OCRA is proud to announce the first three recipients of the $6 million we have awarded to support groundbreaking ovarian and related gynecologic cancer research in 2025. And we’re not stopping there—stay tuned as we continue to expand our investment in research this year. This is the first in a multi-part series introducing our newest grantees.
All three are part of OCRA’s Collaborative Research Development Grants (CRDG), which support multi-investigator teams tackling cancer’s biggest challenges. This includes a special Microsoft AI for Health partnership grant, which applies artificial intelligence to advance research and improve patient outcomes.
Meet the Researchers
Katherine Chiappinelli, PhD, The George Washington University
Dr. Chiappinelli is studying how to help the immune system fight ovarian cancer. She will work to administer cancer-fighting T cells, and try to change the tumor microenvironment. Learn more about Dr. Chiappinelli’s research project.
Branden Moriarity, PhD, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Dr. Moriarity is working on a novel therapy that can recognize cancer in multiple ways with fewer side effects. Learn more about Dr. Moriarity’s research project.
Zoltan Szallasi, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital
Dr. Szallasi is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to accurately predict response to first-line platinum-based therapy, which can help inform early treatment decisions, while seeking new therapeutic targets. Learn more about Dr. Szallasi’s research project.
“We at OCRA are proud to fund these researchers and so many more like them. Fostering collaboration and harnessing new technology such as artificial intelligence is the key to advancing promising research in immunotherapy, targeted treatments, and cancer cell vulnerabilities,” says Audra Moran, OCRA’s President & CEO.
“These projects are redefining what’s possible in the fight against gynecologic cancers.”
