On World Ovarian Cancer Day, AI and a Global Coalition Offer New Hope in the Fight Against Ovarian Cancer
On this World Ovarian Cancer Day, hope is on the horizon for the estimated 300,000 women diagnosed globally each year with one of the most lethal forms of cancer. A groundbreaking new international effort is being launched today that aims to transform how ovarian cancer is detected and treated—by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence.
The initiative is spearheaded by the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), based in the United States, in partnership with research organizations from Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Backed by a $1 million grant and an additional $1 million in AI compute credits from Microsoft’s AI for Health Lab, the new Global Ovarian Cancer Coalition intends to accelerate research breakthroughs that have long lagged behind those for other cancers like breast or skin.
Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo spoke with Audra Moran, President and CEO of the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, to learn more about this international effort and how AI may change the future of ovarian cancer care.
“There is no mammogram for ovarian cancer,” said Moran. “That’s been the holy grail—developing a reliable early detection test. Right now, by the time symptoms appear, the cancer has often already spread.”
But AI, Moran believes, can help rewrite that narrative.
One promising example comes from Memorial Sloan Kettering, where a researcher funded by OCRA is using nanotechnology and AI to scan blood for molecular markers that may indicate ovarian cancer years before symptoms arise. “This kind of innovation could shift detection forward by five years,” Moran said, offering a potential lifeline to countless women.
The lack of early detection is only one of the challenges. Ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease—many different types fall under the same label, and most originate not in the ovaries, but in the fallopian tubes. By the time the disease is diagnosed, it is often in advanced stages, contributing to a 50 percent survival rate—a figure Moran calls “unacceptable.”
That stark reality is what inspired this global coalition. “We don’t care where a cure comes from,” said Moran. “We just want to find it.”
AI’s role will not only be in detection but also in treatment optimization, potentially tailoring therapies to each patient’s genetic profile. The coalition also aims to address systemic hurdles in global research—like the sharing of data across borders—and create a collaborative environment that supersedes national and institutional competition.
For patients, families, and advocates wondering how to help, Moran encourages visiting OCRA’s website, where individuals can take a free genetic risk assessment, access peer mentorship, and learn about advocacy efforts. “If a test is developed,” Moran noted, “we’ll need to ensure it gets covered by insurance and Medicare.”
The launch today marks a turning point, not only in strategy but in optimism. Moran, reflecting on her own experience with rapidly evolving AI tools like ChatGPT, believes the same acceleration can—and must—apply to life-saving medical technology.
“Just a year ago, I would’ve said it could take 10 years to see this kind of change,” she said. “Now, I believe we can do it much faster.”
For Moran and so many others—including families affected by ovarian cancer, like this reporter’s own—this initiative represents more than innovation. It represents a promise that the future can be different.
