Researching
Every single day, our researchers dig into the disease from every angle. Learning more about origins, biomarkers and precision treatments; improving our collective understanding of ovarian cancer.
Why OCRA?
When it comes to ovarian cancer, only one organization has both a laser focus and a panoramic view.
OCRA addresses ovarian cancer from every possible angle.
Advocating
We train an army of advocates who support our policy office as they urge Congress to keep this fight a priority. Advocating not just for research funding, but for laws that directly impact how patients with ovarian cancer are treated and insured.
Educating
We send volunteers into the classrooms of rising healthcare professionals to share their personal stories so that the doctors and nurses of tomorrow are better equipped to diagnose and treat ovarian cancer.
Supporting
Our Patient Support team, led by an oncology social worker, offers an array of programs — from peer mentoring to virtual support groups — standing by the side of all those touched by ovarian and other gynecologic cancers.
OCRA convenes experts and stakeholders to facilitate progress.
We work closely with a team of renowned doctors and researchers, meet regularly with industry stakeholders, and provide platforms for experts in the field of ovarian and other gynecologic cancers to share vital information.
How does OCRA's Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) guide the grant-making process?
Our Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) hails from the nation’s top minds. OCRA’s grant-making process is guided by 26 leading ovarian cancer medical professionals with expertise in basic and clinical science, and who are making inroads in specialties such as genomics, immunology, epidemiology, and proteomics. Read on to learn what questions our SAC asks when evaluating grant proposals.
How does OCRA's Ovarian Cancer Industry Council promote cross-sector engagement?
The Ovarian Cancer Industry Council facilitates collaboration with key stakeholders — pharmaceutical, biomedical and diagnostic companies; clinicians; patient advocates; and federal regulators — to share insights and ideas, and identify tangible action steps.
How does OCRA's Ovarian Cancer National Conference build community and broaden understanding?
Every year, hundreds of patients, caregivers, and supporters from all over the U.S. and the world convene at the National Conference to hear directly from experts on an array of topics.
OCRA fills the gap in federal funding, and attracts new talent.
It is important to understand how most ovarian cancer research is supported in the United States. Two government entities, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Department of Defense (DoD), fund scientists conducting ovarian cancer research at medical centers, universities and other nonprofit laboratories. (OCRA sends patient research advocates, who bring hard-earned knowledge and insights, to help advise these federal agencies in how to direct their funding.) Other ovarian cancer research is being carried out by scientists working for biotech companies and pharmaceuticals, but those scientists are working for the company that employs them and are studying the drugs (or devices) related to those companies.
So why is OCRA important? Unlike government grants, we take a chance on innovative projects. And we offer young scientists the opportunity to develop pilot data that is required to ultimately obtain larger government grants. In this way, we attract promising minds and new energy, and then cement a lifelong commitment to the field of ovarian cancer research.
OCRA is the best investment if you want to make an impact.
OCRA casts a wide net in the solicitation of proposals and receives applications from all over the world. Each year, we review proposals from the top ovarian cancer researchers, as well as new scientists just coming into the field.
Our Scientific Advisory Committee is uniquely qualified to recommend research that is most likely to produce significant, forward-moving results. We select projects by evaluating the merit of each application based on a wide view of the field – current and past research, interpretations of results and implications – and against nearly 200 other applications. This panoramic view is unique to OCRA, since we are not bound to one project or institution. OCRA takes great care to ensure there are no reviewers with any conflicts related to the applications under consideration.
Additionally, because of the wide view of our Scientific Advisory Committee, OCRA ensures that similar projects are not funded simultaneously, whether by private industry or the government. With funding so scarce in the field of ovarian cancer research, we want to ensure that as much inquiry as possible is occurring in multiple areas.
OCRA is the leader in fighting ovarian cancer.
Join us as we make an impact in the lab, on Capitol Hill, and by the side of patients and their families. Support our mission today.