OCRA’s dedicated staff members bring passion, expertise, and a collaborative spirit to the fight against ovarian and related gynecologic cancers. Whether spearheading innovative research initiatives or creating engaging support programs, OCRA’s team is devoted to advancing progress and igniting hope. Together, we are committed to improving the lives of patients and their families, ensuring anyone impacted by gynecologic cancer feels understood, empowered, and supported.
Audra Moran
President & CEO
As President & CEO of Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), Audra heads the largest global charity for ovarian and related gynecologic cancer research and advocacy. She directs overall strategy, operations, and fundraising to promote progress and awareness while hastening breakthroughs in diagnostics and treatments with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.
Sarah DeFeo
Chief Program Officer
Sarah DeFeo, OCRA’s Chief Program Officer, joined OCRA in November 2008 and oversees OCRA’s annual grant solicitation and review progress, working closely with the Scientific Advisory Committee. Under her leadership, applications to OCRA’s three research grant programs have quadrupled.
Vice President, Support & Education
Senior Director, Treatment Access and Scientific Education
Senior Director, Social Work Education and Research
Director, Patient Support
Director, Survivors Teaching Students®
Director, Education
Senior Manager, Patient Support
Senior Manager, Programs
Manager, Programs
Jon Zeidman
Chief Development Officer
Jon Zeidman is OCRA’s Chief Development Officer and is responsible for the design, implementation, and oversight of OCRA’s fundraising programs including annual giving, major gifts, direct mail, corporate partnerships, foundation relations, and special events. He has more than 13 years of experience in the nonprofit sector.
Lydia Smith
Senior Director, Operations
Lydia Smith is OCRA’s Senior Director, Operations. She joined OCRA in 2024 and oversees the organization’s day-to-day operations, maintaining office management, IT, and Human Resources while serving as a member of the finance team and collaborating with various departments and teams. She works to implement new initiatives to improve operational effectiveness.
KVIA-TV ABC-7 News El Paso recently featured OCRA-funded researcher Daniel Heller, PhD, and his team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, whose innovative work is bringing new hope for detecting ovarian cancer at its earliest stages through a simple blood test. Dr. Heller’s research lab is developing a liquid biopsy that uses nanosensors and artificial intelligence (AI) to measure multiple proteins … Continued
This article was updated in October 2025 to reflect NCCN’s release of the 2025 Guidelines for Uterine Cancer Patients. OCRA is a proud sponsor of the 2025 Patient Guidelines for Cervical, Ovarian, and Uterine Cancer. We believe ensuring access to clear, understandable information is critical. NCCN provides wonderful guides for anyone newly diagnosed to help … Continued
In a recent article for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jeff Guttenfelder spoke with journalist Ciara McCarthy about losing his late wife, Ni, to ovarian cancer, and how he is channeling his grief into action through participation in OCRA’s Survivors Teaching Students program. Read the article “Fort Worth man’s wife died of ovarian cancer” in the … Continued
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