Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF)

Frocktober registrations are open! 👔👚👗 It's time for your workplace to put it's most stylish foot forward in the name of ovarian cancer research and join Australia's most fashionable fundraiser! Dial up your workplace style this October and start some frocking important conversations to raise funds for vital medical research. Organise an office wide fundraiser or build a team with colleagues, the more the merrier! Funds raised throughout Frocktober help fund vital ovarian cancer research projects across Australia. Right now, OCRF supporter funds are powering 16 research projects in labs across Australia. So what are you waiting for? Let's #FrockOvarianCancer this Frocktober. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gD2fmnRB (and if you do it soon you'll be in the running for some frocking fantastic prizes) and frock on!

Generous OCRF community donations have played a critical role in attracting government funding with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) injecting a $1.46 million in funding to boost an OCRF-supported early detection research project, known as OCRF-7. Professor Carlos Salomon Gallo from The University of Queensland (UQ) was an OCRF 2024 National Research Grants Scheme recipient who was awarded $940,000 to continue his work in early detection for ovarian cancer. Prof Gallo and UQ successfully leveraged this grant to attract additional philanthropic funding from the Lions Medical Research Foundation and now this major boost from the NHMRC to take the total project funding to $2.9 million. This funding expands Professor Gallo’s capacity to investigate early detection of high-grade serous ovarian cancer – the most common and aggressive subtype. The University of Queensland team will now test, across thousands of samples, how specifically the approach can distinguish high-grade serous ovarian cancer from other cancers and benign conditions such as endometriosis, to ensure it won’t return false positives. This grant would not have been possible without the OCRF’s backing and foundational financial support for Prof Gallo’s work. In turn, OCRF ‘s ability to fund promising projects like this, would not be possible without our community of donors, partners, advocates and fundraisers who share our vision and determination to improve outcomes. Read more about this story, via the link: https://lnkd.in/guiaxBia

It is with great delight we share the exciting news that the 2024 Mother's Day Classic raised $3.3 million – including $1.2 million for the OCRF and ovarian cancer research! This is an outstanding result and beyond what we had dared to hope for.   We are incredibly grateful to the Mother's Day Classic Foundation for their vision, belief, and recognition of a cancer that has languished in the shadows for too long. Ovarian cancer takes far too many lives far too soon, and it is time to change the future for patients and their families.   The 2024 Mother's Day Classic achieved a 30% growth in participation on last year, with more than 85,000 Australians gathered in 75 locations across the country. Incredible! The event has helped to shine a brighter light on ovarian cancer, and fuelled motivation that we can, and will, drive step change for this insidious disease. Huge thanks to the breast cancer community and National Breast Cancer Foundation who embraced us into the MDC family with a warm pink hug. We are proud to walk side-by-side and work together to continue to grow the success and impact of this iconic event.   Sincere thanks to everyone involved - local hosts, ambassadors, volunteers, sponsors, supporters and every single participant. And a huge shout out Nine, ME Bank and all other partners of the event, plus a special mention to AIA Australia, a long time supporter of the OCRF, who will be the new Principal Partner of Mother's Day Classic from 2025. #MothersDayClassic #ovariancancer Share this great news, and read the full press release via the link: https://lnkd.in/gqbsW2Sz Robin Penty Georgie Herbert Zara Lawless Cleola Anderiesz Leeanne Turner Anne-Marie O’Loghlin

Last week, OCRF staff were invited to a tour of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre by OCRF-funded researcher, Dr Dane Cheasley and one of his team members, Dr Kathleen Pishas. This year, Dr Cheasley and his team were awarded an OCRF research grant for their project which seeks to determine an effective treatment for one of the rarer types of ovarian cancer — low-grade serous. Using powerful high throughput technology to scan thousands of drugs, Dr Cheasley has identified twenty of them that are likely to be able to target the unique characteristics of low-grade serous ovarian cancer. The team aim to determine which drug combination is most effective and has the least toxic side effects for patients. It was an incredibly insightful tour for the team to learn more about Dr Cheasley's work and meet other researchers in the precinct, who are all working hard to change outcomes for cancer patients. A big thank you to Dr Cheasley, Dr Pishas and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre for hosting us, we can't wait to come back soon!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to all for your generosity this end of financial year. We have seen an incredible outpouring of support from our entire community and raised a record amount, doubling last year’s appeal result! The funds raised will go towards supporting promising ovarian cancer research projects, to better detect, prevent, and treat ovarian cancer, through the OCRF National Research Grants Scheme. Once again, thank you to our matching donors, the Quinn Femelle Foundation and Mr Hamid Daghighi for their contributions, totaling $150,000, and to Professor Kristen Radford for her research briefing. And finally, a huge and sincere hug from everyone here to community ambassador Liv Curtis who shared her moving story as the face of this year’s appeal campaign. Liv also spoke with Mamamia, highlighting the difficult journey and countless difficulties ovarian cancer patients face before and after diagnosis. You can read Liv’s story here: https://lnkd.in/g-JSTtH9

