Dave Hoffman's long tresses are a new look for him. His hair has been relatively short his entire life, and the decision to grow it out went beyond style appeal.

Hoffman, sophomore in mass communications, decided to grow out his hair to donate it to the Locks of Love organization after a family friend was diagnosed with cancer.

He said he has not cut his hair since November 2005.

"It's given me a new perspective and a way to look different," Hoffman said.

According to the Locks of Love Web site, www.locksoflove.org, the organization "provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis."

The organization asks for at least 10 inches of hair.

GenVec Proprietary Adenovector and Gene Used to Restore Balance ...

GenVec, Inc. (Nasdaq: GNVC) announced today the publication of pre-clinical research demonstrating that delivery of the atonal gene (math1) can re-establish sensory cells and inner ear function.

The proof of concept study in mouse vestibular models, Vestibular Hair Cell Regeneration and Restoration of Balance Function Induced by Math1 Gene Transfer, authored by investigators from University of Kansas School of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, and GenVec, appears in the February issue of Otology & Neurotology (28:223-231), 2007. The researchers used GenVec's proprietary adenovector technology to deliver the company's patented math1 gene to inner ear cells in mice. In mice with damaged inner ear cells, treatment with AdMath1 regenerated inner ear hair cells and restored lost balance function within 8 weeks.