At Ovarian Cancer Canada (OCC), we are proud to be a national leader in patient engagement in cancer research.
The belief that the people most affected by cancer should shape the research designed to help them is the foundation of everything we do. When researchers work alongside patients, science improves.
We are excited to fund two research projects that reflect this commitment.
OCC and the Cancer Research Society (CRS) are investing a combined $200,000 in promising scientific work that puts Canadians living with ovarian and endometrial cancer at the very centre of care, through the Research Impact in Survivorship and Engagement (RISE) Competition.
These projects have been hand-picked by a patient-led committee, selected for their relevance to the lived experience of patients and applicability in real-world settings.
“It is not enough for us to consider success simply as the number of years added to a patient’s life. Canadians experiencing these diseases are not passive participants in this system; they are experts in the realities of diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and loss. That is why we, at Ovarian Cancer Canada, require the projects we fund to collaborate with patients from the beginning. Our core belief is that, when we put their voices at the centre of research, we redefine what better care means, and ultimately, improve the science. These projects challenge the status quo by focusing not only on survival, but autonomy, quality of life, and informed decision-making for all Canadians,” says Tania Vrionis, Ovarian Cancer Canada’s CEO.
“Patients involved in this ovarian and endometrial cancer research program make an essential contribution to advancing knowledge. Their experience helps deepen our understanding of the realities of the disease and sheds light on concrete issues related to treatment, quality of life, and the care journey. We believe that their active participation helps guide research toward priorities grounded in everyday realities and capable of generating meaningful impact. It is in this spirit that we support this program, which recognizes patients as true research partners, with the shared goal of building a more inclusive science focused on one common objective: sustainably improving life during and after cancer,” affirms Manon Pepin, President and CEO of CRS
WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH?
Both of these projects share a common vision: to give Canadians more agency, more options, and greater protection from the harms associated with ovarian and endometrial cancer.
This research aims to:
- Reduce the physical and emotional burden of cancer treatment or preventative care
- Ensure equitable access for all Canadians, regardless of where they live
- Improve lives by translating new discoveries into tangible change
Can patients receive less treatment and have good results?
COMPARE Trial: Co-existent endometrial and ovarian carcinoma: Optimization of treatment through Molecular and PAthological Refinement
This study is asking a bold question: can we give patients less treatment and still achieve excellent results?
If successful, the COMPARE Trial could change the standard of cancer care worldwide. It will help doctors personalize treatment for each patient, reduce exposure to therapies that carry serious side effects, and protect patients from avoidable harm while maintaining positive outcomes.
DRS. AMY JAMIESON & JESSICA MCALPINE, RESEARCH LEADS
Drs McAlpine and Jamieson’s work at BC Cancer looks to understand how best to personalize care for people with gynecologic cancers.
Can we improve post-surgical care for those at high risk of hereditary ovarian cancer?
PATIENT-CENTRED HEREDITARY OVARIAN CANCER PREVENTION AND SURVIVORSHIP CARE IN CANADA
For Canadians living with an inherited risk of ovarian cancer, navigating the healthcare system can feel isolating and inconsistent.
By placing patients at the heart of care, this project gives individuals better information to make informed decisions, equips healthcare providers to deliver consistent and compassionate support, and works toward improved long-term outcomes for those living with hereditary ovarian cancer risk across the country.
DR. LESA DAWSON, RESEARCH LEAD
Dr. Lesa Dawson, MD, FRCSC, has worked as a Gynecologic Oncologist for over 20 years, and is determined to advance scientific understanding around the importance of genetics in cancer.
CANADIANS DESERVE FREEDOM TO LIVE FULLY, FREELY, AND UNINHIBITED BY GYNECOLOGIC CANCERS.
WHY IS PATIENT ENGAGEMENT IMPORTANT FOR RESEARCHERS?
Patient partners bring lived experience that no clinical study can fully capture on its own. When researchers work alongside patients, the science improves. They help researchers:
- Ask questions that really matter to those living with cancer
- Design studies that are realistic, respectful, and relevant to participants’ daily lives
- Identify barriers to care that might otherwise go unnoticed
- Ensure that findings are communicated in ways that are accessible and actionable
In short, patient engagement makes research more effective.
HOW DOES OVARIAN CANCER CANADA ENABLE PATIENT ENGAGEMENT?
We have always championed the idea that research must be done in collaboration with patients, not simply for them.
Both of these research projects reflect this principle by working alongside OCC’s Patient Partners in Research team, ensuring that the experiences of real people inform research priorities from the very beginning, holding science accountable and ensuring that outcomes are measured not just in clinical terms, but human ones.
We would like to extend our thanks to our community, the Cancer Research Society and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Strategic Science Fund for making this work possible.