Research centre could capitalise on scalp-cooling
A WORLD-LEADING company has signed the potential to substantially enhance the a £1 million five-year deal to fund a pioneereffect of scalp cooling; ing research centre at the University of Huddersfield.
Fenay Bridge-based PAXMAN will set up the world’s first scalp cooling research and development centre.
For 25 years PAXMAN has been at the forefront of scalp cooling technology creating a cap worn by cancer patients undergoing treatment to help prevent hair loss.
The PAXMAN Scalp Cooling Research Centre will focus on biological hair follicle research as well as developing innovative scalp cooling-related treatments and individual 3D-printed cooling caps.
The £1 million investment in cash, staffing and other resources during the first five years will be jointly funded by PAXMAN and the University of Huddersfield.
PAXMAN’s investment during the first year will be covered partly by an EUfinanced grant and during the following four years it will be included as a part of the company’s existing research and development budget.
Initially, the centre will focus its efforts on three key projects:
friendly eco-system for 3D-printed individual cooling caps ready for mass production.
PAXMAN’s CEO Richard Paxman said: “The launch of the PAXMAN Scalp Cooling Research Centre is a historic event in the scalp cooling sector that will take our existing R&D projects to a whole new level.
“PAXMAN will now become the only hair loss-preventing scalp cooling provider firmly based on biological research.
“We are also taking an important step towards achieving our long-term zero hair loss vision.”
A university spokesman said: “The aim of the PAXMAN Scalp Cooling Research Centre is to become a global leader in its field, pushing the boundaries of human knowledge while also developing cutting-edge products.”
The £100,000 grant received by PAXMAN consists of a support programme from Access Innovation offered to innovative companies in the Leeds City Region.
It is delivered by the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership and West Yorkshire Combined Authority with co-funding by the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020.
The PAXMAN Cooling System, also known as the ‘cold cap’, alleviates the damage caused to the follicle by chemotherapy.
It works by reducing the temperature of the scalp by a few degrees immediately before, during and after the administration of chemotherapy.
Made from lightweight silicone, the scalp cooling cap is soft and flexible – providing a snug, yet comfortable fit during treatment, moulding to all head shapes and sizes.
Liquid coolant passes through the cap, extracting heat from the scalp, ensuring it remains at an even, constant temperature to minimise hair loss.
Chemotherapy works by targeting all rapidly dividing cells in the body. Hair is the second fastest dividing cell, and this is the reason why many chemotherapy drugs cause alopecia.
The hair follicles in the growth phase are attacked, resulting in hair loss approximately two weeks after the commencement of chemotherapy treatment.
Glenn Paxman founded the business after his wife Sue lost her hair during treatment for breast cancer. To find out more about scalp cooling visit www.paxmanscalpcooling.com