Overview

Thanks to our most ardent supporters and donors, HERA Ovarian Cancer Foundation is committed to awarding “outside the box” or OSB Grants annually in partnership with John Hopkins University.  These grants are awarded to scientists with “outside the box” ideas regarding the research of new directions in the basic research, treatment, early detection, and prevention of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian Cancer Research Needs to Become a Priority if We are to Make Progress

The mission of the HERA Ovarian Cancer Foundation is to eliminate ovarian cancer.  We do this by funding cutting edge research to find new directions in ovarian cancer treatment, prevention, and early detection.
Currently no effective test exists to reliably diagnose the disease early when the chance for survival is greatest. Current treatment protocols have not appreciably altered mortality from this disease. Incidence rates have decreased only slightly, and much more work needs to be done.  Our priority is to understand this disease so that a test for early detection and more effective treatments can be developed.
Because there are fewer numbers of well survivors to raise awareness for ovarian cancer, research has been grossly under funded. Progress is stalled due to lack of adequate research dollars. HERA is working to change this by awarding grants, participating at National Cancer Institute forums, and staying on the national advocacy front.
The HERA Ovarian Cancer Foundation also awards the Sean Patrick Multidisciplinary Collaborative Grant for cross-disciplinary projects that are collaborative in nature.  In 2015 we also collaborated with Stand Up To Cancer’s efforts to fight ovarian cancer.
In just over a decade, prostate cancer has seen 5 year survival rates climb to 99% (SEER).* Ovarian cancer has seen very little appreciable gains in the same time frame. Five year survival continues to hover around only 50% (SEER).*
These numbers do not tell the whole story either as most women are in continual treatment for the years they are alive unlike other cancers that produce longer disease free periods, so quality of life for many living with ovarian cancer is poor.
Your support is critical to finding solutions to this disease. HERA invests over $100,000 annually in research and much more in awareness programs to stop eliminate ovarian cancer.

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* SEER Cancer Statistics Review 1975-2002, National Cancer Institute
** American Cancer Society