{"id":8468,"date":"2023-06-21T13:36:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-21T11:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leo-foundation.org\/en\/?p=8468"},"modified":"2023-06-28T16:52:56","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T14:52:56","slug":"more-than-dkk-38-million-to-13-new-and-intriguing-research-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leo-foundation.org\/en\/2023\/06\/21\/more-than-dkk-38-million-to-13-new-and-intriguing-research-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"More than DKK 38 million to 13 new and intriguing research projects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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21 June 2023<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From unique and pioneering \u201cbackpack\u201d technology aimed at treatment of dermal wound healing, to clinical research into cutaneous dystrophic calcinosis, to B cells\u2019 role in Hidradenitis suppurativa – in the highest ever awarded round of research grants in open competition, the LEO Foundation grants over DKK 38 million (EUR 5 million) to 13 new research projects.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A total of 13 projects have received grants in the latest round of the LEO Foundation\u2019s research grants in open competition, the highest awarded individual round in the LEO Foundation\u2019s history. Numerous countries are represented by an international spread of grantees, hailing from the USA, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The round also sees the return of previous grantees for renewed funding of research. Senior Lecturer Peter Arkwright, from the University of Manchester, receives his third grant for investigation of recently discovered anti-inflammatory bacterial substances and their potential therapeutic value in atopic dermatitis. Professor Emma Guttman, from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA, also returns for additional support of her research into eczema \u2013 currently with an aim of improving the understanding of the molecular basis of chronic hand and foot eczema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research grants in open competition are awarded to the best dermatology projects worldwide, and the latest round acknowledges a group of excellent researchers with the aim of providing a boost to dermatology research around the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A glance into the projects<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the 13 projects to receive funding is that by Professor Samir Mitragotri, from Harvard John A Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, USA. Samir Mitragotri looks to investigate the process of wound healing and considers the highly innovative \u201cbackpack\u201d technology\u2019s potential to offer a new approach here. The technology, pioneered by Samir Mitragotri and his team, consists of polymer micro-disks (or \u201cbackpacks\u201d) that carry anti-inflammatory agents. The expectation is that these \u201cbackpacks\u201d, when adhered to macrophages, can provide a unique advantage and treatment for dermal wound healing, and the innovative technology has exciting long-term prospectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief consultant and Associate Professor Mette Mogensen from the Department of Dermatology at Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Denmark, also receives a grant for her clinical research into cutaneous dystrophic calcinosis (DC) \u2013 a condition which causes severe skin ulcerations and pain in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Mette Mogensen seeks to address the lack of efficient treatment options by pursuing four complementary approaches, with the aid of recruited patients from Bispebjerg Hospital (Copenhagen), Rigshospitalet (Copenhagen), and Skejby University Hospital (Aarhus). Dystrophic calcinosis is a very painful condition which negatively impacts the quality of life of those living with systemic sclerosis, and Mette Mogensen\u2019s project offers the potential to create an effective and targeted treatment for all dystrophic calcinosis patients globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another project to receive funding is that by Assistant Professor Joshua Moreau from Oregon Health & Science University, USA. Joshua Moreau\u2019s proposed research is exciting for its novel focus on the potential role of B cells in the inflammatory skin disease Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) \u2013 a relatively widespread disease of painful and debilitating character, due to the highly inflamed lesions it causes. The role of B cells in such skin diseases is currently not very fully understood, and Joshua Moreau\u2019s project offers potentially novel and important insights into Hidradenitis suppurativa. The hope is that the project\u2019s findings can fuel future research proposals aimed at developing improved skin-specific immunotherapies that minimize systemic side effects for Hidradenitis suppurativa patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about all 13 research projects below and gain an understanding of each of their potential footprints upon the global scene of research into skin and skin diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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