All New NAAF Conference for 2023!

The National Alopecia Areata Foundation’s annual conference, Reaching New Summits Together, Friday, June 30 – Sunday, July 2, in Denver, CO, is all-new for 2023!

New speakers include Director of the Dermatology Clinical Research Unit at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Tiffany Mayo, MD; co-founder of the Alopecia Justice League and Legislative Liaison, Lindsey Sullivan; podcast host and career coach, Joyel Crawford; and hair loss consultant Amy Gibson.

Meet Our Conference Host Family

The Hernandez Family: Jonathan , Melanie,  Joshua (5), Juliana (13), Jazmine (7), Ebony (16) and Jordan (19).

For the first time ever, the NAAF conference has a “host family,” that is a local family living with alopecia areata who want to personally welcome you to their hometown.  When you come to the conference, you’ll meet 5-year-old Joshua Hernandez and his family who will tell you all about the many great things Denver has to offer. Joshua was diagnosed with alopecia universalis when he was 3. His family is part of the Denver children’s support group that has helped build a community for the family, including Joshua’s siblings who have built relationships with other children and families who have alopecia. The family now hopes to meet many other children and adults with alopecia during the conference so Joshua doesn’t feel so different. Joshua’s mother Melanie explains, “We’re so honored to be a host family! NAAF has allowed us to get information we otherwise wouldn’t have found and speak to others who have alopecia who can help in so many ways!” 

NAAF Advocates for Change at CSD Hill Day

The last week of April saw NAAF’s Communications Director, Gary Sherwood, and Legislative Liaison, Brittany Foxworth, take an active role in the Coalition of Skin Diseases’ second annual Day on Capitol Hill to advocate on behalf of issues of great importance to both those with alopecia areata and the skin disease community as a whole. Gary and Brittany were part of a group of 45 patients, caregivers, and organization representatives meeting with the offices of 80 congressional representatives and senators. 

New Webinar: Turning Alopecia Areata
 Advocacy into Action 

NAAF is hosting its next live webinar, Turning Alopecia Areata Advocacy into Action , on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 7:00pm ET/ 6:00pm CT/ 4:00pm PT.

What does it mean to be an advocate for alopecia areata? Join this webinar to hear from members of the alopecia areata community who have taken their advocacy to the next level! Dermatologist Kristen Lo Sicco, MD,  along with founding members of the Alopecia Justice League and NAAF Legislative Advocates, Alison, Julie, and Lindsey, will talk about their advocacy work, key issues for the community, and the personal empowerment that comes from making a difference. 

NAAF gratefully acknowledges the support provided by Eli Lilly and Company and Sun Pharma for the You Are Not Alone: Education and Empowerment Webinar Series. 

Let’s Walk For Alopecia!

The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) is excited to announce the inaugural 
Walk For Alopecia™. Our Walk will bring the alopecia areata community of family, friends, co-workers, and healthcare professionals together to drive research for better treatments and a cure, increase support, advocate for change and reduce stigma.

On September 30th, 2023, we will rally coast to coast to raise funds, support our community, educate the public and empower people living with alopecia areata everywhere. This year we will host one Walk site in San Francisco, CA at Lake Merced, honoring the community where NAAF was established more than four decades ago. Simultaneously, do it yourself “Walk Where You Are” teams will step-off in communities all over the country providing an opportunity for anyone, anywhere to do something about alopecia areata.  

Registration for San Francisco and “Walk Where You Are” is free.  Sign up as an individual or a team and raise funds. Teams can be made up of family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, or classmates.  The more the merrier! 

Together, on one day, let’s shine the brightest light on alopecia areata, raise funds and help the world understand that it is not just hair.  Join us!  

Thank You to the Walk For Alopecia™ Sponsors:    

NATIONAL PRESENTING SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSOR

NATIONAL KICKOFF SPONSOR

  Sun Pharma

Questions? Send us a note at walk@naaf.org.  Follow NAAF on Facebook and Instagram for exciting updates about Walk For Alopecia™. 

Clinical Trial Announcements 

NAAF works to bring you postings about new clinical trials recruiting individuals living with alopecia areata.  To learn more about clinical trials and the latest listings, visit www.naaf.org/studies, and see the announcements below.

Clinical Trial Opportunity!

A clinical research study is looking for adults (18+) diagnosed with alopecia areata with 50% or more scalp hair loss. This study is investigating an oral (taken by mouth) study drug called farudodstat. The main purpose of the study is to see whether farudodstat, when taken twice a day for 12 weeks, can help people with alopecia areata grow hair and to find out if farudodstat is safe when compared to placebo (a pill that looks like the farudodstat tablet but has no drug or other active ingredient in it). 

Eligible participants will receive study drug for 12 weeks and placebo for 12 weeks. The study will last approximately 8 months and you will have to go to the study center for 11 scheduled visits. Participation in this study is at no cost to you.

This study will occur at multiple clinical trial sites throughout the United States. Click here to learn more: https://www.naaf.org/studies/phase-2a-study-to-investigate-farudodstat-in-adults-with-alopecia-areata/

Clinical Trial Opportunity!

An ongoing clinical research study is currently recruiting Black and African American patients with alopecia areata for a study that evaluates the safety and effectiveness of an oral  drug. Would you like to know more about this study? This study is testing a drug called baricitinib (the “study drug”) in people with alopecia areata. The purpose of the study is to learn how  the study drug can help patients, particularly Black and African American patients with alopecia areata regrow their hair .You may qualify to participate in this study if you are 18 to 60 years for males (70 years of age for females), self identify as Black or African American in race, have at least 50% scalp hair loss, and have been diagnosed with alopecia areata for at least 6 months.

This study will occur at multiple clinical trial sites throughout the United States. Click here to learn more: https://www.naaf.org/studies/an-open-label-subpopulation-study-to-evaluate-efficacy-and-safety-of-baricitinib-in-participants-with-alopecia-areata-that-self-identify-as-black-or-african-american-in-race/.

Donate Now and Change a Life Forever!

Gary Sherwood
Communications Director