Apply for research grants in open competition
About the grant
Our 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.
Application deadlines
Calls are announced on an ongoing basis. Submission period will open four weeks prior to each deadline.
| Grant | Opens | Deadline | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
All 2023 calls for applications are now closed. New calls for 2024 to be announced. |
01 Jan 2024 | 31 Dec 2024 | Not open | |
See more info on all LEO Foundation grant opportunities here. |
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Serendipity grants 2023 |
02 Jun 2023 | 24 Aug 2023 | Closed | |
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 five-year period. The application guide can be found here. DEADLINE: 24 August 2023 (16:00 CEST) |
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Dr Abildgaard Fellowships 2023 |
16 May 2023 | 17 Aug 2023 | Closed | |
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. The application guide can be found here. DEADLINE: 17 August 2023 (16:00 CEST) |
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Research grants in open competition 2023 – round 1 |
01 Feb 2023 | 28 Feb 2023 | 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. The application guide can be found here. DEADLINE: 28 February 2023 (16:00 CET) |
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Research grants in open competition 2023 – round 2 |
22 May 2023 | 23 Jun 2023 | 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. The application guide can be found here. DEADLINE: 23 June 2023 (16:00 CEST) |
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Research grants in open competition 2023 – round 3 |
01 Aug 2023 | 31 Aug 2023 | 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. The application guide can be found here. DEADLINE: 31 August 2023 (16:00 CEST) |
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Education and awareness grants 2023 – round 2 |
29 May 2023 | 04 Jul 2023 | Closed | |
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. The application guide can be found here. |
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Education and awareness grants 2023 – round 3 |
15 Aug 2023 | 14 Sep 2023 | Closed | |
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. The application guide can be found here. |
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Application process and guidance
The LEO Foundation’s Board of Trustees has established a formal evaluation process with a panel of national and international external experts to assist the Board in ensuring that our grants are given to the best projects and the most qualified applicants.
When the application deadline is reached, your application will be screened for mandatory requirements and if accepted, assigned for review by the LEO Foundation Scientific Evaluation Committee using the criteria and scoring guide shown in the application guide.
Based on the evaluations by the Scientific Evaluation Committee the Board approves all grants.
It will normally take approx. three months from application deadline to grant decision.
If and when your application is approved, you will be notified and assigned a dedicated contact person who will contact you for next steps.
All applicants receive an answer to their application by e-mail. The Foundation does not provide arguments as to why an application has been rejected but provides a few statistics about the application review and the round in general.
Guidance
The typical grant amount applied for is DKK 2–4 million for a period of 1–3 years.
A maximum of 5% of the grant amount may be used for overhead expenses.
Recipients of a LEO Foundation Strategic grant can apply for the open competition research grants.
Application guide (PDF download)
Evaluation process
Once the call deadline has expired, the Foundation’s secretariat screens your application for formal requirements and if approved, sends it to an independent expert committee for evaluation. The evaluation process follows the path illustrated below.
The Foundation generally uses committees consisting of internationally recognized, independent experts to evaluate the applications for grants and awards that are submitted in open competition.
Scientific Evaluation Committee (SEC)
The LEO Foundation has appointed an independent Scientific Evaluation Committee (SEC) for evaluation of applications received in open competition.
Learn more about our committees:
| Committee member | Titles |
|---|---|
Alan Irvine |
Professor, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin (Ireland) |
Carsten Bindslev-Jensen |
Professor, MD, DMSc, PhD, Department of Clinical Allergology, Odense University Hospital Svendborg (Denmark) |
David Roblin |
Professor, MD, FRCP, FFPM, FMedSc, President of R and D, Summit Therapeutics Chair of Scientific Translation, The Francis Crick Institute (United Kingdom) |
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) |
Niroshana Anandasabapathy |
Associate Professor, PhD. M.D., Weill Cornell Medicine (USA) |
Paola di Meglio |
Lecturer, King's College London (United Kingdom) |
Piet H. van der Graaf |
Professor, PharmD, PhD, Senior Vice President Certara (United Kingdom) and Department of Systems Pharmacology Leiden University (The Netherlands) |
Rune Hartmann |
Professor, PhD, Department Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University (Denmark) |
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 commercial drug testing
- Clinical trials and register-based studies testing medical compounds
- Applications from other foundations or associations, including patient organisations
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