May has been officially recognized as National Cancer Research Month. Of course, at OCRA, every month is research month. Below, we highlight breakthroughs in our understanding and treatment of ovarian cancer, thanks to the ongoing work of our grantees. And be sure to keep scrolling down to discover new ways to get involved and get support!
Research
- Audra Moran, President and CEO of OCRA, and Dr. Richard Pazdur, Head of the Oncology Center of Excellence at FDA, recently discussed an array of topics – from drug regulation policies to the critical role of patients in research. Hear their reflections on the progress we’ve made and what makes them hopeful.
- We hosted a webinar featuring Dr. Sarah Adams, gynecologic oncologist and ovarian cancer expert, who presented the learnings shared at this year’s Society of Gynecologic Oncology’s Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer. You can watch the full webinar, even if you weren’t able to attend the live discussion. You can also read about highlights from SGO’s Annual Meeting as reported by OCRA’s Research Advocate and SAC member, Annie Ellis.
- Some ovarian cancers are genetically linked to the gynecologic disorder known as endometriosis, according to recent findings from an international team of researchers. Learn more about this finding, which combined datasets comparing genomes from 40,000 patients.
- OCRA grantee Duygu Ozmadenci, PhD, led a study of a therapeutic strategy that targets key tumor proteins, which shows promise for treatment of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), the most common subtype of ovarian cancer.
- In addition, a research team that included three OCRA grantees explored the interaction of a different set of proteins believed to promote the growth of HGSOC. This study could shape the development of future treatments for this subtype.
- OCRA has teamed with the Cancer Research Institute to conduct a platform clinical trial aimed at testing novel immunotherapy combinations in patients with a form of ovarian cancer that has become resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy. Read more about this trial and the scientists conducting it.
- Meet Benoît Bragantini, PhD, an OCRA grantee who is exploring how DNA damage and repair mechanisms can lead to ovarian cancer, and how these processes can be controlled to prevent its development and spread. Learn what sparked his interest in science.
Advocacy
- Your Senators need to hear from you! Last month, we asked you to urge your U.S. Representative to sign onto a Dear Colleague letter seeking an increase in funding for ovarian cancer research. A similar letter is now circulating in the Senate. The deadline to sign is tomorrow, so act today to complete this form, which will automatically send a message to both of your Senators.
Patient Support
- OCRA is thrilled to announce the launch of our first Staying Connected: Summer Series, which will be in addition to the ongoing virtual support groups we already run. This Summer Series will meet every Tuesday at 7pm ET, from June to August, and focus on relationships, fertility, and careers. Registration is required.
Events
- It’s not even summer, but we already have eyes on the fall to OCRA’s Uniting for Hope Ovarian Cancer National Conference. The virtual event will take place September 21-23, 2022. So sign up to be the first to receive registration and sponsorship information … and be sure to save the date!
- Last month, supporters hit the streets (and treadmills!) in support of the ovarian cancer community as part of our April Facebook challenge. More than 3,400 people clocked a collective 98,580+ miles, raising more than $120,000 for research. We are grateful to everyone who participated, and look forward to a new challenge in September, during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Ways to Give
- We can’t let this month go by without recognizing a few of our OCRA Heroes. This first group has kept up momentum for our mission, literally, through fundraising efforts that involved running and dancing. And in honor of Mother’s Day, we want to acknowledge a handful of supporters who turned their love for their moms into actions that will have an impact on mothers, daughters, sisters, friends – anyone touched by ovarian cancer.
- You don’t have to run a marathon or host an event to help our community. You can simply make a donation in honor of someone important to you. And you can take that support one step further by creating a tribute page, where others can show their love through a gift that supports life-saving research.
