science.
Ferbie you have to understand that the reason Sentia have not started any trial is because they don’t want to and have no intention to. Starting a human trial is expensive and may invalidate the compound as a treatment. Currently they’re likely to be getting at least hundreds of thousands of dollars from that Spectral-F7 thing which they know is safe and has not proven to do anything for hair. At this point it is an asset but testing its efficiency may prove it to be ineffective making it worthless. If you couple that with the loss of investing in an expensive human trial as well as potential danger it’s not a prospect any savvy businessman would undertake.
I’ve been checking this site just about everyday for a half year. I would like to be added to the newsletter. Goodluck in the future you guys! Thanks
I would also say that is why they’re blocking whatever work this group is doing and I think any progress might also compicate the patent in some way because you would assume if the benefit fell to them they would have no problem with it.
Hi,
As a continuous but silent reader of your blog, please sign me in to your list!
Thanks for all the information till now.
Thanks a lot.
Too bad about the blog shutting down. I had it in my RSS reader in order to be up to date with your research. If email newsletter is the way you want to go, so be it — sign me up please.
Good luck by the way!
If this was the case I would hope some kind of action would be taken against Sentia. A Change.org petition could be started and I’m sure for something as major as a potential cure for Cushing’s Syndrome and Alopecia alike would get MILLIONS of signatures forcing some kind of answer and or letting other research groups proceed with their work. If this is what actually is happening (which wouldn’t surprise me with big pharma and corporations today) I am sickened by the world we live in. Actually, not the world we live in, but most of the people that live in it.
Well the patent law is difficult to understand so there might still be potential. You should really blame the people who are buying something that’s definitely not going to do anything for their condition while making others rich..
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/divine-skin-q4-tops-3-million-2011-revenue-reaches-96-million-up-78-over-2010-2012-02-09
Michael, as far as I can tell I doubt Divine Skin, the company behind the hair loss product Spectral, is not infringing on the Sensia’s patent. I’m sure you already know this but Sensia and Divine Skin are 2 separate entities with no affliation. Sentia is an established biopharma company whereas Divine Skin is a small commercial cosmetic manufacturer. As far as I understand, Divine Skin’s use of Astressin-b doesn’t infringe on Sentia’s copyright because it doesn’t use their proprietary mechanism. As far as Divine Skin’s administration of the Astressin-b peptite, it is applied topically vs. subcutaneously as in UCLA’s mouse trials. I don’t think you’re able to patent the administration of the drug but Divine Skin is mixing Astressin-b with host of other ingredients in the hopes that it will regrow hair. There is lots of unknowns what if any effect this will have but one thing is clear, Astressin-b’s molecule is too large to penetrate the skin so topical application has been already demonstrated to be ineffective. Divine Skin is just another capitalizing on Astressin-b without a clear understanding of how the peptide works since there had no human trials before they rushed to market with their reformulated hair loss product. Astressin-b is a catch all word now that many shady and unscrupulous hair loss companies will use to increase their profit margins. Astressin-b, like minoxidil, dutasteride, finasteride, etc. can all be purchased by the general public. You can start a business and mix minoxidil and astressin-b together and make claims it will regrow hair. You will not be breaking any patents in such a hypothetical scenario. If the product stimulates hair growth it is most likely from the minoxidil and not Astressin-b however. This pretty much sums up Divine Skin’s Spectral hair regrowth product that they’re selling.
There would be some kind of licensing or royalty because remember it’s a profit organisation..Sentia is not interested in producing products as much as selling patents.
Only natural that Sentia would make a royalty from a patent from which they hold. Any patent holder would do the same if they aren’t interested in development however Sentia already has other drugs it has developed so there is some history as far as that goes. Only time will tell Michael. For our sake as well as others, I hope we’re not waiting too long for something that appears to do an awful lot for so little.
What I found really interesting from my reading is that Astressin-b has been around for a while so a good drug profile has been established. In one article I read, the investigator stated that because of this positive profile, they anticipated that it would wouldn’t be such a problem for the FDA to approve of its use once the drug is able to make claims to cure or treat a disease. I agree with you though that human trials cost a lot of money and Sentia is not interested in moving this to human trials perhaps because of the expensive undertaking. From what I understand, the drug is easy to obtain from compounding labs online so self-experimentation is inevitably going to happen. It’s better to always have it in a controlled study as what appears to be taking place with Dr. Wats et. al. We’re all just spectators at this point.
The drug is not easy to obtain because most if not all the companies that would be able to synthesise it only sell it to research groups and there’s probably some kind of licence involved. Aside from that it’s also expensive. I doubt anyone with the sense to earn the amount to buy it and the where-with-all to trick distributors is dumb enough to willingly jam it into their, or someone else’s bloodstream.
Hi there. I’m an OIF veteran, two tours, 22 months downrange. During my second deployment, I lost a significant amount of hair as if my MPB was kickstarted due to stress. I had a full head of hair just months prior and suddenly it all started falling out. It never really got better. I’m on Avodart now, and I’ve stopped the progress, but still got that crown wishing it had more hair.
It was depressing enough dealing with readjusting to civilian life afterwards, but the fact that I had spent most of my youth already preparing for and then fighting in a war, it was strange to come back balding at 24 while everyone else my age looked years younger.
I say this because I don’t ever post here. Sometimes I just come to take a peek at your progress. I am doing better these days, after a tumultuous period of unemployment, anxiety, depression, and agoraphobia.
I humbly thank you, sir, and your team, for your efforts, your honesty, your perseverance, and your tenacity. I may never get that hair back. But you give us something more important– hope.
Michael, I’m sorry to hear of the challenges you’ve faced in your short life. Don’t give up bro and have hope because if you examine what’s happening in regards to hair loss research, there isn’t any other time in human history that so much scientific studies have been happening at any one time and I feel, like many others do, that we are on the brink of what I dare say is the ‘cure’ and not just a treatment to hair loss. You are already aware that there are many things happening that the general public is not privvy to and happening in terms of research. Astressin-b is just but one potential cure for hair loss but there are other mechanisms that address the issue in other novel ways. Many will be making it’s way to market very soon. I imagine a day soon when I am not spending my time googling ‘hair loss’ and wasting countless hours of the day reading and writing in hair loss forums and blogs such as this. This time is coming. Have hope!