Dermatology research is an important field that aims to advance our understanding of skin diseases and disorders, develop new treatments and therapies, and improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Did you know that the skin is, in fact, the biggest organ of the human body? The skin serves several essential functions, including protection of the body from external factors; regulation of body temperature; sensation – allowing us to feel and interact with our environment; immune defense; and vitamin D production, to name a few.
As with much of our knowledge of the world around us, it may seem trivial and we take it for granted, but much work and resources have been dedicated to understanding it. The same applies to dermatology research and our understanding of the skin and its related functions and diseases.
For dermatologists around the world, we have recently curated a list of research funding opportunities in collaboration with Karger Publishers – making it even easier for researchers globally to find dermatology-focused funding. As with all our curated research funding lists, this dermatology research funding list is a subset of the data in our premium research funding database and the funding information is updated continuously. Let’s take a look at dermatology research funders, starting from a global perspective to country-specific funders.
Global funders for dermatology research
National Institutes of Health
For biomedical researchers worldwide, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) needs no introduction. The NIH is a renowned federal agency in the United States that serves as the nation’s premier medical research institution, dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting health through a wide range of biomedical research and funding initiatives. Some examples of the NIH’s dedicated extramural funding for skin research include:
- Promoting a Basic Understanding of Chemical Threats to Skin
- Exploratory Clinical Trial Grants in Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- Clinical Observational (CO) Studies in Musculoskeletal, Rheumatic, and Skin Diseases (USA)
While the NIH is usually classified as a supporter of biomedical research in the USA, what is less well known is that the NIH also has funding support for global research endeavors, including dedicated funding for research in the Global South. At scientifyRESEARCH, our premium search filters enable you to easily identify NIH research funding available to you based on your current location.
American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) supports and promotes research in dermatology to advance medical knowledge and improve patient care. The AAD provides grants and funding opportunities to researchers in the USA and Canada, with some funding available with no location restrictions, and has dedicated funding support for researchers in developing countries. Some examples of AAD’s funding include:
- Strauss and Katz World Congress Fund Scholarship – for researchers in developing countries
- AAD Annual Meeting Registration Scholarship – for researchers worldwide
Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA)
The Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA)is a US-based membership organization dedicated to research to prevent, treat, and cure childhood skin diseases. PeDRA offers various grants and awards to support research projects and investigators in pediatric dermatology. These funding opportunities are typically open to PeDRA members, including researchers, clinicians, and trainees, who are interested in conducting research studies that align with PeDRA’s research priorities, such as:
- Pediatric Alopecia Areata Challenge Grant – open to researchers worldwide
- PeDRA research grants – open to researchers worldwide
Dermatology research funders for USA-based researchers
In the USA and by extension Canada and sometimes Mexico, many foundation, and society funders support dermatology research. In addition to the funders mentioned above, funders that are focused on dermatology research in the USA include the Dermatology Foundation, the Medical Dermatology Society, American Skin Association, Women’s Dermatologic Society, and numerous regional dermatology societies.
Dermatology research funders for UK-based researchers
Dermatology researchers in the UK are well supported by several research funders, including the Medical Research Foundation, Cancer Research UK, and other dermatology societies.
Medical Research Foundation
The Medical Research Foundation is a UK-based charitable foundation dedicated to medical research in the UK. The Foundation provides funding for researchers as well as for specific projects, such as its Adolescent skin disorders research grant.
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK, a leading charity organization dedicated to fighting cancer, supports dermatology research through various initiatives and funding opportunities. Recognizing the significance of understanding and combating skin cancer, Cancer Research UK actively invests in research projects focused on dermatological malignancies. Cancer Research UK, as its name implies, supports cancer research in the UK. Funding opportunities from Cancer Research UK include:
Numerous dermatology societies in the UK provide some sort of funding support for its members, such as travel grants, conference organization and small research grants. Some of these UK-based dermatology societies include:
- British Skin Foundation (Funding opportunities are also open to members based in Ireland)
- British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Dermatology (BSPAD)
- British Association of Dermatologists (BAD)
Dermatology research funders for Germany-based researchers
Along with the USA and the UK, Germany is one of the top three contributors to dermatology research worldwide. For dermatologists working in Germany, the German Dermatological Society supplies several grants to its early-career members and awards for its senior members.
Society funders supporting specific skin conditions
Several medical society funders also support research on more specific skin conditions, such as the National Eczema Association, which is a US-based charitable organization dedicated to advancing eczema understanding and patient support. The Association funds several research grants with applications due in July each year, and applications are open to researchers worldwide. For contact dermatitis, the American Contact Dermatitis Society provides several funding programs, including funding that address diversity, inclusion and health care disparities.
For skin cancer research, the Skin Cancer Foundation, with funding support for researchers in the USA. More specifically, for melanoma, the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) supports primarily melanoma researchers in the USA but also has a program open to researchers worldwide, namely, the CURE OM Options Bring Hope Award in honor of Lindsay Zubeck. Also supporting melanoma research is the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The CDMRP is funded by the U.S. government, but funding is available to researchers worldwide.
Pharma-sponsored dermatology research
In addition to national funders and charitable foundations, the pharmaceutical industry also plays a key role in supporting dermatology research. Some notable pharmaceutical companies that support dermatology research include Pfizer and LEO Pharma.
Pfizer’s dermatology research funding
Pfizer, a pharmaceutical company, supports research in various medical fields, including dermatology. Through their dedicated funding programs, Pfizer provides grants and resources to support dermatology research projects focused on understanding disease mechanisms, developing new therapies, and improving patient care. Some of Pfizer’s research grants for dermatology include:
- Quantifying the Socio-Economic Burden of Disease for Dermatology Patients and Caregivers
- Alopecia Areata
Each of Pfizer’s research funding calls has its specific requirements for the research location. You can easily find the relevant funding for your location using scientifyRESEARCH’s premium search filters.
LEO Foundation and skin research funding
The LEO Foundation is one of Denmark’s largest commercial foundations and is associated with the pharmaceutical company LEO Pharma. The foundation supports scientific research and initiatives related to dermatology and skin diseases. Established in 1984, the foundation aims to improve the quality of life for people living with skin conditions by promoting advancements in medical research, education, and patient care. While some of the Foundation’s funding initiatives are open only to dermatology researchers in Denmark, several of its funding schemes are open to researchers worldwide. Some research funding opportunities from the LEO Foundation include:
- Serendipity grants (for dermatologists worldwide)
- LEO Foundation Dr Abildgaard Fellowships (for new investigators in Denmark)
How to keep track of dedicated dermatology research funding
Given the importance of skin health, it is not surprising that there are many sources of research funding for dermatologists. As you can see from this blog summarizing some of the research funding available, it is not always straightforward to put research funders into boxes, many cover multiple locations and disciplines. This is another reason we have created a curated dermatology research funding list. With the support of Karger Publishers, we have made it possible to also search through the list using both keywords and opened access to some of our premium search filters to make your search even easier.
Give it a go today to secure your next research funding. On behalf of our skin, thank you for securing funding for this important research.
