HOW THE OCRF MAKES AN IMPACT

The OCRF exists to drive step-change in funds raised, awareness, and research undertaken for ovarian cancer in Australia. Our vision is a healthy vital future for all those impacted by ovarian cancer.

In Australia, fewer than 50 per cent of women and girls diagnosed with ovarian cancer will survive more than five years. This figure has remained largely unchanged for decades, highlighting disparities and gender inequities in research and care that demand urgent action.

The OCRF is rewriting this story. We are catalysing change and accelerating progress by increasing awareness, advocating for greater investment and equity, collaborating nationally and internationally, and strategically funding high-impact medical research. Every dollar we raise comes from the Australian community, driven by a shared determination to make our vision a reality.

FUNDING RESEARCH

Supporting bold, innovative and credible research through our grant programs.

The OCRF strategically funds innovative discovery and translational research with the potential to improve how ovarian cancer is detected, treated and prevented. 

Our flagship National Research Grants Program, guided by our International Scientific Advisory Committee (ISAC) and Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), directs funding to the most promising projects across Australia. 

Since 2000, we have invested over $34 million across more than 60 research projects, with people affected by ovarian cancer actively engaged in shaping our research priorities and assessing every application.

To date, six OCRF-funded projects have progressed to clinical trials, while others continue to advance our understanding of the disease in ways that are laying the groundwork for future breakthroughs. The OCRF funds research across ovarian cancer subtypes, including rare subtypes that receive even less funding and attention than the most common form of the disease.

Visit our Research Hub to learn more about the projects we fund and the progress they are making.

AWARENESS RAISING

Communicating research, providing trusted resources, and driving broader public awareness.

The OCRF is committed to improving community understanding of ovarian cancer and the progress being made through research. We share what we learn through knowledge translation, connecting researchers with the wider community to build momentum for our cause. 

Supported by a network of more than 90 community ambassadors, we bring trusted and up-to-date research information and personal stories to the public, helping to ensure ovarian cancer is better understood across Australia.

ADVOCACY INITIATIVES

Championing policy change that can transform equity and outcomes.

Ovarian cancer is chronically underfunded and survival rate improvements have been far too slow. The OCRF advocates for increased government and philanthropic investment in ovarian cancer research, and for reduced gender and health inequity in research and care. Working alongside national and international peers, we amplify the voices of our communities to support equitable healthcare policies and contribute to system-wide change. Our goal is to ensure ovarian cancer is a priority for policy makers and that every Australian affected by this disease has access to the best possible outcomes.

The OCRF is actively engaged in advocacy at the national level, including through the Gynaecological Cancer Transformative Initiative (GCTI), a collaborative effort with the Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG) and Ovarian Cancer Australia (OCA). We also make submissions to key government inquiries and consultations, including the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA), the NHMRC Targeted Call for Research, the National Health and Medical Research Strategy 2026-36, the National Cancer Data Framework, the Women's Pain Inquiry, and consultations on rare and less common cancers.