Ovarian Cancer Research Program, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs

Vision – To eliminate ovarian cancer

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The Department of Defense (DOD) Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) was initiated in FY97 to support high-impact, cutting-edge research that fills unmet needs. The OCRP establishes priorities to target the most critical needs along the research development pipeline from basic to translational to clinical research, including clinical trials, and to push the field of ovarian cancer forward to our vision to “eliminate ovarian cancer.”

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death in women, with the risk of acquiring the disease during her lifetime of 1 in 78. In 2022, approximately 19,880 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the United States, and an estimated 12,810 will die from the disease.* According to the recent ten-year Military Health System (MHS) data, over 300 active Service Members encountered ovarian cancer. MHS data further uncovers over 20,000 DOD beneficiaries were diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

OCRP’s current research Areas of Emphasis include:

Understand the basic biology and etiology of ovarian cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, recurrence, genetics and other critical events.
Develop novel therapeutic strategies for treatment and prevention.
Identify and develop new strategies for screening, early-stage detection, prevention, accurate diagnosis and prognosis.
Identify and implement strategies to improve survivorship and quality of life.
Address health disparities.
Improve precision medicine.

*American Cancer Society, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/about/key-statistics.html

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. Help raise awareness of the risks, signs, and symptoms of this disease by wearing TEAL!

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