Apply for LEO Foundation Dr Abildgaard Fellowships
About LEO Foundation Dr Abildgaard Fellowships
With the LEO Foundation Dr Abildgaard Fellowships program, we aim to support talented, emerging research leaders with ambitions to establish or expand an independent research group at a Danish institution, and to pursue novel and important research questions within skin and skin diseases.
Grants of DKK 12 million are awarded for a five-year period.
Eligible candidates have between two and eight years of research experience since completing their PhD degree. For detailed information on eligibility criteria, please refer to the application guide below.
We expect to award up to four fellowships per year.
How to apply
The LEO Foundation Dr Abildgaard Fellowships program is announced once a year in open competition.
Please read the application guide for the full call text and further information about the eligibility criteria, evaluation process, and requirements for the content of the application.
Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens)
Application deadlines
Application deadlines for all of our grant programs are listed below. Calls are announced on an ongoing basis.
| Grant | Opens | Deadline | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Research Grants in open competition (round 1) |
13 Nov 2024 | 08 Jan 2025 | Not open | |
To support the best dermatology research projects worldwide. It is important that the applicant carefully reads the application guide before initiating the application process, as this document contains the complete call as well as detailed instructions for the application process. DEADLINE: 8 January 2025 (16:00 CET) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
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LEO Foundation Award – Region Americas |
14 Nov 2024 | 09 Jan 2025 | Not open | |
NB! Please note that the application deadlines for LEO Foundation Awards 2025 may be subject to change. Check for an updated deadline when the calls open. The LEO Foundation Award was born out of the aim of advancing the understanding and treatment of skin diseases and strengthening the pipeline of excellent dermatology researchers. It recognizes promising young talents and hopefully provides a boost to their future careers. Three awards are made each year, one in each of the regions: Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and Asia-Pacific. Each award is worth USD 100,000. DEADLINE for self-nomination: 9 January 2025 (16:00 CET) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
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Education and Awareness Grants (round 1) |
27 Nov 2024 | 22 Jan 2025 | Not open | |
To strengthen the pipeline of future researchers within the fields of medicine, chemistry, and pharmacy, and to raise awareness about science, including skin and skin diseases. It is important that the applicant carefully reads the application guide before initiating the application process, as this document contains the complete call as well as detailed instructions for the application process. DEADLINE: 22 January 2025 (16:00 CET) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
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LEO Foundation Dr Abildgaard Fellowships |
16 Jan 2025 | 02 Apr 2025 | Not open | |
For talented, emerging research leaders with ambitions to establish or expand an independent research group at a Danish institution, and to pursue novel and important research questions within skin and skin diseases. Grants of DKK 12 million are awarded for a five-year period. DEADLINE: 2 April 2025 (16:00 CEST) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
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Research Grants in open competition (round 2) |
05 Feb 2025 | 02 Apr 2025 | Not open | |
To support the best dermatology research projects worldwide. It is important that the applicant carefully reads the application guide before initiating the application process, as this document contains the complete call as well as detailed instructions for the application process. DEADLINE: 2 April 2025 (16:00 CEST) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
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LEO Foundation Award – Region EMEA |
06 Feb 2025 | 03 Apr 2025 | Not open | |
NB! Please note that the application deadlines for LEO Foundation Awards 2025 may be subject to change. Check for an updated deadline when the calls open. The LEO Foundation Award was born out of the aim of advancing the understanding and treatment of skin diseases and strengthening the pipeline of excellent dermatology researchers. It recognizes promising young talents and hopefully provides a boost to their future careers. Three awards are made each year, one in each of the regions: Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and Asia-Pacific. Each award is worth USD 100,000. DEADLINE for self-nomination: 3 April 2025 (16:00 CEST) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
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Education and Awareness Grants (round 2) |
10 Feb 2025 | 07 Apr 2025 | Not open | |
To strengthen the pipeline of future researchers within the fields of medicine, chemistry, and pharmacy, and to raise awareness about science, including skin and skin diseases. It is important that the applicant carefully reads the application guide before initiating the application process, as this document contains the complete call as well as detailed instructions for the application process. DEADLINE: 7 April 2025 (16:00 CEST) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
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LEO Foundation Visiting Researchers (round 1) |
11 Feb 2025 | 08 Apr 2025 | Not open | |
To stimulate a cohesive and agile skin research ecosystem by supporting temporary embedment of skin researchers in a foreign research environment with the aim of fostering genuine international collaborations and strengthening the exchange of knowledge, ideas, methodology, and technology between Danish and international skin research communities. DEADLINE: 8 April 2025 (16:00 CEST) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
