The document provides an overview of the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program (DoD OCRP). It discusses the history and organization of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) and the DoD OCRP. It summarizes the vision, mission, and funding amounts of the DoD OCRP. It also describes some of the key initiatives funded by the DoD OCRP, including the Consortium Award focusing on prevention, the Outcomes Consortium Award focusing on increasing survivorship, and the Ovarian Cancer Academy aimed at developing the next generation of ovarian cancer researchers.

1. Overview of the DoD
Ovarian Cancer
Research Program
Karen Wylie, Ph.D.
DoD OCRP Science Officer
The Geneva Foundation,
In support of the
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and may
not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army,
Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

2. 2
Outline
 Overview of DoD OCRP & CDMRP
 DoD OCRP consumers
 Impact of the DoD OCRP
 Consortium Award
 Outcomes Consortium Award
 Ovarian Cancer Academy

3. 3
History of the CDMRP and DoD OCRP
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)
Organization which funds biomedical research globally
Unique partnership: U.S. Congress, Public & U.S. Military
 1992 grassroots campaign to increase Breast Cancer research funding
 Congress responded, DoD directed to manage $210 M
 CDMRP established, Breast Cancer Research Program 1st program
In 1997, the Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) was
added to CDMRP with an initial appropriation of $7.5 M.
FY1992 – FY2015 CDMRP has
 Grown to include 27 research programs
 Cancer, neurologic, orthopedic and military relevant areas
 Managed ~$9.7 Billion in appropriations

4. 4
How does the OCRP fit into the DoD?
ARMY
MEDICAL COMMAND
(MEDCOM)
DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT
OF THE ARMY
MEDICAL
RESEARCH
AND
MATERIEL
COMMAND
(USAMRMC)
CONGRESSIONALLY
DIRECTED MEDICAL
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
OCRP
OVARIAN
CANCER
RESEARCH
PROGRAM

5. 5
DoD OCRP Vision and Mission
Vision: Eliminate ovarian cancer.
Mission: To support patient-centered
research to prevent, detect, treat &
cure ovarian cancer.
FY1997–FY2015 DoD OCRP
managed appropriations of $256.5 M
DoD OCRP addresses critical issues for
the OC patient & research communities
through different funding opportunities.

6. 6
Outline
 Overview of DoD OCRP & CDMRP
 DoD OCRP consumers
 Impact of the DoD OCRP
 Consortium Award
 Outcomes Consortium Award
 Ovarian Cancer Academy

7. 7
DoD OCRP Consumers: Role and Numbers
Who is an OCRP consumer?
An OCRP consumer is a patient
or a survivor living with ovarian cancer.
OCRP Consumer contributions
 Peer Review: 94, who provided
reviews for 225 panel assignments
 Programmatic Review:
9 Standing reviewers
10 Ad-hoc reviewers

8. 8
Unique Partnerships
Demonstrate
need
Participate at
all levels
Passion and
perspective
Innovation
and gaps
Risk/Benefit
Product-
oriented
Add funds to
budget
Targeted
guidance
Program
management
Contracting
actions
Regulatory
requirements
IMPROVE
HEALTH
OUTCOME

9. 9
DoD OCRP Funding
0
5
10
15
20
25
FY97 FY98 FY99 FY00 FY01 FY02 FY03 FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16
Millions($)
Fiscal Year
Congressional Appropriations for DoD OCRP
FY97-FY16

10. 10
Outline
 Overview of DoD OCRP & CDMRP
 OCRP consumers
 Impact of the DoD OCRP
 Consortium Award
 Outcomes Consortium Award
 Ovarian Cancer Academy

11. 11
Impact of the DoD OCRP
Unmet Needs / Long-Term Research Priorities
 Understand initiation and progression of OC
 Develop / improve diagnosis and treatment
 Increase prevention, improve QOL for survivors
 Investigate tumor response / resistance to treatment
 Develop and validate research tools to study OC
 Recruit / retain exceptional OC researchers

12. 12
DoD OCRP Consortium Award
Focus … Prevention
Intent
To support a major multi-institutional research effort
 Focus on identifying and characterizing early changes in OC
 Innovative studies to reduce burden of OC through prevention.
FY10 Consortium Award: Dr. Kurman’s group / JHU
“Prevention of Ovarian High-Grade Serous Carcinoma
by Elucidating Its Early Changes”
 4 preclinical & 1 epidemiology project; JHU, MSKCC, Yale & UHN Toronto
 Hypothesis: Precursor of many HGSCs begins in the fallopian tube
 Results: Evaluated STICS as precursor lesions of HGSCs
Identifying molecular changes that precede the development of STICs
 Website: http://www.ovariancancerprevention.org/

13. 13
Outcomes Consortium Award
Focus … Increase Survivorship
Intent
 Identify & understand predictors of disease outcomes
 Shift balance: Short-Term Survivors to Long-Term Survivors
 FY15 Outcomes Consortium Award
 Impact: accelerate predictors of disease outcomes into patient care.
 Consumer advocates involved in significant aspects of the proposed
project such as design, recruitment, and evaluation
 Two 4-year awards made by September 2016

14. 14
Outcomes Consortium Award
Focus … Increase Survivorship
 Dr. Birrer’s group (Massachusetts General Hospital)
 “The Genomic, Epigenomic, & Quality-of-Life Characteristics of
Long-Term Survivors of OC”
 Characterize genomic, biologic, and biobehavioral basis for
long-term survivors of epithelial OC
 Dr. Pike’s group (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Ctr.)
 “Multidisciplinary Ovarian Cancer Outcomes Group (MOCOG)”
 Investigate genetic, genomic, immune, & epidemiological
factors that may contribute, singly or in combination, to long-
term survival

15. Ovarian Cancer Academy: The Need
“Reducing the burden of
ovarian cancer requires
recruiting and, more
importantly, mentoring a
group of scientists and
clinicians who are
committed to building
sustained and productive
careers in ovarian cancer
research.”
Dr. Michael Seiden,
Integration Panel Chair, FY09
Building a Critical Mass of Dedicated OC Researchers

16. 16
Ovarian Cancer Academy: Challenges
Challenges in Producing Dedicated OCRP Researchers
 Limited number of medical or research centers with
critical mass of mentors dedicated to OC research
 Funding an institutional training grant at a single
institution is expensive and often ineffective
 Too few junior scientists and physicians heading into
OC as a research career choice
 Peer groups for junior faculty interested in OC often
limited within their institutions

17. 17
Ovarian Cancer Academy: Breaking Barriers
Focus…Seeding Next Generation of Dedicated OC Researchers
 Interactive Academy in a Virtual Environment
 Consists of:
 Academy Dean and Assistant Dean
 ~14 Early-Career Investigator (ECI)-Designated Mentor pairs from
different institutions
 Provides
 Mentoring
 Networking
 Peer group
 Collaborative opportunities

18. 18
Ovarian Cancer Academy (OCA)
OCA: Early-Career Investigators, their Mentors and Leadership

19. 19
Search Awards Site
http://cdmrp.army.mil
Research Highlights/News »
19
Search Awards & PublicationsResearch Programs

20. 2020
Thank you…
For Your Unwavering Support