William Edward Lowry

William Edward Lowry is a Professor in both the Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology and the Department of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), College of Letters and Science. His interdisciplinary research bridges stem cell biology, cancer biology, and regenerative medicine, with a particular focus on hair follicle stem cells and their metabolic regulation.

Dr. Lowry's research interests center on stem cell biology, particularly hair follicle stem cells and their roles in regeneration and cancer. His work explores the metabolic regulation of stem cells, the cellular origins of squamous cell carcinoma, and the application of stem cell technologies for regenerative medicine. His research spans from basic mechanisms of stem cell quiescence and activation to translational applications for hair loss and neurological disorders.

Analysis of Dr. Lowry's recent publications reveals a strong focus on the intersection of metabolism and stem cell biology, particularly how metabolic pathways regulate hair follicle stem cell function and transformation. His work demonstrates that metabolic processes like pyruvate oxidation play crucial roles in stem cell activation, hair cycling, and cancer development. His research also extends to neurological applications, with significant work on glial progenitors for treating white matter stroke and vascular dementia.

Dr. Lowry has secured substantial research funding through multiple NIH grants, including R01 awards for iPS-Glial Restricted Progenitors in White Matter Repair for Stroke (R01NS103788), Metabolic Control of Hair Follicle Stem Cell Homeostasis and Tumorigenesis (R01AR070245), and Identification and characterization of cancer cells of origin in the epidermis (R01AR057409). These grants support his laboratory's work on stem cell metabolism, cancer biology, and regenerative medicine applications.

His laboratory focuses on hair follicle stem cell biology and metabolism, with additional work on neural progenitors and glial cells for regenerative applications. Dr. Lowry's team employs advanced techniques including single-cell transcriptomics, metabolic profiling, and in vivo models to investigate stem cell behavior in health and disease.