About the Marsha Rivkin Center

Pilot Studies

Funding is often difficult to find for discovery work behind what often prove to be the most innovative scientific theories. In order to foster these ideas, each year, the Marsha Rivkin Center funds promising pilot studies in ovarian cancer. The discoveries from these studies in turn lay the groundwork for major research initiatives.

Data gathered from these studies often allows scientists to further pursue research ideas through highly competitive national government grants necessary to complete these projects.

Applications are due December 1 of each year. Researchers can learn more by signing up for our Scientific Mailing List. Requests for applications (RFA) will be sent via the Scientific Mailing List.

2005 Pilot Study Awardees

Piri Welcsh, PhD: University of Washington (Seattle, WA); Epigenetic Profiling of Ovarian Cancer with High-Density Microarrays
Cassian Yee, MD: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle, WA); Identification of T cell-defined Antigens in Ovarian Cancer

History of Funded Pilot Studies

2002-2003 Pilot Study Awards
2000-2002 Pilot Study Awards
1997-1999 Pilot Study Awards

The Marsha Rivkin Center provided initial pilot study funding necessary to begin the following fully funded studies:

Quality of Life Effects of Ovarian Cancer Screening and Risk Education (QUEST)

NCI Government Grant
Awarded to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Nicole Urban, Principal Investigator

Pacific Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium-Ovarian Cancer SPORE

NCI Government Grant
Awarded to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Nicole Urban, Principal Investigator

Use of Novel Technologies to Identify and Investigate Molecular Markers for Ovarian Cancer Screening and Prevention

DOD Government Grant
Awarded to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Nicole Urban, Principal Investigator