Health Equity Research Grant

The Health Equity Research Grant is a program administered by the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), the world’s largest organization dedicated to ovarian and gynecologic cancer research, education, and patient support. Since its inception, OCRA has committed itself to advancing scientific knowledge, improving patient outcomes, and reducing disparities in healthcare access and treatment. The Health Equity Research Grant reflects OCRA's mission to support cutting-edge scientific research that meaningfully addresses the persistent and deeply rooted health disparities in ovarian and related gynecologic cancers. The 2027 Health Equity Research Grant is designed to fund scientific research projects that promote equity, inclusivity, and evidence-based solutions to the unique challenges faced by historically marginalized communities. These communities may include groups that experience limited access to high-quality healthcare due to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, and language barriers. Eligible research must directly relate to ovarian cancer or provide a clear scientific link to it, potentially including associated gynecologic cancers. Priority will be given to studies focused on identifying and dismantling barriers to care, improving access to diagnostics and treatment, and investigating disparities in disease progression and outcomes. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree (PhD, ScD, MD, or equivalent) at the time of application and may be at any stage of their career. There are no citizenship restrictions, allowing for both domestic and international participation. Eligible institutions include accredited academic institutions, non-profit research hospitals, research institutes, and other recognized non-profit scientific research facilities. For-profit organizations, consulting firms, or non-research entities are not eligible, nor are non-profits that are not directly conducting the research. Each applicant may serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on only one submission per grant cycle, and cannot hold more than one active OCRA grant at any time. The application process for the 2027 grant cycle begins with a Letter of Intent (LOI), which must be submitted by March 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time through OCRA’s SmartSimple grant management portal. No extensions or late submissions will be permitted. LOIs will be reviewed by a panel of experts from medical, research, and patient advocacy communities. The most competitive submissions, representing approximately 18% of total LOIs based on historical data, will be invited to submit a full proposal by mid-June 2026. Funding notifications will be issued by the end of September 2026. Final grant awards will commence on February 1, 2027. Selected grantees will receive up to $100,000 annually over two years, totaling $200,000. These funds may be inclusive of indirect costs, and grant recipients are expected to submit annual narrative and financial progress reports throughout the performance period. The proposed research is also expected to result in peer-reviewed scientific publications. All publications or public communications must acknowledge OCRA’s support. To apply, investigators must submit a scientific abstract summarizing the project, along with biosketches for the PI and key personnel, and a high-level budget estimate. Applicants are encouraged to consult OCRA's FAQ page and contact [email protected] with any technical or programmatic questions. The grant process is highly competitive and conducted in strict confidentiality; feedback on applications is not provided. Kristin McGowan is the designated point of contact for program-related inquiries.

Projects must align clearly with ovarian cancer and address disparities; LOIs are highly competitive.