Toronto, ON – April 22, 2025 – Ovarian Cancer Canada and the Cancer Research Society launch their RISE (Research Impact in Survivorship and Engagement) competition, an innovative initiative that centres the voices of those with lived experience of ovarian cancer (either as a patient or caregiver) to define and fund research priorities in ovarian cancer survivorship.
The RISE competition recognizes and responds to the complex needs of those living with and beyond ovarian cancer. By investing in research that is driven by people directly affected by the disease, this collaboration between Ovarian Cancer Canada and the Cancer Research Society will shift the paradigm of survivorship care across Canada.
“Survivorship is more than a medical term – it’s a lived reality,” says Tania Vrionis, Chief Executive Officer, Ovarian Cancer Canada. “It includes everything from physical recovery after treatment to mental, emotional, social, and financial challenges. Since 2021, our partnership with the Cancer Research Society has increased the number of Canadian research projects focused on ovarian cancer. With our RISE competition, we will continue to empower people with lived experience to take the lead in defining what matters most to them in life after diagnosis.”
Through this initiative, a total of $200,000 in funding is being made available to support innovative projects that address one or more of the following aspects of ovarian cancer survivorship:
- Physical well-being and health
- Psychosocial and emotional well-being
- Health disparities and inequities
- Treatment advances to extend survival, reduce side effects and improve quality of life
- Healthy lifestyle interventions
“Our partnership with Ovarian Cancer Canada plays a crucial role in funding projects and initiatives that have a tangible impact on ovarian cancer research,” says Manon Pepin, President and CEO of the Cancer Research Society. “This new program represents a true step forward. By placing women’s experiences at the core of the process and involving them in project selection, we have the opportunity to support more human-centered approaches that are better aligned with their reality. RISE embodies hope and commitment to a future where every research project will be even more relevant to those who have faced this disease.”
Too often, research related to survivorship and quality of life is defined by clinical perspectives, leaving the lived experiences of patients and caregivers underrepresented. RISE changes this approach by ensuring that people affected by ovarian cancer are involved at every stage – from setting the competition’s framework and identifying research priorities, to shaping final funding decisions.
More information about the competition, including eligibility and application guidelines, will be available on the websites of Ovarian Cancer Canada and the Cancer Research Society.
Media Contact:
Namrata Peri
Director, Marketing and Communications
+1 289-350-1851
nperi@ovariancanada.org