2027 Rivkin Pilot Grant Supporting Innovative Ovarian Cancer Research

Deadline: 25-Mar-2026

The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) 2027 Rivkin Pilot Grant supports innovative, multidisciplinary research projects in ovarian and related gynecologic cancers. The grant provides up to $50,000 USD per year for two years, enabling early-stage studies, feasibility testing, and preliminary data generation to build high-impact research programs with strong translational potential. Applicants at all career stages with doctoral degrees and affiliated with eligible research institutions may apply.

The OCRA Rivkin Pilot Grant is designed to fund innovative, high-risk, high-reward research that generates preliminary data, tests feasibility, and strengthens investigators’ ability to secure future external funding. The programme focuses on projects directly relevant to ovarian and related gynecologic cancers, supporting work with translational significance that can lead to meaningful clinical or scientific outcomes.

Grant Focus Areas

Eligible research projects must:

• Be innovative and multidisciplinary, integrating multiple approaches or disciplines

• Test feasibility or provide proof-of-concept findings

• Generate preliminary data to support future external funding

• Include novel hypotheses or analysis of data from previously funded trials if directly advancing ovarian cancer research

• Focus on ovarian cancer or closely related gynecologic cancers

Funding Details

• Grant Amount: Up to $50,000 USD annually

• Total Funding: $100,000 USD over two years

• Start Date: March 1, 2027

• Awarded to the Principal Investigator’s institution

• Reporting: Submission of activation deliverables, annual narrative, and financial progress reports required

• Publications: All outputs must acknowledge OCRA support

Eligibility Criteria

Principal Investigators

• Must hold a PhD, ScD, MD, or other doctoral degree at the time of application

• Open to all career stages

• No citizenship restrictions – international applicants are welcome

• May serve as PI on only one Letter of Intent per grant cycle

• May hold only one active OCRA grant at a time

Institutional Eligibility

• Accredited academic and nonprofit research institutions, including:

  • Universities and colleges

  • Research hospitals and institutes

  • Recognized scientific research facilities

• Ineligible institutions: for-profit entities, consulting firms, non-research organizations, and nonprofits not directly conducting research

Application Requirements

1. Prepare Letter of Intent

   • Clearly outline the innovative, translational, and multidisciplinary aspects of the project

   • Include objectives, methodology, and anticipated outcomes

2. Confirm Institutional Support

   • Ensure the host institution can administer the grant and provide research infrastructure

3. Submit Letter of Intent

   • Each applicant may submit only one LOI per grant cycle

   • Additional participation in non-PI roles is permitted

4. Reporting and Acknowledgement

   • Submit required activation deliverables and annual reports

   • Cite OCRA funding in all resulting publications or presentations

Review Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Scientific merit and originality

• Relevance to ovarian or related gynecologic cancers

• Potential to generate preliminary data supporting future funding

• Ability to build or strengthen research teams for high-impact outcomes

• Translational relevance and potential for clinical or scientific application

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting more than one Letter of Intent per grant cycle as PI

• Proposing research unrelated to ovarian or gynecologic cancers

• Applying from an ineligible institution

• Failing to demonstrate feasibility or preliminary data generation

• Overlooking reporting and acknowledgment requirements

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply as Principal Investigator?

Any researcher at all career stages with a doctoral degree (PhD, ScD, MD, or equivalent).

2. Are international applicants eligible?

Yes, there are no citizenship restrictions.

3. How much funding is provided?

Up to $50,000 USD per year, totaling $100,000 USD over two years.

4. What types of research are supported?

Innovative, multidisciplinary studies with translational relevance in ovarian or related gynecologic cancers, including analysis of prior trial data for proof-of-concept studies.

5. Can an applicant hold multiple OCRA grants?

No, a PI may hold only one active OCRA grant at a time.

6. How will applications be evaluated?

Based on scientific merit, originality, translational relevance, and team-building potential.

7. What reporting is required?

Activation deliverables, annual narrative, and financial progress reports, plus acknowledgment in all publications or presentations.

Conclusion

The 2027 Rivkin Pilot Grant empowers researchers to test innovative ideas and build preliminary data for ovarian and related gynecologic cancer studies. By supporting multidisciplinary, high-potential projects, OCRA aims to catalyze new discoveries, strengthen research teams, and advance the field toward impactful translational outcomes.

For more information, visit OCRA.