Since MOCA started funding research in 2001, MOCA has provided funding to more than 100 grants focused on ovarian cancer. We fund innovative research projects – based in Minnesota – that will help develop better treatments, an early detection test and a cure for ovarian cancer.

In an effort to continue our push for an early detection test for ovarian cancer, in 2017 MOCA launched our National Early Detection Research Awards. Each year, we provide funding to researchers outside Minnesota who are committed to the work of developing an early detection test for ovarian cancer.

Each year, a panel of national expert reviewers help advise MOCA on the scientific merit and national significance of each research proposal. A group of consumer advocates, made up of survivors and caregivers, also review our grants to ensure we are funding research that is most likely to have the biggest impact on our community.

If you would like to learn more about MOCA’s research funding efforts, contact MOCA Executive Director Kathleen Gavin at kgavin@mnovarian.org.

MOCA awarded $987,000 to Minnesota-based ovarian cancer research projects on May 24, 2022, and an additional $100,000 for our National Early Detection Research Award on November 9, 2022.

The 2022 MOCA-funded researchers include:

• Gunda Georg, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, “Discovery and development of allosteric inhibitors of Cdk2/cyclin E as non-toxic ovarian cancer drugs,” $150,000 for one year
• Timothy Griffin, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, “Towards an integrated microbiome host protein biomarker panel for early detection of ovarian cancer in routinely collected clinical samples,” $100,000 for one year
• Emil Lou, M.D., Ph.D., University of Minnesota, “Targeting channels of ovarian tumor cell communication,” $87,000 for one year
• Viji Shridhar, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic, “The Role Quinacrine-Induced Nuclear Cathepsin L (nCTSL) as a Therapeutic Target in Ovarian Cancer,” $150,000 for one year
• Stefani Thomas, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, “Autophagy-mediated sensitization of high-grade serous ovarian cancer cells to PARP inhibitor treatment in the setting of BRCA1/2 mutation status,” $100,000 for one year
• Erin Wesley, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, “Evaluating the impact of CMV and inflammation on high grade serous ovarian cancer” $100,000 for one year
• Chen Wang, Ph.D. and Xiaonan Hou, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic, “Investigate Synthetical Lethality Between Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase Inhibitor and Hedgehog Inhibitor for Ovarian Tumors with Proficient Homologous Recombination Repair Activities,” $150,000 for one year
• Xinyan Wu, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic, “Elucidating underlying mechanisms of intrinsic resistance to PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer,” $150,000 for one year

The 2022 MOCA National Early Detection Research Award recipient:

• Kathleen Burns, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School “Development of an Ultrasensitive Blood Test for LINE-1Encoded ORF1p for Ovarian Cancer Detection,” $100,000 for one year

MOCA’s past research funding awards listing.