20.04.2026

guideSkin Selected for Prestigious EU Funding under Highly Competitive Industrial Doctorates Program

Success in Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) funding – Coordination at the University of Tübingen

The European research and training network guideSkin has been selected for funding under the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks – Industrial Doctorates call, pending the successful completion of the grant preparation phase with the European Commission. With a success rate of only around 6%, this selection highlights the outstanding scientific excellence and strategic relevance of the project.

The guideSkin consortium is expected to receive approximately €4.6 million in funding to advance the development, evaluation, and regulatory approval of innovative and generic dermal products. The project is coordinated by Prof. Dominique Lunter from the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy at the University of Tübingen, who leads a strong and interdisciplinary European partnership.

guideSkin is the first European Industrial Doctorate dedicated to leveraging advanced analytical and digital technologies to transform dermal drug development and regulatory science. The project addresses critical challenges arising from the new European Medicines Agency (EMA) guideline on the quality and equivalence of cutaneous products, aiming to modernize approval processes and ensure faster access to safe and effective skin therapies.

The consortium brings together a unique network of leading academic institutions, major pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies, and highly innovative SMEs across Europe. Besides the University of Tübingen (Germany) as coordinator, the consortium includes the University of Surrey (United Kingdom), University College Cork (Ireland), the University of Belgrade (Serbia), Université Paris-Saclay (France), and Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal). Together with strong, research active partners from industry and the SME sector, they form a powerful ecosystem bridging science, industry, and regulation.

At the core of the project is an ambitious doctoral training program that will educate 15 Doctoral Candidates at the interface of pharmaceutical technology, digital modeling, and regulatory science. Three of these doctoral researchers will be based in Tübingen. By combining academic excellence with hands-on industry experience, guideSkin will equip a new generation of scientists with the skills needed to implement cutting-edge methodologies such as artificial intelligence, in silico modelling, and advanced spectroscopic techniques.

guideSkin represents a major step forward in strengthening Europe’s innovation capacity in dermatological therapies. By bringing together leading experts from academia and industry, it creates a collaborative environment that will shape the future of dermal product development and regulatory approval. Ultimately, guideSkin will accelerate innovation, reduce development costs, and improve patient access to high-quality and affordable skin therapies across Europe.

Prof. Dr. Dominique Lunter, Pharmazeutische Technologie und Biopharmazie, Pharmazeutisches Institut, Mathematisch Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Universität Tübingen

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