The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund has announced grants totaling $6.9 million to twenty-two researchers and four institutions.

To mark its twentieth anniversary, OCRF announced twelve Ann Schreiber Mentored Investigator Awards for young scientists, nearly doubling the amount awarded in this category last year. The award provides funding for promising trainees — clinical fellows in gynecologic oncology or medical oncology or post-doctoral fellows — working under the supervision of a recognized leader in the field of ovarian cancer research. Grant recipients include Nima Aghaeepour of Stanford University, who will work to identify and disrupt the signaling pathways that contribute to tumor initiation; Megan Rice of Brigham and Women's Hospital, who will conduct a study of the role of fat intake in ovarian cancer risk and prevention; and Yuyu Yuyu of Johns Hopkins University, who will investigate the role of spleen tyrosine kinase in chemoresistance and test the efficacy of an Syk inhibitor.

The fund also awarded three Project Development Grants in support of ovarian cancer research projects that involve several investigators within a single institution or collaboration, and seven Liz Tilberis Early Career Awards, which provides funds for junior faculty with a strong commitment to an investigative career in ovarian cancer research. "This is the most outstanding portfolio of grants in the history of OCRF," said OCRF board member Jeff Boyd, who also chairs its Scientific Advisory Committee and is a senior vice president of molecular medicine at Fox Chase Cancer Center. "These grants focus on a variety of areas, such as factors increasing cancer risk, new approaches to treatment, understanding basic processes of cells and molecular biology, genetics, and strategies to overcome resistance to chemotherapy."

In addition, OCRF's Woman to Woman Program awarded grants to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Baylor College of Medicine, Tulane Cancer Center, and Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island to provide support for gynecologic cancer patients. Launched nationally last year, the W2W program pairs patients with professionally trained survivor volunteers who provide one-on-one emotional support and mentoring, and promotes education and self-advocacy for women in treatment as well as their partners, families, and other caregivers.

"With the support of our national sponsor, QVC, OCRF's Woman to Woman Program is now serving women with gynecologic cancer and their loved ones at ten institutions in seven states and will continue this growth in 2014 and beyond," said OCRF chief executive Audra Moran. "We're thrilled to begin our twentieth year with such unprecedented and exciting grants for medical research and cancer patients."

For a complete list of research grant recipients, visit the OCRF Web site.