University of California-Irvine · BiologyPlikus Follicle Lab
Maksim V Plikus · Irvine, California
Research Focus
Dr. Maksim V Plikus' lab focuses on understanding how hair follicles control their growth and size. Using a combination of advanced techniques, including mouse models and computational analysis, the lab studies the interactions between different cell types within hair follicles. Their research aims to reveal the complex signaling mechanisms that allow tissues to maintain their intended size, which has important implications for both basic biology and potential medical applications.
hair folliclestissue size controlstem cell biologycell communicationsingle-cell RNA sequencing
Research Aims
3AIM 01Profile and quantify the heterogeneity of intermediate epithelial progenitors in hair follicles.
AIM 02Define the cell-cell communication networks within the epithelial hair follicle lineage.
AIM 03Determine the signaling impact of mesenchymal niche cells on epithelial lineage cells for hair size control.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelscell culturesingle-cell RNA sequencingcomputational modelinglineage tracingin vitro experimental techniquesdata analysis using Pythonimmunofluorescence microscopygene expression profiling
Output against the department
Publications197top 33% of dept.338th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations23ktop 17% of dept.173rd of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.