research we fund
Funding transformational research to find tomorrow’s cure
The survival rate of ovarian cancer is less than half that of breast cancer or prostate cancer. Quite simply, the treatments women need do not exist yet. Research is key to finding them.
OCFNZ is committed to funding research and working towards a future where every woman can live the life she wants, free from ovarian cancer.
Research grants
Ovarian cancer is one of the least researched cancers in New Zealand, and most years, ovarian cancer research receives no government support. We’re here to change that.
To further research in the ovarian cancer field each year, we hold a competitive research grants round, and researchers from across New Zealand submit their best ideas to improve ovarian cancer survival. Applications are ranked by expert researchers, with the highest-scoring applications receiving funding. We continue to be impressed by the quality of applications we receive for these grants.
The research we fund is crucial to improve women’s survival, yet we often have to turn down promising projects due to limited funding. We’re grateful to our community for continuing to donate and fundraise to make research like the below projects possible.
Research projects we've funded
2025
Confirming the therapeutic potential of placental extracellular vesicles in ovarian cancer using patient-derived organoids.
Associate Professor Qi Chen, Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Reproducitve Sciences, University of Auckland
Travel grant
Rosa Latton, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, University of Otago – Wellington
Katie Walker, Department of Anatomy, University of Otago
2024
Identifying genetic and epigenetic drivers of low-grade serous carcinoma.
Dr Aaron Stevens, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington
Travel grant
Sonesavanh Larnkham, PhD candidate in the Pitman Lab Group at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
2023
Investigating chemotherapeutic response in ovarian cancer: generating tumour organoids for wahine Maori patients
Helena Abolins-Thompson (Ngati Toa Rangatira; Kai Tahu), PhD Candidate, Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia, University of Otago, Wellington
Validating drug combination efficacy in low-grade serous ovarian cancer using a chicken embryo model
Dr Kenny Chitcholtan, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Otago, Christchurch
2022
Targeted Molecular Profiling of High-Grade Serous/Endometrioid Ovarian Cancer
Dr. Magdalena Ratajska, Research Fellow, Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Dunedin
Combination of re-purposed iron-chelating and anti-malarial drugs to overcome autophagy cell survival in serous ovarian cancer
Dr Kenny Chitcholtan, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Otago, Christchurch
Investigation of dual targeting in low-grade serous ovarian cancer
Dr Makhdoom Sarwar, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Gynaecologic Oncology, University of Otago, Christchurch
2021
Using proteomic phosphopeptides to predict the efficacy of drug combination in a trametinib-resistant low-grade ovarian cancer in 3D cell model
Dr Kenny Chitcholtan, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Otago, Christchurch
2020
Correlating molecular alterations in low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC) to patient outcomes in New Zealand
Dr Makhdoom Sarwar, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Gynaecologic Oncology, University of Otago, Christchurch
2019
Identifying a combination therapy likely to be of therapeutic benefit in low-grade serous ovarian cancer
Dr Kenny Chitcholtan, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Otago, Christchurch