Early Career Investigator Grant

The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) is inviting Letters of Intent for its 2027 Early Career Investigator Grant (ECIG). This opportunity is specifically designed to support junior faculty who have demonstrated a strong commitment to a research career in ovarian and related gynecologic cancers. The primary goal of the ECIG program is to assist these early-stage investigators in establishing themselves as independent researchers by providing sustained financial support for high-potential projects within the field. Eligible applicants must hold an MD, DO, and/or PhD degree and be within the first seven years of their initial academic appointment following post-doctoral or fellowship training. Applicants must be affiliated with a school of medicine, public health, or a non-profit research institution that has an established ovarian cancer research program. Clinician-scientists are encouraged to apply. Applicants must dedicate a substantial portion of their professional time to research: at least 50% for those with clinical responsibilities and at least 75% for those without. Importantly, investigators who currently hold or have previously held substantial early-career funding from other sources—such as NIH K-series, Department of Defense early career grants, or Rivkin Center awards—are not eligible to apply. The research project proposed must demonstrate clear relevance to ovarian cancer, including related gynecologic cancers. The project should be sufficiently robust to enable the investigator to compete for additional funding following the grant term. Each applicant must designate a mentor at the same institution who will provide guidance throughout the grant period. Only one mentor may be listed. If invited to the full proposal stage, applicants will be required to submit letters of recommendation, including one from their mentor. Grant recipients may receive up to $150,000 annually for a period of three years, totaling $450,000. The award includes indirect costs and is paid to the institution of the Principal Investigator. The grant period begins on February 1, 2027. Recipients must submit required activation materials and annual progress reports that include both narrative and financial components. Any publications or presentations arising from the funded research must acknowledge support from OCRA. The application process begins with submission of a Letter of Intent via OCRA’s SmartSimple grants portal. LOIs are due by 5:00 PM ET on March 25, 2026, and must include a scientific abstract, biosketches for the PI, mentor, and all key personnel, and an estimated total budget (detailed budgets are not required at this stage). Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted. Applicants will be notified of their status in mid-May 2026. For those invited to advance, full proposals will be due in mid-June 2026. Based on prior cycles, approximately 28% of LOIs are invited to submit full proposals. The review process is managed by OCRA’s Scientific Advisory Committee, composed of experts in medicine, research, and patient advocacy. Reviewers will assess applications for creativity, scientific originality, and relevance to key focus areas such as early detection, prevention, treatment, and translational science. Due to limited capacity, OCRA does not provide individualized feedback on submissions. Questions about the program can be directed to Kristin McGowan via email at [email protected] or by phone at (212) 268-1002.

Projects focused on prevention, early detection, and translational research are prioritized.