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Dermatology Foundation (DF) Research Grant

Dermatology Foundation

The Foundation’s Research Grants provide an annual award of $25,000 in financial support for research projects in dermatology and cutaneous biology that benefit the dermatology community at large.

All research funded by the DF must be carried out in the U.S. under the sponsorship of a dermatology department or division that is ACGME-accredited for dermatology training. Applicants must meet the DF’s general eligibility criteria, as well as any award-specific requirements described below, by July 1, 2027. Applicants from minority populations are encouraged to apply

The Dermatology Foundation encourages applications concerning health issues impacting minority groups, including, but not limited to, racial minorities, sexual-gender minorities, and underserved/disadvantaged populations.

The following pages provide essential information to help potential applicants evaluate the various award opportunities and develop a successful application and research proposal. Interested individuals are strongly encouraged to read all sections before preparing their submission.

The Dermatology Foundation must receive applications for the 2027 award year by the date noted below. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered for funding. The DF will confirm receipt via email (candidates not receiving confirmation are encouraged to contact the office). Questions regarding the application process may be directed to DF staff at dfrap@dermatologyfoundation.org.

Foundation Awards

The Dermatology Foundation offers early-stage research support through career development awards (CDAs), a fellowship award, and grants. CDAs provide up to two years of salary support for junior faculty in the early stages of their careers (i.e., through the level of Assistant Professor). The Foundation fellowship provides an annual salary stipend and is not intended for faculty. Research grants provide seed funding for a variety of dermatologic research projects.

Detailed descriptions, applicant eligibility criteria, and award values vary and are presented below. Applicants should carefully review all information to ensure they meet all the award eligibility criteria before preparing any application materials.

Application Process

Applications must be prepared by candidates and submitted via the CDAFG Research Award Portal. Applications must adhere to the format and content requirements. Applicants should submit only the information required by the Foundation. The Foundation will not accept any supplemental information. If an application does not meet the Foundation's requirements or is incomplete, it may be returned without further consideration.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Strong relevance to dermatology and cutaneous biology ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the fundamental requirement.

Competitive proposals should directly address:

Dermatologic diseases
Skin biology
Cutaneous immunology
Dermatologic surgery
Dermatopathology
Pediatric dermatology
Skin cancer
Inflammatory skin disease
Autoimmune and blistering disorders
Skin of color
Dermatologic public health
Other clinically relevant skin conditions

DF Research Grants specifically support projects in dermatology and cutaneous biology that benefit the dermatology community at large.

2. Potential to advance patient care ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is one of DF's central priorities.

Strong proposals should demonstrate potential to:

Improve diagnosis
Develop new treatments
Improve disease management
Improve prevention
Improve patient outcomes
Address important clinical problems

DF states that its Research Award Program emphasizes research with significant potential to advance patient care.

For the Patient Directed Investigation Grant, the emphasis is even stronger: projects should be translational studies with potential to benefit patients directly.

3. Scientific innovation and originality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

DF seeks innovative ideas and researchers with potential to achieve scientific breakthroughs.

Competitive projects should demonstrate:

Novel hypotheses
Original research questions
Innovative methodology
New therapeutic concepts
New diagnostic approaches
New biological mechanisms
Potential to open new directions in dermatology research

DF specifically describes its mission as supporting promising investigators pursuing novel ideas that can lead to breakthroughs in patient care.

4. Strong scientific merit and rigorous methodology ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Because DF uses an NIH-style peer-review process, scientific quality is a major predictor.

Strong applications should contain:

Clear research question
Strong scientific rationale
Well-defined aims
Appropriate methodology
Sound experimental design
Appropriate statistical analysis
Feasible timeline
Meaningful expected outcomes

The Foundation's 2026 recipients were selected from many proposals based on which were considered most meritorious and impactful for the future of dermatology.

5. Strong early-career investigator potential ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a defining feature of DF funding.

The Foundation explicitly invests in early and mid-career researchers and uses its awards to help promising investigators establish independent research careers.

Career Development Awards, for example, are designed to support junior faculty in dermatology and help them develop independent research programs.

A strong applicant should demonstrate:

Clear commitment to dermatology research
Strong research potential
Relevant research training
Publications or preliminary accomplishments
A coherent long-term academic career plan

6. Strong institutional commitment and mentorship ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is particularly important for Career Development Awards.

DF requires evidence of:

Institutional support
Protected research time
Appropriate research environment
Strong mentorship
Department Chair support
Resources necessary to complete the project

DF's application materials specifically emphasize strong institutional commitment to the individual's career development.

7. Potential to generate preliminary data for future NIH funding ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

DF funding can serve as an important stepping stone toward larger federal grants.

The Foundation notes that its research dollars are often used to generate preliminary data important for applying for NIH grants.

Therefore, competitive proposals should ideally show how the project can:

DF funding → preliminary data → larger NIH/extramural grant → independent research program

This is particularly important for early-career investigators.

8. Patient-centered and translational research ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Projects that connect fundamental discoveries to actual patient benefit are highly attractive.

For the Patient Directed Investigation Grant, DF specifically seeks translational studies that can directly benefit patients.

Strong areas can include:

New diagnostic tools
Biomarkers
Therapeutic development
Clinical interventions
Patient outcomes
Quality of life
Disease prevention
Clinical implementation

9. Diversity, underserved populations, and health disparities ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

DF explicitly encourages applications concerning health issues affecting:

Racial minorities
Sexual/gender/LGBTQ+ minorities
Underserved populations
Disadvantaged populations

Applicants from minority populations are also encouraged to apply.

Projects addressing dermatologic disparities or unmet needs in underserved populations can therefore have strong alignment with Foundation priorities.

10. Exact fit with the appropriate DF award ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is strategically very important because DF has many different award mechanisms.

Examples include:

Research Grant – new dermatology/cutaneous biology research projects
Patient Directed Investigation Grant – translational, patient-oriented research
Career Development Awards – junior investigators building independent careers
Dermatologist Investigator Research Fellowship – research training for individuals early in their careers
Early Career Innovator Award – innovative research by early-career investigators
Mid-Career Awards – established investigators working on targeted research areas
Medical Student Research Supplement Award – medical student research experience

Choosing the correct mechanism is therefore essential.

Specialties

Dermatology

Eligibility Requirements

All DF-funded research must be conducted in the U.S. Affiliation with an ACGME- approved dermatology department/division is required.

Projects conducted as part of a U.S. government research program (other than the Veterans Administration) or at a private foundation without an academic affiliation to dermatology are not eligible for funding.

Projects involving human subjects must have IRB approval at the time funding begins (July 1) and maintain approval throughout the award term.

An individual who is a prior or current principal investigator (PI) on a federal grant is not eligible to receive a DF career development award, fellowship, or grant.

The following two exceptions apply: 1) CDA awardees may have effort on an NIH grant as long as they are not the senior PI who initiated the application, and they do not have direct reporting responsibilities for this or prior federal awards. Total support from all federal grants must be less than 20% of their total effort during the term of the DF award.

2) The individual receiving a DF CDA, fellowship, or grant is the recipient of an NIH training grant or an equivalent grant from another granting agency.

Upon receipt of a federal grant as the PI, a DF CDA or grant will be withdrawn. Note: An individual who receives a federal grant that eliminates their status as a "new investigator" is not eligible to maintain/receive a DF CDA.

Fellowship recipients may receive NIH training grants or an equivalent grant from another granting agency.

Eligible Countries:

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Dermatology Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 5750 Old Orchard Road, Suite 450 Skokie, IL, 60077-1090 (847) 328.2256

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