Applications for the annual OCRF National Research Grants Scheme close in one week, Wednesday 17 July. In 2024, the OCRF granted $2.1 million to three major research projects through this scheme, and we expect to match this funding amount in 2025. OCRF grants support research projects between 1-3 years, across four key research priorities; early detection, treatments, prevention, and recurrence management, with a focus on funding researcher salaries, so they can spend more time in the lab progressing their vital work. Research holds the key to increasing survivability for this insidious disease. The OCRF is dedicated to nurturing and supporting the most innovative ovarian cancer research through raising critical research funds, increasing awareness and advocacy across Australia. To learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/dsWGiFmA

Grace Scoleri is an ovarian cancer patient, OCRF ambassador and now a Founding Patron of our new Patrons Program. Grace was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer in July 2020 after things felt off after a routine massage. In the months following her diagnosis, Grace endured multiple rounds of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and 22 months treatment on Nariparib. After 3 years in remission, a recurrence was found and Grace is currently back in treatment. It was Grace’s determination to help and create a lasting impact for future generations that led her to the OCRF. Now as a patron, Grace will continue her support of critical ovarian cancer research and raise awareness of the disease. The OCRF Patrons Program exists to accelerate the growth of the pool of funds available for our National Research Grant Scheme. By welcoming an exclusive group of patrons for national research grants, more high-quality ovarian cancer research can be funded each year. Learn more about Grace and the program here: https://lnkd.in/gUvrCTXS

With just three days to go in our End of Financial Year appeal, hear from OCRF CEO, Robin Penty. This year's appeal focuses on the story of patient ambassador Liv Curtis. This wonderful mum of three is focusing on creating precious family memories while she waits for the medical breakthrough that will secure her future. And thousands of Australian women with ovarian cancer like her, share her hope. Your donation today can help to accelerate the critical research projects the OCRF funds, to better detect, prevent and treat ovarian cancer. Your gift will make a real and meaningful difference, because with research, every single dollar counts. Read more about Liv's story and make a tax deductible donation here: https://lnkd.in/gECdcnZH The appeal closes this Sunday, 30 June.

“Cancer is the plague of our times.” The OCRF team was in the audience as Prof David Thomas Omico addressed Rare Cancers Australia Awareness Day lunch at the National Press Club with a rousing call to arms. Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic over 90 million people have been diagnosed with cancer and 40 million have died. And those ratios are far worse if you look at rare cancers - which collectively make up 27% of the whole. ‘Science is evidence based hope’ - Prof Thomas believes we are on the cusp of a once in a century revolution, a chance to change the narrative and save millions of lives. According to Prof Thomas, investment in precision medicine and research can change the game. Moreover, we can no longer afford NOT to invest in this potential. To date, rare cancers [including ovarian cancer] have been left behind. With collective will and investment we can make real change and make all cancers manageable diseases. #wearerare #ovariancancer Robin Penty Jamie Snashall Bridget Bradhurst Avalee Weir

Today, 26 June, is Rare Cancers Awareness Day. This Rare Cancers Awareness Day, show people diagnosed with rare, less common and complex cancers that they are not alone. One in four cancers diagnosed in Australia are considered rare or less common – this is no small issue. For many Australians, they are diagnosed with a cancer so rare that nobody has even heard of it. Patients are forced to navigate a complex health system with limited information and little support, and often face huge financial burdens. Ovarian cancer falls into this category of a less common cancer in Australia. A complex disease, ovarian cancer is an umbrella term for more than 30 subtypes, such as clear cell ovarian cancer, low grade serous, granulosa cell tumours, and mucinous ovarian cancers, which represent 5%, 2%, 2% and 3-5% of all ovarian cancer cases respectively. All of which vary in the way they grow and metastasise, present in certain age groups, respond to treatment, recur in patients, and more. In 2023, ovarian cancer made up 2.4% of all female cancers diagnosed that year. However, the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition estimates that if funding into research stagnates, there will be an 81% increase in ovarian cancer deaths in our region by 2050. The OCRF will continue to raise the profile of ovarian cancer across the nation, bring it to the attention of policy makers, and continue to increase funds raised for critical ovarian cancer research. Reshare this post, or pledge your support via the Rare Cancers Australia website. #WeAreRare #RareCancerAwarenessDay #ovariancancer