The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation exists because ovarian cancer research has historically been undervalued and underfunded. Whilst the landscape is changing and more attention is being given to ovarian cancer research, the OCRF provides researchers around Australia and New Zealand with the opportunity to gain access to sustained funding.
The OCRF selects research projects for funding in line with our Research Strategy. The Strategy is focussed on improving survivability and decreasing the threat of ovarian cancer in order to have the greatest impact on the greatest number of women.
The OCRF has four Research Priorities which are the focus of our research funding in line with our vision and mission:
Finding New and Effective Treatments
Improving treatment options to increase survival rates - moving from generic and limited treatment options to targeting the heterogeneity of the disease, metastasis progression and chemoresistance development.
Managing Recurrence
Better management of recurrent disease to enhance survival and quality of life - exploring the ability to monitor, measure and restrict disease recurrence, given the lethality of recurrence in most women.
Early Detection
Saving lives through early diagnosis - developing accurate, non-invasive and accessible early detection programs to ensure ovarian cancer is diagnosed in the early stages, making it curable.
Prevention
Reducing disease prevalence through preventative research - exploring the ability to 'prevent' ovarian cancer similar to results delivered in other gynaecological cancers.
Ovarian cancer survivors and patients are changing our research
We want to empower women like Kel who are affected to highlight where they see the greatest need, so that our research always has their outcomes in mind. Alongside other ovarian cancer patients and survivors, Kel meets with the OCRF Committee every year to advise on which research applications will be funded by OCRF (receive a grant), as well as advise on ways to increase the public profile of ovarian cancer.
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