Collaborative Research Development Grant

The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) invites Letters of Intent for its 2027 Collaborative Research Development Grant (CRDG) program. As the world’s largest organization solely dedicated to ovarian and gynecologic cancers, OCRA supports innovative and impactful research efforts to improve patient outcomes and advance scientific understanding in the field. This grant opportunity aims to foster collaborative research among teams of investigators with the potential to produce high-impact studies in ovarian cancer and related gynecologic cancers. The initiative encourages interdisciplinary approaches and welcomes national and international applicants. Eligible applicants for the CRDG must form a collaborative team led by a Principal Investigator (PI) who holds a full-time faculty or equivalent appointment at an accredited academic or non-profit research institution. All lead investigators must meet the same employment criteria and may not be in training positions. Importantly, at least one key team member must be a physician with expertise in ovarian or gynecologic cancers. Teams may be composed of researchers from a single institution or across multiple institutions, and international collaborations are encouraged. The program does not impose citizenship restrictions. However, institutions must be accredited and non-profit; funding will not be provided to for-profit companies, consulting entities, or non-research organizations. Research proposals must focus on ovarian cancer or clearly demonstrate relevance to this area. Projects exploring screening, prevention, early detection, treatment, cancer biology, genetics, quality of life, health services, and epidemiology are welcomed, with a strong preference for proposals that offer innovation and the potential for significant scientific advancement. Reviewers will consider scientific merit, originality, and the likelihood that the proposed work will enhance the team’s ability to compete for future external funding. The CRDG offers up to $300,000 annually over a three-year term, totaling a maximum of $900,000 per award. Funds are granted directly to the PI’s institution and must support research activities as outlined in the proposal. Grant recipients are required to submit annual narrative and financial progress reports. Any publications or presentations resulting from the funded research must credit OCRA for its support. The expected grant start date is January 1, 2027. The application process begins with the submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) through OCRA’s SmartSimple portal. The LOI stage is competitive; last year, only about 5% of applicants were invited to submit full proposals. Submissions for the 2027 cycle open on February 25, 2026, and the deadline to submit the LOI is March 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. Notifications regarding full proposal invitations will be sent in mid-May 2026, with invited full proposals due by June 10, 2026. Final funding decisions are expected by the end of September 2026. No extensions or late submissions will be accepted at any stage. LOIs must include a scientific abstract, biosketches for all investigators and key personnel, and an estimated funding request. A detailed budget is not required at this stage. All materials must be submitted through the SmartSimple portal using the PI’s account. Questions about eligibility and application components can be directed to OCRA at [email protected], or by phone at (212) 268-1002.

Only a small percentage of LOIs are invited to submit full proposals; reviewers prioritize high innovation and relevance.