Molecular Biologist Dr Alfonso Urbanucci Discusses Post-Finasteride Syndrome and Upcoming Research

Alfonso Urbanucci, PhD is Group Leader and Senior Research Fellow at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology at the University of Tampere, Associate Investigator at the Center for Molecular Medicine Norway, and currently Project Group Leader at the Institute for Cancer Research at Oslo University Hospital. Dr. Urbanucci has published a series of papers on the molecular effects of androgen receptor deregulation on chromatin and transcription, one of them being, “Androgen receptor overexpression alters binding dynamics of the receptor to chromatin and chromatin structure.” He is a member of PFS Network’s scientific advisory board and lead researcher on the charity’s current genetics study in Tampere. 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Dr. Urbanucci’s work to date 03:40 How the androgen system functions 05:44 How a disease involving the AR could cause multi-systemic symptoms 09:28 How Dr. Urbanucci’s previous work lends itself to studying PFS 13:09 Why Dr. Urbanucci wished to conduct a WGS (genetics study) 15:53 What the current genetics study in Tampere will analyze 17:37 How a WGS can assist in understanding an epigenetics-mediated condition 19:47 How the epigenetics study in Kiel and the genetics study in Tampere intersect 21:03 What a whole genome sequencing (WGS) is 22:38 Why the current genetics study is a logical next step after the Baylor study 25:10 What the “crash” patients experience might entail 28:30 What outcomes patients can expect from the current genetics study Post-Finasteride Syndrome is the current term for a rare syndrome of devastating physical, neurological, and sexual side effects that persist and progress after stopping finasteride. The condition occurs primarily in younger men who have taken the drug to treat hair loss. There is currently no effective treatment for this disease. PFS has a disastrous impact on patients, their families and their friends. It often causes disability, isolation, and suicide. Every person is valuable, and everyone deserves to make a fully informed choice with their health. More research into Post-Finasteride Syndrome is desperately needed. Learn more about our newest scientific initiative here: https://www.pfsnetwork.org/genetic-study Please subscribe to our channel for patient stories and content regarding PFS. Stay connected with us: Twitter:   / pfsnetwork