From Lab to Lifestyle: TRI Recently Attended Three Events Shaping the Science, Hair and Beauty

During the final months of 2025, the Hair Research Team participated in three complementary scientific events that reflected the full spectrum of modern hair science, from analytical chemistry and laboratory research, to clinical insight and consumer education.

Event 1: The EAS in Plainsboro, New Jersey

In November, three team members – Ernesta Malinauskyte, Shamish Ganpule and Martin Zorde – attended the Eastern Analytical Symposium (EAS) in Plainsboro, New Jersey. Ernesta and Shamish presented two posters that both demonstrated how advanced analytical techniques can be applied to hair and scalp research:

• Ganpule, S., Castro, V., Malinauskyte, E. (2025)Preliminary associations between sebum lipid profiles and the scalp microbiomeThis poster explored early links between natural scalp oils and the microorganisms that live on the scalp, an important step toward understanding scalp balance and overall hair health.

• Malinauskyte, E., Castro, V., Calkaite, I., Jonusiene, I. (2025)Orthogonal analytical evaluation of photoprotection in hair: DSC, SDS-PAGE, and HPTLCThis work demonstrated that multiple analytical methods can be combined to evaluate how hair responds to light exposure and to assess the reliability of photoprotective strategies.

  
  

In addition to presenting our work, the EAS also provided extensive learning opportunities. Sessions that we attended included:

• Applications of HPLC and mass spectrometry across pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and environmental sciences;

• Spectroscopy techniques used to characterize complex materials;

• Advanced data analysis and statistics, showing how modern data science helps extract meaningful insights from large datasets.

These tools help scientists better understand materials and ingredients, leading to a safer environment and more effective products.

Event 2: The Alopecia Summit in New York

In December, Ernesta and Shamish attended the Alopecia Summit in New York, organized by the Hair Research Society, to learn directly from leading doctors and researchers who specialize in hair loss.

The meeting covered a broad range of topics, including:

• The different types of hair loss affecting adults, children, and people with inflammatory or scarring conditions;

• Current and emerging treatments, from well-known options like minoxidil to newer medical therapies and advanced approaches;

• How hair loss treatments are tested, including how doctors measure results in clinical studies;

• The emotional and psychological impact of hair loss, highlighting the importance of patient experience, not just clinical results.

  
  

Overall, the summit helped connect scientific research with real patient needs, showing that hair loss goes beyond a cosmetic problem where lab discoveries, treatment development, and patient care all need to work together to improve hair-loss solutions.

Event 3: The Science in Beauty E-Summit

 Ernesta also participated in the Science in Beauty E-Summit, an online event that focused on translating science into practical knowledge for the beauty industry and consumers. Her oral presentation was She delivered an oral presentation titled “The Science of Hair and Common Hair Concerns”, and outlined how hair is structured, how it becomes damaged, and what science currently can and cannot do about common hair concerns. You can watch Ernesta’s talk on playback (she’s at 6:29:15). 

The summit featured a diverse lineup of expert talks, including:

• The evolution and science of UV filters;

• How preservatives, surfactants, and fragrance have developed over time;

• Advances in skin and scalp microbiome research;

• Discussions separating trending ingredients from scientific evidence;

• Current topics in toxicology and safety assessment;

• Insights into formulation science, clinical research, and brand R&D;

  
  

Although these events differed in format and audience, all of them reinforced that modern hair science is increasingly interdisciplinary and more relevant to real people and real concerns.