Impact and Results

We have never been closer to curing ovarian cancer.

Researchers are making incredible strides in better understanding, preventing and treating ovarian cancer. The past 50 years have brought real reason for hope, as scientists in prestigious institutions across the world have worked tirelessly to build on our collective knowledge of this disease, blazing new trails forward and achieving better patient survival, improvements in standard of care, and more effective treatments.

OCRA is the largest global charity funding ovarian cancer research. 

Since entering the field in the 1990s, OCRA has become a beacon for brilliant ovarian cancer researchers at all stages of their careers, providing vital funding for bold, innovative projects in a field where scientific research – though desperately needed – is sorely underfunded. As the largest non-government funder of ovarian cancer research in the world, OCRA provides  seed funding to promising investigators, and invests in cutting-edge projects led by top researchers. 

To date, OCRA has awarded more than 350 grants and invested $122 million in ovarian cancer research initiatives from top scientists at leading medical centers, ensuring that science continues to break new ground on the path to a cure.

In 2022, OCRA grantees made major breakthroughs in the fight against ovarian cancer:

• Studied how frequent use of aspirin is associated with a reduction in ovarian cancer

• Used Machine Learning to bridge the gap between disparate data sets specifically in patients with HGSOC

• Studied how knocking out KDM5A showed an increase in the presence and activation of CD8+ T cells, which are immune cells that kill cancer cells

• Discovered a tool to aid selecting the best treatment options

• Dosed the first patients in the clinical trial “Immunotherapy Platform Study in Platinum Resistant High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (IPROC)” (NCT04918186)

• Studied how partner proteins may contribute to ovarian cancer tumor growth

• Found key proteins in HGSOC cancer cells which resulted in combined treatment options which resulted in smaller tumors and longer survival

• Discovered genetic link between ovarian cancer subtypes and endometriosis 

• Showed how surgical removal of fallopian tubes may reduce ovarian cancer risk

• Studied the BRCA1 gene mutation for the potential of predicting ovarian cancer in patients

Our approach to funding research

To ensure that we are funding only the most outstanding research projects, OCRA’s grants involve a rigorous review process. The process starts with a request for proposals (RFP) issued by OCRA in spring of each year. Applicants respond to the RFP with a short “letter of intent” that briefly describes the research project. The letters of intent undergo rigorous evaluation by members of our Scientific Advisory Committee, a group of experts in ovarian cancer.  The top ranked applicants are then invited to submit more detailed full proposals, which are again reviewed by the SAC.  After a review and discussion, the SAC makes final recommendations for funding to the OCRA Board of Directors, who approves the grants for funding.

The review process—including all meeting deliberations, scores and critiques of proposals—is confidential. A confidentiality and conflict-of-interest statement must be signed by each reviewer.

Visit For Researchers for information on applying for an OCRA grant.