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 2023, OCRA grantees made major breakthroughs in the fight against ovarian cancer:
- Made a breakthrough toward reducing chemotherapy resistance.
- Identified a key molecule with immunotherapy potential.
- Found that genetic counseling may be an unnecessary barrier to genetic testing.
- Discovered a potential target for overcoming treatment resistance.
- Helped the immune system better attack a known therapeutic target.
- Investigated the role of mesothelial cells in metastasis.
- Shed new light on the early development and spread of the most common and lethal ovarian cancer subtype.
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.