Ovarian cancer research
Ovarian Cancer Action is dedicated to advancing and supporting ovarian cancer research as part of its mission to save women's lives.
We are an independent charity and fund a broad range of research to achieve:
accurate and early detection
more effective treatments
prevention
The Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre
The Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre at Imperial College London is the only UK research facility entirely dedicated to ovarian cancer. Under Professor Hani Gabra's leadership, we aim to build the centre into an international hub for ovarian cancer research, fast-tracking new treatments from bench to bedside. Find out more about the pioneering work underway at the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre.
Other research funding
In addition to funding research within our Research Centre, we also invite applications for funding from other UK research institutions – hospitals and universities. We currently fund ground-breaking research projects at University College London and at Barts and The London. Find out more about applying to Ovarian Cancer Action for a research grant.
All of the research that we fund is subject to rigorous peer review – the gold standard for medical research funding – to ensure that we fund only the most promising ovarian cancer research. The Medical Science Review Committee is chaired by Dr Robert Bast, Vice-President, Translational Research, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre, USA and comprises many of the world's leading ovarian cancer research specialists.
Research grants:
The Freemasons’ Grand Charity
The Freemasons’ Grand Charity is supporting Ovarian Cancer Action’s vital research and awareness work by granting the charity £1million. The grant will be paid over five years and will fund vital research at the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre - as well as helping us to raise awareness of the disease amongst women and healthcare professionals.
Ovarian Cancer Action was chosen to benefit from this grant thanks to wives of Freemasons who were keen for The Freemasons’ Grand Charity to support Ovarian Cancer Action’s research and awareness work.
This grant will help us fulfil our vision of saving women’s lives through research into the causes, treatment and prevention of ovarian cancer as well as alerting women to the symptoms of the disease so they can seek prompt treatment. Ovarian Cancer Action is incredibly grateful to The Freemasons’ Grand Charity for their investment in our vital work.
The Maurice Wohl Charity
The Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation has awarded Ovarian Cancer Action a £1 million grant to fund new work at the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre over the next five years.
The Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation was established by businessman and philanthropist Maurice Wohl in 1965 and his wife, Vivienne, who was also a generous supporter of many charities and good causes and who died of ovarian cancer. In recognition of the Foundation’s generous gift made in Vivienne’s memory, the new Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre laboratories in the Commonwealth Building at Imperial College will be called the Vivienne Wohl Unit.
The Mitchell Charitable Trust
The Mitchell Charitable Trust has granted in excess of £100,000 over the next three years to fund the next stage of the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre’s investigative work on the problem of tumour resistance to platinum-based treatment. Platinum resistance is a major cause of relapse in women with ovarian cancer and is an area of research into treatment for ovarian cancer that desperately needs more investment.
International conferences
We also organise a series of international conferences to exchange knowledge, to identify new avenues for research and to foster collaboration. The Ovarian Cancer Action/HHMT International Forum alternates with the Ovarian Cancer Action International Conference
AMRC membership
Ovarian Cancer Action is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities – a membership organisation of the leading medical health and research charities in the UK. 