The LEO Foundation Award 2024 – Region Asia-Pacific

Grantee: Satoru Yonekura, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University, Japan

Amount: USD 100,000

Grant category: LEO Foundation Awards

Year: 2024

Geography: Japan

Satoru Yonekora is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Dermatology at Kyoto University in Japan

He was awarded the prestigious LEO Foundation Award 2024 in Region Asia-Pacific during the 49th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Satoru Yonekura’s research has contributed to new insights into how gut health influences melanoma and inflammatory skin diseases.

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Understanding the mechanism of local immune induction from the perspective of induced skin-associated lymphoid tissue (iSALT)

Grantee: Kenji Kabashima, Professor, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan

Amount: DKK 4,000,000

Grant category: Research Grants in open competition

Year: 2024

Geography: Japan

Kenji Kabashima’s project explores the hypothesis that skin possesses the capacity for independently initiating acquired immune responses. More specifically, it aims to investigate the hypothesis that “skin functions as a site for induction of diverse immune responses” by leveraging the inducible skin-associated lymphoid tissue (iSALT) previously discovered by Kenja Kabashima and his team. The objectives are to establish a novel method for local immune manipulation utilizing iSALT and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the induction of various immune responses within the local skin environment. To achieve these goals, an innovative approach is proposed: combining verification of iSALT existence in human skin, functional characterization of iSALT, application of 3D bioprinter technology, development of human skin organoids, implementation of cutting-edge skin imaging techniques, and utilization of multi-omics analyses. The expected outcomes include elucidation of molecular mechanisms governing immune regulation in local skin areas, potential applications in treating immunological and inflammatory skin diseases, and insights into managing skin malignancies.

The results of Kenji Kabashima’s research have the potential to significantly advance our understanding of skin immunology and open new avenues for therapeutic interventions in dermatological conditions.

JSID Young Investigator Event

Grantee: Akimichi Morita, JSID

Amount: EUR 25,000

Grant category: Research Networking

Year: 2024

Geography: Japan

To strengthen the interactions between young scientists a collegiality night and a symposium are arranged in conjunction with the 49th annual meeting of the Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (JSID).

The mission of JSID  is to advance the position of dermatology in the interdisciplinary world and to enhance the quality of science and research presentations in dermatology for the purposes of maintaining healthy skin and further advancing the treatment of skin diseases.

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6th JSID Summer School (Aoba Juku)

Grantee: Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology

Amount: EUR 15,000

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2023

Geography: Japan

Since 2017, the Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (JSID) has held a two-day event named Aoba Juku focused on attracting young medical doctors to science. Aoba is the Japanese word for fresh green leaves, representative of the young attendees who absorb energy and who grow rapidly. 

The Summer School aims to train talented and enthusiastic young doctors as dermatological researchers. To further strengthen dermatological research activity in a clinical setting, it is an indispensable event for recruiting talented doctors to the field.

About JSID

The mission of the Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (JSID) is to advance the position of dermatology in the interdisciplinary world and to enhance the quality of science and research presentations in dermatology for the purposes of maintaining healthy skin and further advancing the treatment of skin diseases.

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The LEO Foundation Award 2022 – Region Asia-Pacific

Grantee: Dr. Takashi Sakai, Assistant Professor, Oita University

Amount: USD 100,000

Grant category: LEO Foundation Awards

Year: 2022

Geography: Japan

Dr. Takashi Sakai is Assistant Professor at the Department of Dermatology at Oita University, Japan.

He receives the award in recognition of his visionary scientific approach to understanding the triggers and complications of atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is a debilitating skin condition that causes inflammation of the skin and affects nearly 20 percent of all people at some point in their life.

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The LEO Foundation Award 2021 – Region Asia-Pacific

Grantee: Dr. Satoshi Nakamizo, Assistant Professor, Kyoto University

Amount: USD 100,000

Grant category: LEO Foundation Awards

Year: 2021

Geography: Japan

Dr. Satoshi Nakamizo is Assistant Professor at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.

He receives the award for his excellent dermatological research, focused on the roles of antigen-presenting cells in chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis.

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12th JSID Young Academician-Fostering Seminar (Kisaragi Juku)

Grantee: Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology

Amount: EUR 15,000

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2021

Geography: Japan

The mission of the Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (JSID) is to advance the position of dermatology in the interdisciplinary world and to enhance the quality of science and research presentations in dermatology for the purposes of maintaining healthy skin and further advancing the treatment of skin diseases.

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The LEO Foundation Award 2020 – Region Asia-Pacific

Grantee: Dr Yumi Matsuoka-Nakamura

Amount: USD 100,000

Grant category: LEO Foundation Awards

Year: 2020

Geography: Japan

Dr Yumi Matsuoka-Nakamura is Associate Professor at Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Japan.

She receives the award for her internationally renowned skin research and her exceptional track record in in skin immunology, allergy and microbiology – and a great vision for her future endeavors.

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The LEO Foundation Award 2019 – Region Asia Pacific

Grantee: Dr. Tetsuro Kobayashi

Amount: USD 100,000

Grant category: LEO Foundation Awards

Year: 2019

Geography: Japan

Dr. Tetsuro Kobayashi is a Research Scientist at the Laboratory for Innate Immune Systems, RIKEN, Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama, Japan.

Dr. Tetsuro Kobayashi receives the award for his research in understanding the interaction between microbes and the immune system in skin.

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Young Scientists Program

Grantee: Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology

Amount: EUR 15,000

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2019

Geography: Japan

The mission of the Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (JSID) is to advance the position of dermatology in the interdisciplinary world and to enhance the quality of science and research presentations in dermatology for the purposes of maintaining healthy skin and further advancing the treatment of skin diseases.

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