research advocacy

Research Advocacy

Use Your Power

Survivors offer unique and indispensable perspectives to research, providing scientists with information about what’s most important to patients, and encouraging scientists to persevere in the face of the myriad of barriers.

Ovarian cancer survivor Dawn Holmberg attended the Ovarian Cancer Midest Focus Conference in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Here's what she had to say after the conferece:

I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to attend the Ovarian Cancer Midwest Focus Conference in Sioux Falls, SD. I felt good and also nervous getting back into advocating for ovarian cancer. It was inspiring to listen to all the new research and know there will be hope for the future.

I was very well received at this conference and many thanked me for coming forward and telling my story. I think it is so important to put faces on this cancer. We are not cells floating around a microscope, we are women who pray for a brighter future and hope we can live to see our families grow.

The Powell Drescher Foundation is setting a precedent for including advocates in all phases of its work. I applaud your commitment to bring Ovarian Cancer Survivors to the forefront and let our stories be told.

Again, thank you for believing in me and for all you do for survivors.

Dawn Holmberg

Advocate Shianne Lee, scientist Dr. Kristin Anderson, advocate Anna Hedden.

Meet our Research Advocates!

Anna Hedden and Shianne Lee
attended the DOD Ovarian Cancer Academy Retreat and the
AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Ovarian Cancer in October where they learned about current ovarian cancer research and interacted with scientists to facilitate collaboration.

Susun Livingston and Deborah Binder attended the annual conference of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)!

To champion the POWER of scientist/survivor collaboration, we sent two ovarian cancer research advocates to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, April 14-19, 2023, in Orlando, Florida. While there, the advocates participated in the Scientist-Survivor Program (SSP), learning about cancer research and interacting with scientists, doctors, health professionals, and other advocates. Here is their experience:

You can read more about the AACR Scientist-Survivor Program here:

Our ovarian cancer research advocates at the annual conference of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)!

ABOVE: Deborah Binder and Susun Lindley Livingston present posters at AACR in April 2023.

BELOW: The posters explaining the benefits of scientist/survivor collaboration.

You can watch our recorded presentation on research advocacy with ovarian cancer researcher Dr. Kristin Anderson and ovarian cancer survivor/research advocate Annie Ellis:

The Powell-Drescher Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation is incredibly honored that the attendance of one of our research advocates is sponsored in part by the Andy Hill CARE Fund – Washington’s Cancer Research Endowment.

Other Ways to Advocate in Research:

The Department of Defense (DOD) Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) integrates patients, survivors, family members and/or care takers (collectively called “consumers”) into the scientific review process in order to enrich the review with personal perspective, passion, and a sense of urgency that ensures the human dimension is incorporated in the research focus.

Read about Sachia's experience as a Consumer Reviewer with the DOD Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) here:

You can read more about the DOD OCRP and how to apply to be a Consumer Reviewer here:

The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) Advocate Leader Program trains advocates to speak up in their communities and represent the cause with their elected officials. You can read more about this program and how to apply here:

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