Parkinson's Treatment Informed by Biome Science
Dr. Michael Zasloff, inventor of illumai, discovers key Squalamine molecule
In the early '90s, while pursuing a greater understanding of the self-healing biome, medical scientist and illumai founder, Dr. Michael Zasloff, discovered squalamine, a molecule with potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties.
To our surprise, we found evidence that squalamine not only slows down the formation of the toxins associated with Parkinson’s Disease, but also makes them less toxic altogether. If further tests prove to be successful, it is possible that a drug treating at least some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease could be developed from squalamine. 
Professor Christopher Dobson
University of Cambridge.
Over the following decades, Dr. Zasloff continued his medical research -- discovering important anticancer and antiviral properties of squalamine. Most recently, he was part of a prestigious international team conducting deeper research into whether squalamine can stop or slow down the onset or progression of Parkinson's Disease.
In January, 2017, the Journal of the National Academy of Sciences published an important scientific paper co-authored by Dr. Zasloff. The research team reported good news for the over 10 million people with Parkinson’s: Squalamine shows the potential to prevent and reduce some of the symptoms related to Parkinson’s. Clinical trials start later this year.
Like the discovery of illumai, this most recent discovery evolved from decades of research into the self-healing properties of the dermal biome -- the extraordinary, living ecosystem composed of our skin, scalp and hair.
We celebrate Dr. Zasloff for his success, and we share his ongoing passion to respect, nurture and heal Nature’s brilliant solution for healthy, beautiful hair -- the biome. We are proud to offer a line of products which restore and protect the biome as the best foundation for healthy beauty.
Thank you, Dr. Zasloff for your continued contributions, and congratulations on these latest research discoveries!
Learn More . . .
Meet Dr. Zasloff
What are Sulfates? And Why Should you Care if a Shampoo is Sulfate-Free?
