Patients at the Heart of Ovarian Cancer Research
May 29, 2026 — The Cancer Research Society (CRS) and Ovarian Cancer Canada are proud to announce a joint investment of $200,000 to support two projects focused on advancing the prevention and treatment of ovarian and endometrial cancers.
Funded through the Research Impact in Survivorship and Engagement (RISE) program, these projects share a common goal: to provide Canadian women with more treatment options and to reduce the long-term physical and emotional impacts associated with cancer and its treatments.
At the heart of this program lies a unique approach: patients are involved at every stage of the process. From identifying research priorities to evaluating and determining funded projects, their experiences and realities directly help guide research toward real-world, everyday challenges.
“Patients involved in this ovarian and endometrial cancer research program make an essential contribution to advancing knowledge. Their experience helps deepen our understanding of the realities of the disease and sheds light on concrete issues related to treatment, quality of life, and the care journey. We believe that their active participation helps guide research toward priorities grounded in everyday realities and capable of generating meaningful impact. It is in this spirit that we support this program, which recognizes patients as true research partners, with the shared goal of building a more inclusive science focused on one common objective: sustainably improving life during and after cancer,” affirms Manon Pepin, President and CEO of CRS
“It is not enough for us to consider success simply as the number of years added to a patient’s life. Canadians experiencing these diseases are not passive participants in this system; they are experts in the realities of diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and loss. That is why we, at Ovarian Cancer Canada, require the projects we fund to collaborate with patients from the beginning. Our core belief is that, when we put their voices at the centre of research, we redefine what better care means, and ultimately, improve the science. These projects challenge the status quo by focusing not only on survival, but autonomy, quality of life, and informed decision-making for all Canadians,” says Tania Vrionis, Ovarian Cancer Canada’s CEO.
About the funded projects
COMPARE Trial, led by Drs Amy Jamieson and Jessica McAlpine (BC Cancer)
- If successful, the study could help reshape cancer care by identifying which patients may safely receive less treatment without compromising outcomes. The goal is to reduce unnecessary side effects while maintaining effective care.
Patient-centred Hereditary Ovarian Cancer Prevention and Survivorship Care in Canada, led by Dr. Lesa Dawson, MD, FRCSC (BC Cancer)
- The project aims to improve care for Canadians living with an inherited risk of ovarian cancer by providing clearer information for decision-making, supporting healthcare providers with consistent care tools, and strengthening survivorship support across the country.
The ultimate goal of the funded research is not only to extend survival, but also to give Canadians women the freedom to live fully, freely, and without being limited by gynecological cancers. This joint investment in research reflects a commitment to placing patients’ voices at the heart of scientific discovery.