Grant geography: Switzerland

Grant category: Research Grants in open competition

Year: 2020

Geography: Switzerland

The goal of this project is to improve the understanding of atopic dermatitis (AD) in Sub-Saharan Africa by characterizing the immune responses and potential changes in the associated skin and gut mycobiome (the composition of fungi found in a defined area) in AD patients from a dermatological clinic in Moshi, Tanzania. Subsequently, the results will be compared with equivalent data from Central European AD patients to identify similarities and differences.

As previous studies in this area is practically non-existing, this study will be a first step towards understanding the immune phenotype of Sub-Saharan Africa AD and how environmental factors like the fungi of the skin and gut could influence it. This will be important with regard to future treatment options of AD in the region.

Grant category: Research Grants in open competition

Year: 2019

Geography: Switzerland

Thermal imaging is an investigational tool whose advantages are undisputed in engineering, i.e. for the non-destructive testing of composite materials, or in the photovoltaic industry.

The technique consists in measuring and imaging the thermal radiation and to convert this information into temperature maps, or thermograms. Medical applications of thermal imaging exhibit great potential and the field is currently experiencing a renaissance. One reason is probably the recent dramatic improvements of infrared cameras that are now affordable and compact and can even be connected to smartphones.

This project aims to produce a full body thermal imaging scanner for patients to later use as a next generation diagnostic tool, coupled with a 360° 2- and 3-dimensional digital photography device.

Our goal is to create the first open access skin thermograms database, large enough to enable artificial intelligence analysis. Such a tool could be very useful for the quantification and potentially prediction of affected areas in different skin disease such as psoriasis and eczema.

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2019

Geography: Switzerland

By supporting investigative dermatology and skin research, the ESDR contirbutes to in-depth understanding of skin homeostasis and towards improving the health of patients suffering from skin and venereal disease, infectious diseases and immune-mediated and inflammatory disorders.

More Information

Grant category: LEO Foundation Awards

Year: 2017

Geography: Switzerland

The Silver Award went to Dr. Christoph Schlapbach, dermatology resident at the University of Bern in Switzerland.

“It is a great honour for me to receive the LEO Foundation 2017 Silver Award on behalf of my emerging research team. Together with the generous financial support, this prize motivates and supports our journey towards a better understanding of how the human skin functions,” said Christoph Schlapbach.

Grant category: LEO Foundation Awards

Year: 2013

Geography: Switzerland

Presented to Onur Boyman, Professor, Dr. med., Senior Consultant Physician and Head of Laboratory at the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich.

Professor Boyman’s research focuses on the function of T cell subsets and different cytokines in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and other immune-mediated diseases and the treatment of melanoma. His research shows great promise both as a potential treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and as a potential cancer therapy.