Hans I-Chen Harn

Hans I-Chen Harn is an Assistant Professor of Research Pathology at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. His research program focuses on mechanobiology, regenerative medicine, and wound healing, with particular expertise in tissue mechanics as it relates to skin development and regeneration.

Dr. Harn's research interests span multiple areas of regenerative biology:

• Mechanobiology of skin and wound healing
• Wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis
• Skin organoid self-organization
• Comparative regenerative biology across species
• Tissue mechanics and its role in regeneration
• Regulation of hair follicle regeneration

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on understanding the mechanical and chemical signals that drive tissue regeneration, with particular attention to skin and hair follicle regeneration. His work often employs comparative approaches, examining differences in regenerative capacity across species including laboratory mice and spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus), which have superior regenerative abilities. This comparative work has provided insights into the fundamental mechanisms that control tissue regeneration and could inform new therapeutic approaches for enhancing wound healing in humans.

Dr. Harn's scientific contributions include important insights into:

• The mechano-chemical circuit driving skin organoid self-organization
• How topological distribution of wound stiffness modulates hair follicle regeneration
• Comparative analysis of regenerative mechanisms across different mouse species
• The role of tissue mechanics in skin aging and regeneration
• Symmetry breaking in tissue mechanics during wound healing

His work bridges basic science discoveries with potential clinical applications in wound care and regenerative medicine, with implications for developing bioinspired strategies to enhance tissue regeneration in clinical settings.