Apply for the LEO Foundation Awards. A boost to young talents.

The LEO Foundation Awards – worth USD 100,000 – recognize outstanding young scientists from around the world whose work represents an extraordinary contribution to skin research and has the potential to pave the way for new and improved treatments for skin diseases.

The 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.

The award is well aligned with the Foundation’s goal of continually promoting and advancing skin research.

Since the first LEO Foundation Award in 2008, around 40 scientists have received the award.

Award self-nomination deadlines

The award is applied for in open competition.

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.

Please find LEO Foundation Award self-nomination deadlines in the list below.

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.

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) Application guide Online application
	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. Application guide Online application
	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) Apply by mail here
	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) Online application
	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 Online application
	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. Application guide Online application
	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) Apply by mail here
	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) Online application
	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) Online application
	Serendipity Grants	29 Apr 2025	24 Jun 2025	Not open
For novel and unexpected, also known as serendipitous, discoveries made by current LEO Foundation grantees. 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) Online application
	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. 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
	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) Apply by mail here
	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) Online application
	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) Online application

Guidance

The applicant:

Is an active scientist within skin-related research.
Is able to demonstrate scientific merits in the form of at least 5 peer-reviewed first author, co-first author, or last author publications within skin-related research.
Has their primary workplace within the relevant region at the time of being selected as awardee.
Is between 30 and 40 years of age at the time of being selected as awardee. Natural and reasonable career breaks such as paternity/maternity leave, military service or the like may be deducted (see the Application guide concerning parental leave).

Please read the application guide thoroughly and complete your application accordingly.

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.

Application guide

Award terms and conditions

Applicants can not:

Have commercial or cosmetic/aesthetic research as his/her primary focus.
Have personal or financial ties to LEO Pharma, including involvement in e.g. sponsored studies or clinical trials at PI level.
Be an earlier recipient of a LEO Foundation Award.
Be an earlier recipient of another prize or award (personal or for research) exceeding a value of USD 50,000. Regular research grants are exempt from this requirement.

Application process

The LEO Foundation will ensure an independent and unbiased evaluation process in which all applications will be evaluated based on the same criteria and towards the same scientific level.

It will normally take approx. three months from application deadline to award decision.

If you are selected as awardee, you become a LEO Foundation Alumni and you will be requested to participate and contribute at two events within three years following your receipt of the award.

The LEO Foundation will agree on events and contributions with all awardees.

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. Applications are assessed according to the evaluation criteria listed in the call’s application guide. Typically, each research application is evaluated by 3-4 external reviewers, and in some programs by the whole committee.

Global Review Panel

All panel members represent their respective society in region Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific.

American Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID):

Committee member	Titles
Aimee S. Payne	Professor, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (USA)
Luis A. Garza	Professor, The John Hopkins University, Baltimore (USA)
My Mahoney	Professor, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia (USA)

European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR):

Committee member	Titles
Andrea Szegedi	Professor, University of Debrecen, Debrecen (Hungary) // Review of Region Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific
Christoph Schlapbach	Professor, Inselspital, Bern (Switzerland) // Review of Region Americas and Asia-Pacific
Fernando Larcher Laguzzi	Professor, Charles III University of Madrid, Madrid (Spain) // Review of Region EMEA and Asia-Pacific
Kaisa Tasanen-Maatta	Professor, University of Oulu, Oulu (Finland) // Review of Region Americas and EMEA

Taiwanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (TSID) Korean Society for Investigative Dermatology (KSID) Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (JSID):

Committee member	Titles
Chao-Chun Yang	Professor, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan (Taiwan)
Dong Hun Lee	Associate Professor, Seoul National University, Seoul (Republic of Korea)
Hiroyuki Murota	Professor, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (Japan)