Apply for Research Grants
About Research Grants
Research Grants are open competition grants given to support the best dermatology research projects.
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 program has two annual calls: one international call, open to researchers worldwide, and one European call, open to researchers based at European research institutions.
Please read the application guide for the full call text and detailed information on eligibility criteria, the evaluation process and application requirements.
Application guide (International call)
NB: The application guide for the European call will follow before the call opens.
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 Committee.
Based on this evaluation the LEO Foundation Board 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 (International call) |
01 Oct 2026 | 23 Nov 2026 | ||
To support the best dermatology research projects worldwide. Applicants should carefully read the application guide before starting the application process, as it contains the full call text as well as detailed application instructions. DEADLINE: 23 November 2026 (16:00 CET) |
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Research Grants (European call) |
10 Jun 2027 | 30 Jul 2027 | ||
More information and the application guide will follow before the call opens.
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Scientific Evaluation Committee
Scientific Evaluation Committee is an international panel of independent experts who evaluate applications submitted for Research Grants.
Learn more about our committees.
| Committee member | Titles |
|---|---|
Claire Higgins |
Associate Professor, Imperial College London, Department of Bioengineering (United Kingdom) |
Dennis H. Murphree Jr. |
Senior Associate Consultant, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Department of Dermatology (USA) |
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) |
Julia Oh |
Professor, Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Integrative Immunobiology (USA) |
Luigi Naldi |
Director, MD, Centro Studi GISED (Italy) |
Majella Lane |
Professor, University College London, UCL School of Pharmacy (United Kingdom) |
Maksim Plikus |
Professor, University of California, Irvine, Department of Developmental and Cell Biology (USA) |
Nicole Ward |
Professor, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (USA) |
Niroshana Anandasabapathy |
Associate Professor, PhD. M.D., Weill Cornell Medicine (USA) |
Pankaj Karande |
Associate Professor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (USA) |
Paola di Meglio |
Lecturer, King's College London (United Kingdom) |
Ryan Donnelly |
Professor, Queen's University Belfast, School of Pharmacy (United Kingdom) |
Sandrine Dubrac |
Associate Professor, Medical University of Innsbruck, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology (Austria) |
Shoba Amarnath |
Professor of Immune Regulation, Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute (United Kingdom) |
Tove Agner |
Professor, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital (Denmark) |
Wojciech Chrzanowski |
Professor, University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health (Australia) |
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
