SCIENTIFIC PEER REVIEW OF CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS’ OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
September 30, 2020
The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs’ (CDMRP), Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) consumer advocate Laurel J Pracht, Research Patient Advocate recently participated in the evaluation of research applications submitted to the OCRP. Laurel was nominated for participation in the program by the West Valley Ovarian Cancer Alliance, Sun City, AZ.
As a consumer reviewer, she was a full voting member, (along with prominent scientists) at meetings to help determine how the $35 million appropriated by Congress for Fiscal Year 2020 will be spent on ovarian cancer research. Consumer reviewers are asked to represent the collective view of patients by preparing comments on the impact of the research on issues such as diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life. When commenting on serving as a consumer reviewer, Laurel said that, “as my 5th year as a participant, I am always heartened by the quality of submitted research aimed to improve treatment as well as detection of ovarian cancer”.
Consumer advocates and scientists have worked together in this unique partnership to evaluate the merit of research applications since FY97. COL Sarah B. Goldman, Director of the CDMRP, expressed her appreciation for the consumer advocates’ hard work. “Integrating consumer perspectives into our decision-making process brings energy and focus to our research programs. Patients, caregivers, family members, and advocates help us keep our efforts centered around what is truly important to those impacted. We very much value this critical input from our consumers who help ensure that CDMRP’s work remains critical and relevant,” she said. Scientists applying propose to conduct innovative research to prevent, detect, treat, and cure ovarian cancer to enhance the health and well-being of Service Members, Veterans, retirees, their family members, and all women impacted by this disease. The OCRP fills important gaps not addressed by other funding agencies by supporting groundbreaking research while encouraging out-of-the-box thinking.
More information about the CDMRP’s OCRP is available at the website: https://cdmrp.army.mil/ocrp/default.
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Updates from 2018 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer
(April 4, 2018) It’s an exciting time for ovarian cancer research! Ovarian cancer clinicians, researchers and advocates came together in New Orleans at the end of March for the Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, hosted by the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO). Meeting attendees learned about the latest developments in ovarian cancer research, treatment, and survivorship.
The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (OCRFA) attended the meeting, along with two of our survivor-advocates, Annie Ellis and Susan Leighton, wrote up a report highlighting some of the important research presented, including clinical trial results, quality of life and survivorship data, health disparities, and rare cancers.
Read the report here.
Genetic Counseling and Testing by Oncologists Feasible for Ovarian Cancer Patients
(April 3, 2018) A study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology explored the effects of oncologists, rather than genetic counselors, testing ovarian cancer patients for BRCA mutations. Due to the limited number of genetic counselors and the increase in demand for BRCA mutation testing, ovarian cancer patients don’t always have the ability or opportunity to be seen by a counselor. In order to better serve the needs of the ovarian cancer community, researchers implemented ENGAGE, or Evaluating a Streamlined Onco-genetic BRCA Testing and Counseling Model Among Patients With Ovarian Cancer, in the United States, Italy, and Spain. They study analyzed the reactions, via survey, from oncologists and the 700 patients enrolled in the study, to determine satisfaction and the amount of time it took to receive the test results. In the U.S., the median turnaround time for results was 4.1 weeks, in Italy it was 20.4 weeks, and in Spain it was 12 weeks. Patient satisfaction and oncologist satisfaction were both high, 99% and 80% respectively. The oncologist survey also indicated that they felt their time counseling their patients on BRCA mutations was worthwhile, as was the ENGAGE testing guidelines.
The study concluded that oncologist led BRCA mutation testing via these guidelines was well received and could offer a faster, informative addition to patient care.
Cancer Surgeons become a rockband...
Patients become fans...
Music can change the journey. More info about the film "N.E.D" Here.
