Launching a $1M global grant to tackle ovarian cancer with AI. Here's why it matters.
At Ovarian Cancer Action, we believe that bold action leads to real change.
Today, we’re proud to announce something that could be truly transformational in the lives of women with ovarian cancer: a $1 million global grant - powered by a game-changing collaboration with leading ovarian cancer research charities worldwide, and in partnership with Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab.
Through this we’ve founded a first-of-its-kind Global Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium – a partnership between ourselves, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (USA), Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (Australia), and Ovarian Cancer Canada (Canada).
Together, we’re joining forces to announce a new chapter in ovarian cancer research: the AI Accelerator Grant.
Why now?
Ovarian cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers for women. Every year, 207,000 women globally lose their lives to this disease. Here in the UK, only 1 in 3 women diagnosed today will live more than 10 years. It’s a devastating statistic, and it’s one we’re determined to change.
“Survival rates – in the UK and beyond – create an immense challenge globally. The AI breakthroughs in lung, skin and breast cancers are incredible, and now we must direct its power towards ovarian cancer to make tangible progress in survival rates for women in the UK and across the world.”
We believe that AI has the potential to crack the code - whether it's identifying early signs that humans can’t yet see, tailoring treatments to the individual, or uncovering new therapies we haven’t even imagined yet.
The grant: what you need to know
We’re inviting multi-country, multidisciplinary research teams to apply for funding and are open to any area of research that could improve survival rates.
Thanks to the partnership with Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab, this initiative also includes an additional $1 million of in-kind support - from access to AI tools and cloud computing, to technical expertise and more.
If it helps save lives, we’re listening.
Florence’s story: why this work matters
We’re driven by the voices of women like Florence Wilks, a member of our Ovarian Cancer Action Research Network. Diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in 2010 and told she had just 18 months to live, Florence’s life was saved by a groundbreaking treatment called PARP inhibitors.
“Future breakthroughs using AI have the potential to help change the odds for the next generation of women and girls all over the world,” says Florence. “I truly believe research is the only way we’ll see ovarian cancer survival rates increase. I want to see them improve just as breast and cervical cancer have.”
Florence is proof that research saves lives - and that progress is possible.
A global movement begins
This new initiative was born out of conversations with our global partners at our Helene Harris Memorial Trust (HHMT) International Forum on Ovarian Cancer in October 2024. Bringing together the leading global research charities sparked the idea that now fuels this global collaboration.
We’re excited. We’re hopeful. And we’re ready to change the story.
This is more than a grant. This is the start of something bigger.
To find out more, visit our World Ovarian Cancer Day webpage.
The global partner CEOs
