Grant Application FAQs

Interested in applying for an OCRA grant? Find answers to our most frequently asked questions about the grant application process.

You can also view our current Terms and Conditions, which will answer many questions.

To apply for any of the OCRA grant opportunities please visit SmartSimple. You will need to create an account if you don’t have one yet. If you have any questions about registering in SmartSimple please email OCRA at grants@ocrahope.org. If you would like to join our grant opportunities mailing list so you will be informed about future grant announcements, please send an email to grants@ocrahope.org.

OCRA 2025 Grant Cycle

DateStatus
Letter of Intent (LOI) OpensWednesday, February 28, 2024Next
Letter of Intent (LOI) DueWednesday, March 27, 2024, 5:00PM ET
Letter of Intent Decisions/Full Proposal OpensMid-May 2024
Full Proposal DueThursday, June 13, 2024, 5:00PM ET
Funding NotificationEnd of September 2024
*all dates are subject to change

All OCRA Grants

What type of organizations can apply for OCRA grants?

Educational and not-for-profit organizations from anywhere in the world are welcome to apply for OCRA grants. At this time, OCRA does not fund for-profit entities.

Can I budget for indirect costs?

Yes, you can budget up to 10% for indirect costs. Subcontracts cannot include indirect costs. And the costs of subcontracts are not included in the calculation of the 10% for indirect costs.

Can I include tuition for myself or anyone else working on the grant in the budget?

No, tuition and fees are not an allowable cost on OCRA grants.

Can I budget for travel?

Yes, you may budget up to $2,000 per grant year.

Can I include letters of support in my application?

No, these are not required and there is not a place to submit them in SmartSimple.

Are there stipulations for font and margin size?

Yes, please follow NIH guidelines. Font size needs to be 11 or larger and all page margins must be at least 1/2 inch or larger.

Can I have an extension on the due date?

No. Late submissions and extension requests are not permitted.

Are PIs working in European, or other non-US based institutions, eligible for OCRA grants?

Yes, international applicants are eligible for OCRA grants.

Can multiple applicants from the same institution apply for the same grant mechanism?

Yes. Each investigator may only submit one grant application, but there is no limit to how many applications an institution can submit.

Can my institution request changes to the Terms and Conditions?

No.

Can I apply for more than one grant?

You may only be listed as the PI on one grant application per funding mechanism.

Can someone be listed on one application as the PI and listed as other types of personnel on a second application?

 Yes, an individual can be listed as the PI on one application and can be other personnel on other applications.

If I already have an OCRA grant active, can I apply for another grant?

As long as your current OCRA grant will end before the new grant begins then yes, but you can not have more than one OCRA grant active at a time.

How will I be notified about the status of my LOI and Full Proposal?

All emails will come from our grant management system, SmartSimple. Please be sure to add OCRA@smartsimplemailer.com to your safe sender list so you don’t miss any communications.

What are the anticipated start dates for OCRA grants?
  • Collaborative Research Development Grants and Collaborative Research Development Grants – AI start on January 1st
  • Early Career Investigator Grants start on February 1st
  • Mentored Investigator Grants start on March 1st
Should I use the NIH salary cap when budgeting for salary support?

Yes. Effective January 1, 2023, for all individuals with salary paid by NIH awards, the direct salary cap is $212,100.

What are the institutional roles required on the grant application?

LOIs do not require any institutional contacts to be added or to sign off on the submission.

Full Proposals require both a Signing Official (SO) – who will need to sign off on the Full Proposal Application for it be officially submitted to OCRA and a Financial Official (FO) – this role does not have any action during the application process.

Institutional Roles (these roles need to be two different people with unique email addresses):

Financial Official (1 per grant):

The Financial Official (FO) is an institutional official who is authorized to complete and submit financial reports on behalf of the institution. The FO will have access to the financial reports in SmartSimple, they will be required to submit the actual expenses and request carry forwards. The FO is the only person authorized to submit the financial reports.

Signing Official (1 per grant):

The Signing Official (SO) is an institutional official who is authorized to digitally sign off on the submission of full proposals, the grant Activation, Renewal(s), Budget Updates, No Cost Extension requests, etc.). In addition, the SO is required to complete the payment details for Activations and Renewal(s), certify that all information submitted is accurate, approve the budget for each year and make the final submission to OCRA.

OCRA highly recommends PIs work with their institution to ensure there is both an FO and SO in SmartSimple well before the full proposal deadline. If you have any questions about contacts please email grants@ocrahope.org

What other Key Personnel roles are available on each grant?

