Dr. Claire Higgins

Biography

Claire Higgins joined the Department of Bioengineering in April 2014 after postdoctoral training in the Department of Dermatology at Columbia University, New York. She received a Career Development Award from the Dermatology Foundation for her research on the molecular basis of human hair follicle induction. Claire obtained her Ph.D. in Skin Developmental Biology from Durham University in 2007 and holds a B.Sc. in Natural Sciences. She is currently a Reader in Skin Regeneration within the Department of Bioengineering. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of tissue development and regeneration, both under normal conditions and in response to disease and injury. Hair follicles are used as a model to study organ regeneration, providing an accessible and elegant system. Her work investigates the developmental and regenerative processes to recreate structures in the lab by exploiting the inherent properties of interacting cells. This includes understanding how specific cells acquire the ability to instruct hair growth and elucidating the role of these cells in response to traumatic injury and skin repair. Claire's extensive research publications can be found on her Google Scholar profile.

Research Interests