15 talented skin researchers have been awarded a LEO Foundation Research Grant in Open Competition.
16 December 2024
The LEO Foundation awards DKK 56 million to 15 research projects that will improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of skin diseases and their symptoms. This latest round of Research Grants in Open Competition saw the highest number of applications in the Foundation’s history.
In the third and final round of 2024, the LEO Foundation awards 15 international scientists with a research grant. The funding – totaling just over DKK 56 million (EUR 7.5 million)– supports cutting-edge research in the field of skin research.
The grantees, representing a diverse geographic spread, hail from institutions such as University College London, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, the Technical University of Denmark and Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine.
“The LEO Foundation is proud to support the best skin research projects worldwide that further our knowledge of the skin and its diseases. We aim to improve the lives of millions of people living with skin diseases – and we believe that scientific findings from these cutting-edge projects will pave the way to do exactly that,” says Anne-Marie Engel, Chief Scientific Officer at the LEO Foundation.
This record-setting round attracted 112 applications, reviewed by the Scientific Evaluation Committee (SEC), an international panel of independent experts, who evaluate applications submitted for Research Grants in Open Competition.
Exploring skin from multiple research perspectives
The awarded research projects span a broad array of focuses and approaches, from investigating the skin’s sensory nerves to exploring atopic dermatitis and the complex interactions of live bacteria within the skin’s microbiome.
One of the funded research projects focuses on establishing a global research collaboration, the Skin Genetic Consortium (SGC), to study the genetics of skin diseases. Led by Associate Professor Lavinia Paternoster at the University of Bristol in the UK, this initiative will use large-scale genetic data from populations around the world to better understand the genetic causes of skin diseases, identify new drug targets, and improve diagnostics. By developing a platform for harmonized data, streamlined genetic analysis and open result distribution, the project aims to provide scientists globally with an unprecedented and unique resource of high-quality, standardized genetic data on skin diseases.
Focus on early biomarkers in childhood atopic dermatitis
Another funded research project focuses on exploring early biomarkers in childhood atopic dermatitis – a skin condition affecting about 1 in 5 children. The project, led by Ann-Marie Schoos, Clinical Research Associate Professor at Herlev and Gentofte Hospitals in Denmark, seeks to address the reasons why some children outgrow atopic dermatitis while others experience persistent symptoms. The research investigates protein biomarkers — molecules in the blood that can act as indicators of disease processes — to better understand atopic dermatitis and improve prediction, prevention, and treatment. While similar studies have been done in adults, research on children, especially in the early stages of atopic dermatitis, is still limited. The goal for Schoos’ team is to develop a simple blood test to identify which children are at risk for severe or long-lasting atopic dermatitis, paving the way for personalized treatment and better outcomes.
Advancing innovative therapies for vitiligo and other autoimmune skin diseases
A third project, led by Julián Valero, Assistant Professor at Aarhus University in Denmark, focuses on developing innovative treatments for vitiligo, an autoimmune skin disease in which the immune system destroys pigment-producing cells, leading to loss of skin color. Valero’s team is using RNA aptamers — tiny RNA molecules that can bind precisely to specific targets — to deliver treatments directly to affected skin cells. By focusing on the so-called Langerhans cells and associated immune interactions, the research aims to reduce inflammation and reprogram immune cells to stop attacking the skin. Langerhans cells act as the outermost guard of the skin’s immune system. Approaches include delivering anti-inflammatory drugs, reprogramming immune cells, and using aptamers to block harmful immune signals. This approach holds promises for reducing side effects and improving beneficial immune responses and may open the door more broadly to new skin therapies and vaccines.
Next application round in 2025
The LEO Foundation calls for applications for research projects focusing on the skin and its diseases on an ongoing basis. The next call is open, with an application deadline of 8 January 2025.
The competition is open to talented skin researchers at PhD level or above from any country. The typical grant amount applied for is DKK 2–4 million for a period of 1–3 years. Researchers who would like to apply for a LEO Foundation research grant will be able to apply here.
Get an overview of current funding opportunities from the LEO Foundation here.