Hair is a simple yet valuable sample used in many fields such as medicine, cosmetics and forensics. It is easy to collect and store, making it useful for studying diseases and environmental exposures. This study aims to address how hair can be better used in precision medicine and diagnostics. Researchers have found that hair can help detect diseases such as cancer and monitor drug levels in patients. They use advanced techniques including mass spectrometry  to analyze hair samples. This helps in understanding how drugs are absorbed and how diseases progress over time. Hair analysis can also reveal exposure to toxins and stress levels by measuring substances stored in the hair over months. The study concludes that hair is a promising tool for personalized healthcare, offering insights into long-term health conditions.

Full article: Adav, S.S., Ng, K.W. The multifaceted role of hair as a biospecimen: recent advances in precision medicine and forensic science. Exp Mol Med 57, 2234–2250 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-025-01548-4