Apply for Research Grants in open competition
About Research Grants
Research Grants are open competition grants given to support the best dermatology research projects worldwide.
We welcome applications for research projects that improve the understanding of the underlying medicinal, biological, chemical, or pharmacological mechanisms of dermatological diseases and their symptoms.
We also welcome applications for projects that address clinical issues among people who are at risk of developing, or have developed, a skin disease, including how it impacts their quality of life and the societal costs involved.
How to apply
The Research Grants in open competition program has three annual calls.
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.
Evaluation process
All submitted applications will be administratively screened for eligibility and mandatory requirements.
If approved as eligible, the applications will undergo external review by the Foundation’s Scientific Evaluation Commitee.
Based on this evaluation the LEO Foundation Board of Trustees will make the final decision, and applicants will be notified of the results.
Application deadlines
| Grant | Opens | Deadline | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Research Grants in open competition (round 1) |
13 Nov 2024 | 08 Jan 2025 | Apply now | |
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) |
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LEO Foundation Award – Region Americas |
14 Nov 2024 | 09 Jan 2025 | Apply now | |
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) NB: The content of the application guide may be subject to change. Changes relevant for a given call will be implemented prior to opening of that call. |
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Education and Awareness Grants (round 1) |
27 Nov 2024 | 22 Jan 2025 | Apply now | |
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) |
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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) |
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LEO Foundation Award – Region EMEA |
06 Feb 2025 | 03 Apr 2025 | Not 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) NB: The content of the application guide may be subject to change. Changes relevant for a given call will be implemented prior to opening of that call. |
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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) |
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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 | |
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) NB: The content of the application guide may be subject to change. Changes relevant for a given call will be implemented prior to opening of that call. |
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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) |
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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) |
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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) |
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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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Scientific Evaluation Committee
Scientific Evaluation Committee is an international panel of independent experts who evalute applications submitted for Research Grants in open competion.
Learn more about our committees.
| Committee member | Titles |
|---|---|
Carsten Bindslev-Jensen |
Professor, MD, DMSc, PhD, Department of Clinical Allergology, Odense University Hospital Svendborg (Denmark) |
Catherine Smith |
Professor, King's College London, St John's Institute of Dermatology (United Kingdom) |
Christoph Schlapbach |
Professor, Inselspital, Universitätspital Bern (Switzerland) |
Emmanuella Guenova |
Associate Professor, M.D. PhD, University of Lausanne (Switzerland) |
Joel M. Gelfand |
Professor, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine (USA) |
Johann E. Gudjonsson |
MD, PhD, Arthur C. Curtis Professor of Skin Molecular Immunology Professor, Dermatology Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg Emerging Scholar, University of Michigan, Department of Dermatology (USA) |
Luigi Naldi |
Director, MD, Centro Studi GISED (Italy) |
Maria Kasper |
Associate Professor, Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) |
Nicole Ward |
Professor, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (USA) |
Niroshana Anandasabapathy |
Associate Professor, PhD. M.D., Weill Cornell Medicine (USA) |
Paola di Meglio |
Lecturer, King's College London (United Kingdom) |
Ryan Donnelly |
Professor, Queen's University Belfast, School of Pharmacy (United Kingdom) |
Tove Agner |
Professor, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital (Denmark) |
Meet a reviewer
Niroshana Anandasabapathy is Associate Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, USA and a reviewer for the Scientific Evaluation Committee (SEC).
We do not support
Applications that are not submitted online, or applications that are not in compliance with our application requirements and guidance are not eligible for support.
Moreover, we do not support:
- Graduate students below PhD students and/or academic fees except PhD-tuition fees
- Administration or overhead costs exceeding 5%
- Participation in domestic meetings or courses
- Passive attendance at conferences
- Expenses incurred prior to making an application or obtaining a grant
- Research projects about skin cancer
- Research projects involving commercial companies
- Research projects involving drug testing for commercial purposes
- Applications from other foundations or associations, including patient organizations
