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. 

Application guide

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

All calls close at 16:00 CET/CEST.

Grant Opens Deadline

Research Grants in open competition (round 1)

13 Nov 2024 08 Jan 2025 Closed

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

Online application

Research Grants in open competition (round 2)

05 Feb 2025 02 Apr 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: 2 April 2025 (16:00 CEST)

Application guide

Online application

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

Online application

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)

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)

Shoba Amarnath

Reader, Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute (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

Please contact the grant team for further information

Eva Bang-Hansen

Scientific Management Assistant

eva.bang-hansen@leo-foundation.org

+ 45 25 36 07 70

Signe Rømer Holm

Scientific Officer

signe.holm@leo-foundation.org

+45 53 70 66 18

Eva Benfeldt

Senior Scientific Officer

eva.benfeldt@leo-foundation.org

+ 45 31 39 93 23

Lars Kruse

Senior Scientific Officer

lars.kruse@leo-foundation.org

+45 30 46 42 91