Rivkin Pilot Grant

The 2027 Rivkin Pilot Grant is administered by the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), in collaboration with the Rivkin Center, and is designed to fund innovative early-stage research in ovarian and related gynecologic cancers. The Rivkin Pilot Grant honors the legacy of Marsha Rivkin, whose memory inspired the founding of the Rivkin Center by her family. This center joined forces with OCRA in 2025 to expand national and global impact in the fight against ovarian cancer. The partnership carries forward a legacy of scientific rigor, innovation, and commitment to discovery through pilot grants that are intended to test feasibility, generate preliminary data, and launch novel hypotheses into more extensive research programs. The Rivkin Pilot Grant supports research projects with strong translational relevance and clear potential to secure future external funding. Projects must focus on ovarian cancer or demonstrate a direct connection to it through work in gynecologic cancers. Proposed work may include new research initiatives or hypothesis-driven analysis of data from previous clinical trials if it contributes new insights or proof-of-concept findings. The grants are multidisciplinary in nature and aim to support projects that demonstrate originality, feasibility, and scientific merit. Eligibility is limited to applicants holding a doctoral degree (PhD, ScD, MD, or equivalent) at the time of application. Investigators at all career stages are encouraged to apply. There are no citizenship restrictions; international researchers are welcome. Institutions must be nonprofit academic or scientific research entities, including universities, colleges, research hospitals, or recognized research facilities. For-profit organizations, consulting firms, and non-research nonprofits are not eligible. Each applicant may submit only one LOI per grant cycle and may not concurrently hold more than one active OCRA grant. Each selected project will be awarded up to $50,000 annually for two years, totaling $100,000. Funds may be inclusive of indirect costs. The grant period begins on March 1, 2027. Grantees must submit required activation documents, annual progress reports (both narrative and financial), and must acknowledge OCRA support in any resulting publications or presentations. The competitive selection process involves a peer review by experts in the medical, research, and advocacy communities, with only a fraction of LOIs advancing to full proposal stage. The application process begins with submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI), due no later than 5:00 PM ET on March 25, 2026, via the SmartSimple grant portal. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted. LOIs will be reviewed in April, and invitations to submit full proposals will be extended by mid-May. Final proposals will be due mid-June. To apply, investigators must submit a scientific abstract, biosketches for the PI and key personnel, and an estimated budget (detailed budgets are not required at this stage). No figures, references, letters of support, or appendices are allowed. Applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with system requirements on SmartSimple and to add the OCRA grant email to their safe sender list. Technical support is available via email, and substantive questions may be directed to Kristin McGowan at OCRA. This grant opportunity is intended to catalyze meaningful research that can lead to breakthroughs in ovarian cancer and related fields.

Proposals should demonstrate feasibility and potential for external funding; only a fraction of LOIs advance.