A collaboration of game-changers: The AI Grant FAQs
For the first time ever, four global ovarian cancer charities are joining forces to fund innovative, AI-driven research that will improve ovarian cancer survival rates, in partnership with Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab.
AI is already changing the face of cancer research, driving innovation in breast, lung, prostate, brain, skin, and thyroid cancers. It has shown amazing promise in ovarian cancer problem areas, such as early detection and treatment.
By harnessing the power of technology, this grant will unlock new possibilities - changing how we understand, diagnose and treat ovarian cancer.
Why are we working in partnership with other global organisations?
AI development requires large quantities of data to be effective. As a less common cancer with a limited number of patients in each country, a collaborative, global, approach to AI-driven research, combining datasets, and expertise, can bring significant benefits and achieve progress quicker.
Which other charities are you working with?
- Ovarian Cancer Canada (Canada)
- Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (Australia)
- Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (USA)
Why is a global partnership needed?
A woman in the UK dies every two hours from ovarian cancer. Despite decades of research, not enough has changed - until now. On World Ovarian Cancer Day, we're marking a new chapter in the fight against ovarian cancer with a groundbreaking global research partnership.
Ovarian Cancer Action has joined forces with three leading global charities to form the Global Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium - Ovarian Cancer Action in the UK, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance in the U.S., the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation in Australia, and Ovarian Cancer. This is alongside an optional $1 million in Azure credits and AI expertise from Microsoft’s AI in Good Labs. This global collaboration is designed to accelerate breakthroughs, combining the brightest scientific minds, powerful technology, and a shared mission: to transform survival rates for women everywhere.
What was the role of HHMT in bringing this about?
The global partnership was brought together at Ovarian Cancer Action’s Helene Harris Memorial Trust (HHMT) 15th International Forum on Ovarian Cancer in October 2024. Every four years, Ovarian Cancer Action brings together the world’s top ovarian cancer researchers to change the course of this deadly disease. For the first time, Ovarian Cancer Action also brought together the world’s four leading ovarian cancer research charities with a shared mission of transforming survival rates to use the Forum as a catalyst to work together on this mission for the first time.
Leadership from these organisations met during HHMT and agreed to form a research partnership to fund an emerging theme from the scientific conference – harnessing emerging technologies (AI) to supercharge progress.
Why are we focusing on AI?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming cancer diagnosis, risk prediction, drug discovery, and personalised treatment, including early applications in ovarian cancer. While much progress has been made, the opportunities unlocked by this new technology are only just beginning to be fully explored.
Harnessing emerging technologies, in particular AI, was a running thread throughout the HHMT Forum on ovarian cancer. Delegates agreed that there is a clear need to drive investment in AI technologies, unlocking new insights and accelerating advancements to improve early detection, treatments, and survival outcomes for ovarian cancer.
What has Ovarian Cancer Action funded in the past?
Ovarian Cancer Action has a proven track record of supporting transformative research. Past breakthroughs include:
- OvarianVax – the world’s first potential ovarian cancer vaccine, aimed at preventing the disease before it starts
This new AI grant builds on that legacy, pushing research further and faster than ever before.