Visit the St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness YouTube page for some great informational videos. Click Here
Pierce Brosnan Announces Ovarian Cancer Dream Team
Pierce Brosnan’s Moving Speech From Last Night’s Stand Up To Cancer Benefit Is A Must-Watch
Watch Here
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2014
Ovarian Cancer Community Joins Forces to Fight Deadliest Gynecologic Cancer
New Stand Up To Cancer Dream Team Will Launch in 2015
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Team Up to Fund
NEW Translational Research Ovarian Cancer Dream Team
A groundbreaking collaboration is underway among three national ovarian cancer organizations: Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF), Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA), and National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC). In partnership with Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), this group will fund a new Ovarian Cancer Dream Team dedicated to piloting leading-edge, ovarian cancer research that will help patients and save lives.
This partnership was announced last night, on Stand Up To Cancer’s biennial telecast, and in recognition of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The Stand Up To Cancer-Ovarian Cancer Research Fund-Ovarian Cancer National Alliance-National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Translational Research Dream Team grant will provide funding, over a three-year period, for research associated with this insidious disease.
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all the gynecologic cancers. Almost 22,000 American women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014, and more than 14,000 women will lose their lives to the disease. By collaborating to fund an Ovarian Cancer Dream Team, OCRF, OCNA and NOCC, with SU2C, will further research in the field that can lead to new treatments and improved patient outcomes.
Later this month, SUC2C through its science partner the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) will issue a Call for Ideas from researchers and scientists worldwide. The selected Dream Team will be announced next spring, with research beginning in July 2015.
"Ovarian Cancer Research Fund has been the leading nonprofit funder of ovarian cancer research for years, and this new collaboration is a wonderful way to mark our 20th anniversary," said Audra Moran, CEO of Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. "We are excited that the Dream Team grant will continue our long tradition of supporting the most innovative research in the field, while providing scientists with a vital new source of financial support."
Calaneet Balas, CEO of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, said: "I am so thrilled that our three organizations are coming together to fight the disease we all care so much about. I believe the Ovarian Cancer Dream Team will be paradigm-shifting for our community, and I cannot wait to see what comes from this new initiative. We’re proud of the work the Alliance has done to secure federal research funding on behalf of all women, but the Dream Team gives us new opportunities for collaboration and innovation."
"We are both proud and excited to join in supporting the Ovarian Cancer Dream Team, the first-ever collaboration of such efforts," said David Barley, CEO of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. "We are looking forward to being instrumental in furthering ovarian cancer research. The impacts on families and communities continue to make ovarian cancer More Than a Woman’s Disease®. By working together we hope to make a difference in the lives of everyone we touch."
About Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF), founded in 1994, is the oldest and largest charity in the United States funding ovarian cancer research, and ranks third in overall ovarian cancer research funding only after the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Department of Defense (DOD). Its mission is to fund scientific research that leads to more effective identification, treatment, and ultimately a cure for ovarian cancer, as well as related educational and support initiatives. OCRF has invested nearly $60 million in ovarian cancer research through 217 grants to scientists at 65 leading medical centers in the United States. OCRF continues to take the lead in funding the best and most promising ovarian cancer research while supporting women and their loved ones affected by this terrible disease in our quest to end it. For more information, please visit www.ocrf.org
About the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance is a powerful voice for everyone touched by ovarian cancer. We connect survivors, women at risk, caregivers and health providers with the information and resources they need. We ensure that ovarian cancer is a priority for lawmakers and agencies in Washington, DC, and throughout the country. We help our community raise their voices on behalf of every life that has been affected by this disease. For more information, please visit: www.ovariancancer.org
About The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
Since its inception in 1995, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) has been committed to raising awareness, promoting education, and funding research in support of women, families, and communities touched by ovarian cancer. NOCC is well-established as an important national advocate for patients and families struggling with ovarian cancer. NOCC remains steadfast in its mission to save lives by fighting tirelessly to prevent and cure ovarian cancer, and to improve the quality of life for survivors. For more information, please visit: www.ovarian.org
About Stand Up To Cancer
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) raises funds to accelerate the pace of research to get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now. SU2C, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was established in 2008 by film and media leaders who utilize the industry’s resources to engage the public in supporting a new, collaborative model of cancer research, and to increase awareness about cancer prevention as well as progress being made in the fight against the disease. For more information, please visit: www.standup2cancer.org
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