Principal Investigator (1 per grant):

The Principal Investigator (PI) is the person who the grant is awarded to and their institution. The PI is responsible for the preparation, conduct, and administration of the research grant. The administration of the grant includes but is not limited to submitting the LOI & Full Proposal, grant activations & renewals, narrative progress reports, renewals, and providing up to date ethical documentation if needed.

Mentor (1 per grant – must be at the same institution as the PI):

The mentor, a recognized leader in the field of ovarian cancer research, or relevant area, provides training and mentorship to PIs who are early in their career. The mentor guides you in both your research and your professional goals. It is the mentor’s responsibility to assure that a trainee who receives this grant submits the required materials in OCRA’s grants management system throughout the life of the grant.  

Investigator (no limit and can be from any institution):

Investigator or Co-Investigator is someone involved in the research project. An Investigator is expected to make significant contributions, and may be involved in developing and/or carrying out the project. Investigator(s) must devote a specified measurable effort to the project whether or not salaries or compensation are requested. Investigator or Co-Investigator is also interchangeable with Collaborator/Co-Collaborator.

Key Personnel (no limit and can be from any institution):

Personnel who commit to contribute to the scientific development or execution of the project but are not committing any specified measurable effort (person months or percent effort) to the project.

Research Delegate (1 per grant must be from the same institution):
The Research Delegate (RD) is designated by the Principal Investigator to assist with all required tasks assigned to the PI. The RD has access to tasks in SmartSimple for specific grants, in which the PI has designated them RD. The RD may enter information into SmartSimple and save it, but the RD cannot submit any information, only the PI is authorized to submit materials to either the SO or OCRA.

Collaborative Research Development Grants

Is there a minimum, or maximum, number of PIs for this grant?

No. One investigator will need to be selected to oversee the project, but there is no limit on how many other investigators can be listed. Whatever fits the scope of the project is appropriate.

Can I budget for animal supplies?

Yes.

How many Collaborative Research Development Grants do you anticipate granting this year?

The number of new Collaborative Research Development Grants we will grant depends on our total grant budget for the year, and how our Scientific Advisory Committee decides to distribute the research funds.

Do I really have to limit my references to just one page?

Yes. You will not be punished for brevity and everyone is in the same boat. In this case, feel free to use a smaller font and play with the margins for the reference page if it helps.

Collaborative Research Development Grants – AI

FAQs about the OCRA/Microsoft AI for Health grant opportunity:

What is Microsoft AI for Health? 

Microsoft AI for Health, a philanthropic program at Microsoft, offers access to advanced Microsoft Azure cloud computing and collaboration with data science experts for nonprofits, academia, and researchers.  AI for Health is part of Microsoft’s larger AI for Good initiative. 

How are OCRA and Microsoft partnering? 

OCRA will be providing Collaborative Research Development Grant (CRDG) recipients with monetary support, up to $900,000USD over a period of 3 years. For those CRDG-AI recipients that have AI components to their project, Microsoft will provide in-kind support in the form of Azure computing credits, and in-kind data science support.  This in-kind support from Microsoft will be in addition to the financial support from OCRA. 

I plan to submit a Collaborative Research Development Grant LOI or application but do not plan to propose an AI-related project.  Can I still apply?

Of course! While we are excited about this new collaboration, we anticipate a minority of our applicants will pursue AI-related projects. If you have applied for a CRDG grant in the past, we hope you will apply again for the CRDG grant!  

Do I have to partner with Microsoft AI for health for the CRDG-AI grant? 

Yes. The CRDG-AI grant does require a partnership with Microsoft. If your grant does not have an AI component or you do not wish to partner with Microsoft AI for Health, you should apply for the CRDG and not the CRDG-AI.

Will Microsoft provide any additional financial support for my project? 

No.

What type of support, and how much, will Microsoft provide? 

Microsoft will provide a selected grantee in-kind support in the form of Azure computing credits, and in-kind data science support.  The nature and exact level of support provided will depend on the requirements of the project.  If your project is selected, you will work directly with the staff at Microsoft AI for Health to determine the specifics of the support.  You will also contract directly with Microsoft for that support.  

Will Microsoft review or help select applications for funding? 

All funding decisions will be made by OCRA’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).  Those grant applications requesting support from Microsoft will also be reviewed by the Microsoft AI for Health team, which will provide feedback to the OCRA SAC, but the OCRA SAC will make the funding recommendations.

If my project has an AI component, and I am interested in the Microsoft AI for Health component, do I need to submit a separate application? 

No.  No additional information is needed at the LOI stage.  There are sections in the full application that are required for applicants that wish to request support from Microsoft, in which you will detail the nature of support required.  Please ensure that you fill these sections out in their entirety if you would like to be considered for Microsoft support.

