15 June 2017

Understanding how drugs interact with skin has long been a challenge within pharmaceutical research.

Copenhagen, Denmark (15 June, 2017) – Today’s inauguration of the LEO Foundation Center for Cutaneous Drug Delivery, a new centre at the Department of Pharmacy at University of Copenhagen, marks the start of a quest to better this understanding.

“We believe that we can elevate research significantly in this very exciting area,” said the centre’s newly appointed head, professor Martin Malmsten, formerly of Uppsala University.

The centre is backed by a 10-year grant of DKK 40 million from the LEO Foundation and is physically based at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen. The centre has been staffed with some of dermatology’s large talents and has set out to collaborate with researchers all over the world.

“We are very ambitious and we look forward to increase the impact of the talented scientists and ensure constant exchange of ideas and knowledge,” said Ulla Wewer, Dean of the Department of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen.

The LEO Foundation Center for Cutaneous Drug Delivery will conduct research on what happens in and on the skin when drugs are applied. There will be a particular focus on the physical-chemical aspects of the interaction between skin and drugs, which is important to the development of new drugs. This will hopefully help optimize the drug properties and allow for maximum utilization while simultaneously minimizing side effects.

“I believe that the centre has the potential to be a creative space dedicated to innovative research methods and new analytical technologies. And that it will be able to generate knowledge that can and will benefit patients as well as society in general,“ said Lars Olsen, Chairman of the LEO Foundation.