About this opportunity
The LEO Foundation is a Danish private foundation that funds independent dermatological research through open competition. Its Research Grants support projects that improve understanding of the medicinal, biological, chemical or pharmacological mechanisms of skin disease, and projects that address clinical issues for people at risk of developing, or already living with, dermatological conditions.
The 2027 programme runs in two rounds and the one now open is the International call, which is not limited by geography. The foundation states plainly that it welcomes applicants from anywhere in the world, so a researcher based at a Nigerian university, an African hospital or a non profit research institute competes on the same terms as anyone else. Typical funding is DKK 2 to 4 million for a period of one to three years, and budgets must be submitted in Danish kroner with administrative costs of up to 5 percent allowed.
The rules of the application are strict in a few places and worth reading before you invest the time. You must hold at least a PhD or an equivalent academic qualification, you must be the Principal Investigator of the proposed project, and you must be affiliated with a university, hospital or other non profit organisation. Only one application per call is accepted from any applicant, an application can have only one main applicant and one host organisation, and grantees with an active Research Grant or Dr Abildgaard Fellowship cannot apply until the last year of that grant period.
The foundation also publishes what it will not fund, which saves applicants a wasted cycle. Skin cancer projects such as melanoma, CTCL, BCC and SCC are not supported at present unless skin cancer models are used as tools to study other aspects of skin biology. Commercial company involvement, drug testing for commercial purposes and aesthetic or cosmetic dermatology are also outside the mandate. Applications open on 01 October 2026 and close at 16:00 CET on 23 November 2026, with notification in April 2027 and an earliest grant start of 1 July 2027.
What you receive
- Typical funding of DKK 2 to 4 million per project
- Project periods of 1 to 3 years, with an earliest grant start date of 1 July 2027
- Administrative costs of up to 5 percent can be added to the budget
- Open competition funding reviewed by an international panel of independent experts
- Direct costs covered across salary, equipment, travel and publication categories
- No geographic restriction on the International call, and no application fee
Who can apply
- At least a PhD degree or equivalent academic qualification
- The applicant must be the Principal Investigator of the proposed project
- Affiliation with a university, hospital or other non profit organisation
- Applicants from anywhere in the world are welcome under the International call
- Only one application per applicant in each call
- One main applicant and one host organisation per application, with any redistribution of collaboration funds handled by the main applicant
- Complete submission in the LEOnora application system before the deadline
Who should not apply
- Projects on skin cancer such as melanoma, CTCL, BCC and SCC, unless skin cancer models are used as tools to investigate other aspects of skin biology
- Research projects involving commercial companies
- Research projects involving drug testing for commercial purposes
- Research into aesthetic or cosmetic dermatology
- Applicants holding an active LEO Foundation Research Grant or Dr Abildgaard Fellowship, until the last year of that grant period
- A third submission of an application the foundation has already reviewed, since only one resubmission is allowed
Documents to prepare
- Completed application form with the project description, objectives and personnel sections
- A detailed budget in Danish kroner, itemised by budget year and cost type
- Up to four project illustrations in PDF, JPG or PNG format
- A cover letter describing all relevant changes, if you are resubmitting an application previously reviewed
- Documentation for the host organisation and the Principal Investigator as required by the application system
How to apply
- Read the Research Grants application guide and the grant terms and conditions on the LEO Foundation website
- Register for an account in LEOnora, the foundation's online application system, and complete your researcher profile
- Create a draft application for the Research Grants International call
- Fill in the project, personnel and budget sections, entering all figures in Danish kroner and leaving the 5 percent administrative cost to be added automatically
- Upload your attachments and up to four project illustrations, and check that pasted text does not circumvent the character limits, which makes an application ineligible
- Submit the completed application before 16:00 CET on 23 November 2026
Selection process
- Submitted applications are administratively screened for eligibility and mandatory requirements
- Applications that pass screening undergo external review by the foundation's Scientific Evaluation Committee, an international panel of independent experts
- The LEO Foundation Board makes the final decision
- Applicants are notified approximately three months after the deadline, with notification for this round in April 2027
- The earliest grant start date for awarded projects is 1 July 2027
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
Can a researcher outside Europe apply?
Yes. The International call is open to researchers anywhere in the world who hold at least a PhD or equivalent and are affiliated with a university, hospital or other non profit organisation.
How much can I request?
The typical amount is DKK 2 to 4 million for a project period of 1 to 3 years, and the budget must be submitted in Danish kroner.
Can I submit two applications in one call?
No. Only one application per call is accepted from any applicant. Additional submissions are administratively rejected and only the first is considered.
Is skin cancer research eligible?
Skin cancer projects are not supported at present. Research that uses skin cancer models as tools to investigate other aspects of skin biology or skin disease may be permitted.
Can I resubmit an application that was rejected before?
You are allowed one resubmission of any previously reviewed application, and it must include a cover letter describing all the relevant changes from the earlier version.
When will I hear the outcome and when can the grant start?
Applicants are notified in April 2027 and the earliest grant start date is 1 July 2027.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
