Two OCRA Heroes are committed to pushing the limits of their physical endurance as a show of solidarity for our community this spring. Ethan Willey from Arizona and Mark Everitt from Connecticut will be taking on swimming, biking and running in order to complete a daunting 70.3 miles during two separate Half Ironman events — … Continued
Dr. Melica Brodeur, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is a 2022 recipient of OCRA’s Mentored Investigator Grant. With her project, “Exploiting SMARCA4 Alterations for New Therapeutics in Ovarian Cancer,” Dr. Brodeur is investigating a genetic mutation, found in more than half of ovarian cancers, that is associated with relatively high presence of active immune … Continued
Dr. Amrita Salvi, of University of Illinois at Chicago, is a 2022 recipient of OCRA’s Mentored Investigator Grant. With her project, “Investigating the Mechanism of Action of PHY34 in HGSOC,” Dr. Salvi is exploring the potential of a synthetic molecule called PHY34, which has been shown to reduce ovarian tumor growth in mice models, for … Continued
Dr. Zelei Yang, of Dana Farber Cancer Institute, is a 2022 recipient of OCRA’s Mentored Investigator Grant. With her project, “Re-engaging the Anti-tumor Immune Response Against Ovarian Cancer,” Dr. Yang is investigating a potential new immune therapy for ovarian cancer, by focusing on BRD1 protein inhibitors that hold potential to trigger a person’s immune system … Continued
Dr. Gamze Bildik Elcik, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Experimental Therapeutics at MD Anderson Cancer Center, is a 2022 recipient of OCRA’s Mentored Investigator Grant. With her project, “DIRAS3 Inhibits KRAS and Sensitizes LGSOC Cells to Anti-autophagic Therapy,” Dr. Bildik Elcik aims to address the issue of chemotherapy resistance in a large subset of … Continued
Dr. Erin Wesley, of University of Minnesota Twin Cities, is a 2022 recipient of OCRA’s Mentored Investigator Grant. With her project, “Impact of Cytomegalovirus and Inflammation on NK Cells in Ovarian Cancer,” Dr. Wesley is working to better understand why a group of patients who were previously infected with a particular virus and had low … Continued
Ie-Ming Shih, MD, PhD is on a quest to better understand the human condition. He is a pathologist who studies human tissue to learn more about the origins of ovarian cancer; a Distinguished Professor (Endowed Chair) of Gynecologic Pathology who directs that research program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; the co-director of … Continued
For Amber Jean Young, the loss of her mother to ovarian cancer on January 1, 2019, caused a grief so acute that it completely altered an essential part of her identity: her art. An interdisciplinary artist who holds a Master of Fine Art from San Francisco Art Institute, Amber had been primarily working with textiles … Continued
Some may think video games are just for play, but these three streamers are committed to using their pastime to make a serious difference for the ovarian cancer community. Our #GameOVAR ambassadors Tamborine Panda, Isabella and Podgie are raising support for lifesaving research through August 14 during OCRA’s first-ever streaming event through Tiltify. Read on to learn … Continued
Our gratitude goes out to three OCRA Heroes who channeled their creative energy to champion our shared cause via inventive fundraising initiatives. Entrepreneur Daisy Garcia in California, personal care brand founder Julie Hogan in Florida, and artist Andrew Galdi in Pennsylvania have all been motivated to use their talents to contribute to the ovarian cancer … Continued
Dr. Sandra Cascio of Magee-Womens Research Institute is a 2021 recipient of OCRA’s Early Career Investigative Grant. With her project, “EGFL6 as a New Regulator of Myeloid Cell Expansion and Function in HGSOC,” Dr. Cascio seeks to better understand ovarian tumors’ microenvironments and, ultimately, to overcome ovarian cancer resistance to immunotherapy, opening up a new … Continued
Dr. Martin Cannon, of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), is a 2021 recipient of OCRA’s Collaborative Research Development Grant. With his project, “Understanding and Targeting Myeloid Populations in Ovarian Cancer,” Dr. Cannon seeks to better understand the behavior of a type of immune cell that currently helps ovarian cancer tumors grow, in order … Continued
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