Early Career Investigator Grant (formerly the Liz Tilberis Award)

I am an Assistant Professor but took this position over seven years ago. Am I still eligible to apply for this grant?

No.

I am an Associate Professor. Am I eligible for this grant?

No, Associate Professors are not eligible.

I am a prior recipient of a Mentored Investigator Grant (formerly the Ann Schreiber Mentored Investigator Award). Am I eligible to apply for the Early Career Investigator Grant?

Yes. In the past some of our Mentored Investigator Grantees have gone on to be granted Early Career Investigator Grantees.

I am not an oncologist. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, you are eligible. You are not required to be an oncologist or a gynecologic oncologist to apply, though you must conduct ovarian cancer research.

How much of my time needs to be dedicated to ovarian cancer research?

For MDs/DOs or MD/DO-PhD applicants with clinical responsibilities, at least 50% of your time must be dedicated to ovarian cancer research.

For applicants without clinical responsibilities, at least 75% of the time must be dedicated to ovarian cancer research.

How do I, and my institution, certify that I will spend 50% or 75% of my time on research?

You can write as much in a letter accompanying your application. Your institution can do by including this in one of the letters of recommendation.

Is there a page limit on the letters of recommendation?

No hard and fast limit, but we suggest you urge your recommenders to keep it to two pages.

What can I include in the budget?

You may budget for: personnel, supplies, travel, other direct costs, and 10% indirect costs. All other costs are not permitted on Early Career Investigator Grants.

How many Early Career Investigator Grants do you anticipate granting this year?

The number of new Early Career Investigator Grants we will grant depends on our total grant budget for the year, and how our Scientific Advisory Committee decides to distribute the research funds.

Should letters of recommendation be sent directly to the OCRA office, or loaded online?

They should be loaded into SmartSimple along with the rest of your application materials.

In SmartSimple, I don’t see a place to upload a cover letter or personal statement. Is this required?

This is not required and will not be accepted.

Where in SmartSimple can I include supplementary materials?

There is nowhere in SmartSimple where you can upload miscellaneous documents. No other documents other than those required are permitted.

I have an NCI K99/R00 award. Am I eligible for the Early Career Investigator Grant?

No.

If I already received the Early Career Investigator Grant, can apply for it again?

No, you may only be awarded the Early Career Investigator Grant once.

If I applied for the Early Career Investigator Grant in the past, but my application was not funded, can I apply again?

Yes, we encourage you to reapply.

Mentored Investigator Grant (formerly Ann and Sol Schreiber Mentored Investigator Award)

Can one mentor be on multiple applications?

No, each mentor can only support one applicant per year.

Can I have two mentors for one project?

No.

What can I include in the budget?

You may budget for; personnel, supplies, travel, and 10% indirect costs. All other costs are not permitted on Mentored Investigator Grants.

Can I budget for subcontracts?

No, subcontracts are not permitted on Mentored Investigator Grants.

How many Mentored Investigator Grants do you anticipate granting this year?

The number of new Mentored Investigator grants we will grant depends on our total grant budget for the year, and how our Scientific Advisory Committee decides to distribute the research funds.

Should letters of recommendation be sent directly to the OCRA office, or loaded online?

They should be loaded into SmartSimple along with the rest of your application materials.

Is this grant for $75,000 each year for one or two years? Or is the total grant $75,000, which can be used over one or two years?

The total amount of this grant is $75,000. It’s up to you whether you like to budget that for one year or for two years. Regardless, the total cost of the grant cannot exceed $75,000.

If I already received the Mentored Investigator Grant, can apply again for the MIG

No, you may only be awarded the Mentored Investigator Grant once.

If I applied for the Mentored Investigator Grant in the past, but my application was not funded, can I apply again?

Yes, we encourage you to reapply.

Health Equity Research Grant

Can I apply if my project does not have a health equity focus?

No, your project must have a health equity focus in addition to an ovarian cancer or other related gynecologic cancers focus.

What can I budget for on Health Equity Research Grants?

You may budget for: personnel, supplies, travel, other direct costs, and indirect costs of up to 10% of your direct costs. All other costs including subcontracts are not permitted on Health Equity Research Grants.

Do I have to be at a certain point in my career to apply?

No, as long as the Principal Investigator has their PhD or MD at the time of LOI submission, you are eligible to apply.

Do I have to agree to share my progress report with GSK?

If your grant was sponsored by GSK or any other industry partner, yes; the progress reports will shared with the sponsored partner. You will submit your progress report as normal to OCRA, and OCRA will share the report. The 2025 Health Equity Research Grant currently does not have a sponsor. Should that change, applicants will be notified.