(April 1, 2019) 156 House Members have joined Reps. DeLauro and Duffy in a call for increased ovarian cancer research funding.
Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Sean Duffy (R-WI) – co-chairs of the Congressional Ovarian Cancer Caucus – today delivered a “Dear Colleague” letter to the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee requesting a $15 million increase in funding for the Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) at the Department of Defense (DoD) for the upcoming fiscal year. A bipartisan group of 156 Representatives added their signatures onto the letter, a record-breaking showing of support.
OCRP is the only dedicated source of federal funding for ovarian cancer and a lifeline for women with ovarian cancer, but its impact is limited by funding constraints. Established in 1997 as part of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, the OCRP has funded 346 research awards, resulting in more than 1,370 peer-reviewed publications, over 100 patent applications, and high-impact advances in the prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of ovarian cancer. Increased funding for FY2020 will enable OCRP to continue pushing boundaries of ovarian cancer knowledge and expand investments in life-saving ovarian cancer research.
“As an ovarian cancer survivor, fighting to increase the funding for Ovarian Cancer Research Program is personal,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “Early detection is critical to surviving this deadly disease. Yet, for far too many women it is discovered too late. That is why funding for OCRP is so important, as it helps women and their doctors to find this cancer early and treat it effectively. This funding will help save the lives of women across the country from all walks of life—including in the military—and I am proud to support it.”
“As the co-chair of the Ovarian Caucus, and the brother of a survivor, I know too well the devastating impact this disease has on families across the country,” said Congressman Duffy. “The Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program for Ovarian Cancer Research has led to groundbreaking treatment approaches and I am proud to support increased funding to ensure this research can continue to develop new and innovative ways to detect and treat ovarian cancer.”
“Research is the best hope for accelerating progress,” said Audra Moran, President and CEO of Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) “and despite recent advancements, ovarian cancer mortality rates have not significantly improved in decades. OCRP and OCRA have worked closely over the years to ensure we don’t duplicate funding to our grantees, and together we are at the forefront of innovative research that’s transforming the diagnosis, treatment, and care of ovarian cancer. It’s been six years since Congress increased funding for OCRP and a boost is long overdue. OCRA is doing its part as the largest private funder of ovarian cancer research, and this strong showing of bipartisan support is an important first step toward achieving an expanded investment by Congress for FY2020.”
“Through innovative, cross-institutional research practices, the Department of Defense’s research program for ovarian cancer has become the gold standard in cancer research and has facilitated discoveries in every aspect of ovarian cancer care,” said Dr. Warner K. Huh, President of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology. “With so many more women serving in our nation’s military, we owe it to these women to provide them with scientific discoveries that optimize their readiness today and provide them with the highest level of care as they transition from their military careers in the future.”
