Dermatology Foundation Receives Generous $1M Grant from Johnson & Johnson

A million-dollar grant from Johnson & Johnson to the Dermatology Foundation (DF) Research Award Program will support three exceptional early-career researchers dedicated to pursuing innovative knowledge on inflammatory skin disorders. This new DF research award funds groundbreaking investigations into these critical conditions providing each selected investigative researchers will receive $100,000 annually for three years, beginning July 1, 2026. Applications are due October 15, 2025.

Inflammatory skin disorders affect millions of people. Atopic dermatitis—the most common form of eczema—impacts an estimated 5 to 7.5 million American adults. Psoriasis affects about 7.5 million individuals, primarily adults, while seborrheic dermatitis, often associated with dandruff, affects about 12.5 million adults.

The DF Research Award Program supports outstanding researchers whose forward-thinking ideas promise to shape the future of dermatology.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be physician-scientists (MD or MD-PhD) who have either completed at least one year of a DF-sponsored Career Development Award (CDA) at the time of application or returned their CDA after receiving NIH funding.
• Be within five years of their initial faculty appointment as an assistant professor, holding a primary dermatology appointment at a US medical school that sponsors an ACGME-approved dermatology training program.

Early career can be a particularly challenging time for young researchers, who face immense pressure to secure funding while balancing clinical responsibilities. The Dermatology Foundation strives to support junior faculty committed to academic careers by offering some protection from the burden of clinical demands—an essential step in sustaining our specialty.

The Johnson & Johnson Early Career Innovator Award is designed to extend junior investigators path to success. As DF President Janet A. Fairley, MD, explains “It’s crucial to support individuals early in their research careers. Funding is often their greatest concern, and this new DF award—made possible by Johnson & Johnson’s generous contribution—will help ease that financial burden. By enabling researchers to focus on advancing knowledge in inflammatory skin disorders, my hope is that it will encourage them to continue pursuing important work in their investigative careers.”

About DF Research Awards
For sixty years, the Dermatology Foundation has been a major force in the development of the specialty’s scientific base. To date, the DF has awarded nearly 2,500 research awards to enable advancements in patient care by providing $83M in funding for discovery to talented investigators. The Foundation has a proven record of funding novel ideas and individuals who are dedicated to expanding the understanding of dermatologic conditions and diseases.

About the Dermatology Foundation
Founded in 1964, the Dermatology Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and the leading private funding source for skin disease research in the US.