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Research Networking Grants (round 1) |
11 Feb 2025 | 08 Apr 2025 | Not open | |
Through our Research Networking Grants, we seek to enable knowledge-sharing and facilitate networking and collaborations within the skin research community by providing researchers and students with opportunities to present and discuss the newest research within their field. DEADLINE: 8 April 2025 (16:00 CEST) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
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Serendipity Grants |
29 Apr 2025 | 24 Jun 2025 | Not open | |
For novel and unexpected, also known as serendipitous, discoveries made by current LEO Foundation Grants of up to DKK 4 million are awarded for a two-year period. DEADLINE: 24 June 2025 (16:00 CEST) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
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LEO Foundation Award – Region Asia-Pacific |
01 May 2025 | 26 Jun 2025 | Not open | |
NB! Please note that the application deadlines for LEO Foundation Awards 2025 may be subject to change. Check for an updated deadline when the calls open. The LEO Foundation Award was born out of the aim of advancing the understanding and treatment of skin diseases and strengthening the pipeline of excellent dermatology researchers. It recognizes promising young talents and hopefully provides a boost to their future careers. Three awards are made each year, one in each of the regions: Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and Asia-Pacific. Each award is worth USD 100,000. DEADLINE for self-nomination: 26 June 2025 (16:00 CEST) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
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Research Grants in open competition (round 3) |
31 Jul 2025 | 11 Sep 2025 | Not open | |
To support the best dermatology research projects worldwide. It is important that the applicant carefully reads the application guide before initiating the application process, as this document contains the complete call as well as detailed instructions for the application process. DEADLINE: 11 September 2025 (16:00 CEST) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
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Education and Awareness Grants (round 3) |
04 Aug 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | Not open | |
To strengthen the pipeline of future researchers within the fields of medicine, chemistry, and pharmacy, and to raise awareness about science, including skin and skin diseases. It is important that the applicant carefully reads the application guide before initiating the application process, as this document contains the complete call as well as detailed instructions for the application process. DEADLINE: 30 September 2025 (16:00 CEST) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
||||
LEO Foundation Visiting Researchers (round 2) |
05 Aug 2025 | 01 Oct 2025 | Not open | |
To stimulate a cohesive and agile skin research ecosystem by supporting temporary embedment of skin researchers in a foreign research environment with the aim of fostering genuine international collaborations and strengthening the exchange of knowledge, ideas, methodology, and technology between Danish and international skin research communities. DEADLINE: 1 October 2025 (16:00 CEST) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
||||
Research Networking Grants (round 2) |
05 Aug 2025 | 01 Oct 2025 | Not open | |
Through our Research Networking Grants, we seek to enable knowledge-sharing and facilitate networking and collaborations within the skin research community by providing researchers and students with opportunities to present and discuss the newest research within their field. DEADLINE: 1 October 2025 (16:00 CEST) Application guide (NB: the 2025 application guide will be published before the call opens) |
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Meet the current fellows
2023
About Dr Abildgaard
The LEO Foundation was established in 1984 by Dr.h.c. Knud E. Abildgaard, who at the time was the owner of LEO Pharma.
Please contact the grant team for further information
Anne-Marie is Chief Scientific Officer at the LEO Foundation and responsible for the Foundation’s grant activities.
Anne-Marie’s background includes:
- Novo Nordisk Foundation, Director of Strategic Partnerships
- Lundbeck Foundation, various positions including Director of Grants
- Statens Serum Institut, Senior Researcher
- The Bartholin Institute, Copenhagen University Hospital, Postdoc
Anne-Marie holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree as well as a PhD in tumour immunology – both from the University of Copenhagen.
Other positions
- Museum of Natural History, Oslo, Chair of the Board, 2022-
- Danish Academy of Technical Sciences, Member of the praesidium
- Dagmar Marshall’s Foundation, Board member
- University of Oslo, Board member (2013-2021)
Joined the LEO Foundation in 2022.
+45 27 38 60 59
Lars is responsible for coordinating the Foundation’s grants and handles scientific and administrative matters relating to the Foundation’s donations. He also works on further developing the philanthropic area.
Lars has a scientific background having worked in academic research for 16 years on projects ranging from molecular mechanisms in migraine over COPD to sleep disorders and osteoporosis.
Lars holds an MSc in human biology and a PhD in neuroscience, both from University of Copenhagen.
Joined the Foundation in 2017.
+45 30 46 42 91
lars.kruse@leo-foundation.org
LinkedIn
Signe is responsible for various areas related to the Foundation’s grants, both in terms of guidelines for applications, review processes and measuring impact. She is also involved in further developing the philanthropic area with new grant making instruments.
Signe has extensive experience in administration and grants. She has previously worked as Senior Grant Manager at the Novo Nordisk Foundation, as Administrative Coordinator at DTU Health Technology and as Project Manager at Innovation Fund Denmark.
Signe holds a Master of Arts (MA) in Danish Language and Literature from University of Copenhagen.
Joined the Foundation in 2022
+45 53 70 66 18
signe.holm@leo-foundation.org
LinkedIn