These 14 researchers are set to advance the knowledge of skin science with support from the LEO Foundation’s latest grant round.
7 August 2025
DKK 48.6 million (EUR 6.5 million) is awarded to 14 innovative research projects, advancing skin research with cutting-edge technologies and new approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
In the latest round of funding through the Research Grants in open competition program, the LEO Foundation has awarded DKK 48.6 million (EUR 6.5 million) to 14 skin research projects with groundbreaking potential. This round received applications from 21 countries, reflecting the broad international engagement and the strong dedication of researchers to advancing knowledge about the skin and its diseases.
“We continue to be impressed by the quality and ambition of the applications we receive,” says Anne-Marie Engel, Chief Scientific Officer at the LEO Foundation, and continues:
“This round demonstrates the high calibre of skin research and the dedication of scientists committed to generating new knowledge in the field.”
The funded projects showcase a wide range of cutting-edge science, from new medical devices designed to improve the precision of topical treatments, to advanced technologies that provide better measures of skin disease progression.
New tools to improve diagnosis and treatment monitoring
Two grantees from this round of funding are developing novel technologies that aim to improve how patients with challenging skin conditions are diagnosed and monitored.
Adela Cardones, Chief of the Division of Dermatology at the University of Kansas Medical Center Research in the US, is testing a device designed to measure skin elasticity more accurately than traditional manual methods. In conditions like scleroderma, where the skin becomes thickened and hardened, doctors typically assess skin stiffness by pinching or pressing the skin with their fingers – a subjective technique that can vary between clinicians. Cardones’ project aims to evaluate a novel tool that provides objective, precise measurements of skin elasticity, potentially improving diagnosis and monitoring of diseases characterized by skin hardening.
In the UK, Oisín Kavanagh, Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University, is developing a 3D-printed dispenser to help standardize how patients apply topical treatments prescribed using the rule of ‘fingertip units’, which is the dose necessary to cover the size of one of the patients’ palms. The dispenser is to be attached to conventional tubes as an adjustable nozzle and will ensure that an accurate dose, a fingertip unit, is dispensed. This is particularly helpful to dose correctly for small areas or pediatric use. Developed in collaboration with patients and caregivers, the tool aims to bring precision to a common yet often imprecise part of dermatological care.
Unlocking insights from rare disease biobanks
Grantee Joanne Reed, Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, has been awarded a Research Grant to study autoimmune bullous diseases – a group of rare but severe skin conditions where the immune system attacks healthy skin, leading to painful blistering, and in some cases, permanent damage to the eyes or mouth.
Reed’s team will analyze blood and skin biopsy samples from affected patients using advanced technologies that allow immune cells and their gene activity to be studied in unprecedented detail. The goal is to identify the immune cells driving disease, predict which patients are at risk of severe complications, and ultimately pave the way for new, more targeted/personal treatments.
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 application deadline for the next round is 11 September 2025.
The call 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. Read more about Research Grants and the application process here.
Get an overview of current funding opportunities from the LEO Foundation here.