Scientific / Medical Team

Dr. Rolf Hoffmann, MD – Founder

Dr. Hoffmann has been working for the past 18 years in the fields of alopecia, endocrinology of the hair follicle and hair follicle morphogenesis. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed medical and scientific journal articles, and has contributed to numerous dermatology textbooks. Dr. Hoffmann received his education in biochemistry and pathology at the University of Freiburg, Germany, one of Europe’s top centers for biology research. He is a board certified dermatologist and a Professor in the Department of Dermatology at Phillips University in Marburg, Germany. Dr. Hoffmann is the inventor of TrichoScan, the first GCP-approved, software-based, automatic technique to measure hair growth. He is a member of many scientific societies and worked several years as the secretary and president of the European Hair Research Society.

Dr. Kevin McElwee, Ph.D. – Founder

Dr. McElwee has been an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia since 2004, where he focuses on the diverse roles of the hair follicle in cutaneous disease and tissue regeneration. Dr. McElwee has over 70 peer-reviewed publications in professional scientific and medical journals and has authored several chapters in academic books on hair biology and immunology. Prior to joining the University of British Columbia, Dr. McElwee was a senior scientist at Phillipps University of Marburg in Germany and a Postdoctoral Fellow at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine. Dr. McElwee holds a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the University of Dundee, Scotland, and a B.Sc. Hons. in Cell and Immunobiology – Zoology from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Dr. David McLean, MD, FRCPC – Founder

Dr. McLean is a Professor of Dermatology and the former Head of Dermatology at the University of British Columbia. He also serves as the Secretary-General of the International League of Dermatologic Societies and is on active staff at the British Columbia Cancer Agency, where he heads up Cancer Prevention. Dr. McLean has contributed to numerous start-up companies in his career and holds six US patents.

Dr. Jerry Shapiro, MD, FRCPC – Founder

Dr. Shapiro is one of the most experienced hair dermatologists in the world and has specialized in hair disorders for the past 22 years. He holds dual academic appointments as Clinical Professor and Adjunct Professor at both the University of British Columbia and New York University School of Medicine.

Dr. Shapiro is the founder of the first comprehensive integrated medical and surgical hair clinic in the world. He has trained over thirty international hair fellows from four continents. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers, 15 book chapters and two books. He has lectured internationally on hair related topics on 173 occasions on 6 continents.

Dr. Harvey Lui, MD, FRCPC – Founder

Dr. Lui is the Medical Director of the Vancouver General Hospital Skin Care Centre, the largest medical facility in Canada devoted to dermatology. He is also the head of the Department of Dermatology and Skin Science at the University of British Columbia, which is the first and only academic dermatology department in Canada. After receiving his Bachelor of Science, Medical Degree, and Dermatology specialization from the University of British Columbia, Dr. Lui was a Clinical Fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Lui is a member of the American Board of Dermatology and the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. Along with his duties at The Skin Care Centre and the University of British Columbia, he is also on staff at the BC Cancer Agency and the BC Children’s Hospital.