Where Immunology Meets Topical Innovation

Dr. Alexander Steinkasserer is a German-Italian immunologist whose early academic work includes serving as a research fellow at the University of Oxford’s Department of Biochemistry and MRC Immunochemistry Unit under Robert B. Sim from 1989 to 1993. He later held leadership roles in industry, including Laboratory Head at the Novartis Research Institute, before going on to become Professor of Immune Modulation at the University Hospital Erlangen at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen–Nuremberg (FAU). These academic and industry experiences helped shape his long-standing focus on the biology of dendritic cells and the CD83 molecule.

Over the course of his academic career, Dr. Steinkasserer has authored more than 170 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to foundational research on the membrane-bound CD83 (mCD83) and soluble form of CD83 (sCD83), helping to establish their relevance across immunology and translational science. These academic and industry experiences have shaped his long-standing focus on the biology of dendritic cells and the CD83 molecule.

Dr. Steinkasserer’s research has consistently centered on how the body maintains balance within the immune system, particularly in conditions where that immune balance is disrupted, e.g. due to inflammation. His group was among the first to identify and characterize soluble CD83, and to explore its broader biological implications in areas such as autoimmune conditions and transplantation. This work has been supported by both academic institutions and industry collaborations, reflecting a long-standing focus on translating laboratory findings into practical applications.

The connection to hair follicle biology emerged later in this research trajectory. After more than 20 years of studying the CD83 molecules in immunological contexts, an unexpected observation during preclinical work on wound repair revealed changes in the local tissue environment, and even more interesting, the presence of increased and newly formed hair follicles. This finding prompted a deeper investigation into how the same underlying biology might relate to the scalp and hair growth, extending the scope of sCD83 research into a new domain.

Dr. Steinkasserer is a co-founder of Mallia Innovations, where this body of research is being further developed across both pharmaceutical and topical applications. His role reflects a broader commitment to translational science, advancing research from the laboratory into formats that can be studied, evaluated, and ultimately evaluated and implemented in applied human settings.