OCRF receives record number of research grant applications; launches national patient support program with new educational grants
New York, NY January 10, 2013 — Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) has awarded over $5.9 million in scientific research grants for ovarian cancer this year. Additionally, two educational and support grants totaling $100,000 were given to new partner institutions for the national expansion of its signature Woman to Woman Program.
OCRF is pleased to announce that for the second year in a row, it has received the most applications in its history – over 170 grant proposals – a 35% increase from last year.
Proposals were evaluated through intensive peer review by OCRF’s prestigious Scientific Advisory Committee. The resulting 2013 grant portfolio represents the best ovarian cancer research. “We received a very healthy number of solid applications this year, and the depth, breadth and quality of our awards only continue to increase,” says Jeff Boyd, Ph.D., OCRF’s Scientific Advisory Committee Chair and Board Member, and Senior Vice President, Molecular Medicine at Fox Chase Cancer Center. “These scientists are at the top of their game at the national level. The caliber of our grantees and their projects is outstanding – on par with those funded by any other major agency in the country. This speaks to the power and importance of OCRF in the ovarian cancer research community.”
Nearly $6 million in research grants will be awarded to 16 scientists at leading medical institutions across the country in 2013. From collaborative teams of the most experienced senior investigators awarded the Program Project Development Grant, to the Liz Tilberis Scholars Program which supports junior faculty with a strong commitment to the field, to promising young postdoctoral and clinical fellows awarded the Ann Schreiber Ovarian Cancer Research Training Program of Excellence Grants at the beginning of their research careers, OCRF grantees are the brightest men and women in the field today. To date, OCRF has invested over $50 million in ovarian cancer research, awarding 195 grants to scientists at 63 leading medical centers in the United States.
For its 2013 national Woman to Woman Program expansion, sponsored by QVC, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund has awarded $50,000 grants to both the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program at Duke Cancer Institute and the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven.
“We are so pleased to welcome these two prestigious institutions to our signature patient program. They now join Mount Sinai Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital as our Woman to Woman grant recipients, and we look forward to expanding with more partners to support more ovarian cancer patients and their loved ones in the future,’’ says Audra Moran, CEO of Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.
OCRF’s Woman to Woman Program pairs gynecologic cancer patients with professionally trained and supervised survivor volunteers who provide one-on-one emotional support and mentoring, as well as promote education and self-advocacy for women in treatment, their partners, families and other caregivers.
