Links to Additional Resources

Ovarian Cancer Institute

Founded in 1999 by Dr. Benedict Benigno, the Ovarian Cancer Institute (OCI) is dedicated to researching cancer of the ovaries. Dr. Benigno, a gynecologic oncologist, has practiced in Atlanta, Georgia for more than 30 years, and along with his partners, sees more cases of ovarian cancer than any other private practice in the country. The primary mission of the OCI is to develop innovative research leading to earlier detection and more effective treatment of ovarian cancer as well as to educate and heighten awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer and treatment options.

OCI and the OCI Research Laboratories are located at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and are directed by OCI Chief Research Scientist and Professor and Chair of the School of Biology at Georgia Tech, Dr. John McDonald. In addition to his own research staff, Dr. McDonald has established collaborative relationships with the other major universities around the state: Clark Atlanta, Emory, Georgia State and the Medical College of Georgia, all of which have scientists and bioinformaticists who are participating either in research or data analysis.

National Ovarian Cancer Coalition

About the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC)

Since its inception in 1995 by Gail Hayward, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) has been committed to raising awareness of ovarian cancer in communities across the country and to providing education, support and hope for women with ovarian cancer and their families. NOCC has established itself as an important national advocate for patients and families struggling with ovarian cancer. Committed volunteers continue to build chapters throughout the country and work together to advance NOCC’s education and awareness efforts.

The Chapter network is the heart and soul of NOCC. It continues to grow and provides services in local communities throughout the nation. NOCC volunteers promote patient, public, and professional education, provide peer to peer emotional support, and conduct advocacy and awareness efforts. They organize events, sponsor educational programs, distribute literature and participate in NOCC’s speaker’s bureau.

Oregon Health Science University

History and Background
The OHSU Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University, the only health sciences academic center in the state of Oregon, was designated as a Clinical Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute in 1997. The 200 members of the center seek to develop innovative, less toxic and more effective strategies of cancer prevention, treatment, diagnosis and control by applying new discoveries in cancer cell biology in molecular genetics. Programs in cancer prevention and control, hormonal and reproductive malignancies, hematologic malignancies, experimental therapeutics, cancer biology, and complementary medicine function to foster interdisciplinary interactions between basic and clinical researchers.

The translation of laboratory results into new preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic methods is facilitated by seven shared resources of the center, each of which provides services to cancer center members to promote interdisciplinary research throughout OHSU. The cancer center administration, shared resources and programs provide an organizational context that promotes a coherent interdepartmental focus on developing innovative strategies for dealing with the problem of cancer. Members of the center are active in federally funded, multicenter cancer study groups (ECOG, SWOG, NSABP, GOG, and CCG). There has been a major commitment in the past three years to the development of institutional clinical trials of a translational nature.

The resources of the OHSU Hospital, the university’s outpatient clinics, and the Portland VA Medical Center, adjacent to the cancer center on the same campus, provide an unusual opportunity for both basic and clinical research in the largest metropolitan region of our state. Because half of the population of Oregon and Southwest Washington is rural, the center is additionally committed to the development of effective programs of cancer education and control tailored to citizens outside of urban centers.

Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon and Southwest Washington

Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon and Southwest Washington
PMB 243 Suite 103
16420 SE McGillivray
Vancouver, WA 98683-3461
Tel. (877) 682-2679 (toll-free)
Fax. 360) 574-5804
Diane O’Connor, Diane Elizondo
info@ovariancancerosw.o

The mission of Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon and Southwest Washington is threefold: To promote awareness of ovarian cancer and to provide education to women and the health care community; to offer support to all ovarian cancer survivors by providing opportunities for networking, education and community outreach; and to advocate for public policy and funding for ovarian cancer research.