Recipient researchers’ projects were chosen for their potential for high-impact innovation against ovarian cancer or translating insights from other fields.
In a bold step to confront one of the deadliest and most overlooked women’s health crises, The Pershing Square Foundation announced a $5.25 million Ovarian Cancer Challenge Grant, awarding funding to seven pioneering researchers at five premier institutions.
The initiative is designed to catalyze innovation in the early detection and treatment of ovarian cancer, a disease with a five-year survival rate of just 27% for patients diagnosed in advanced stages.
The Ovarian Cancer Challenge Grant expands on the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to cancer research through the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance (PSSCRA) and is part of a broader strategy to raise awareness and drive targeted investments in underfunded women’s health issues.
“Inspired by those who fought ovarian cancer, leaving behind learnings and legacies, we are empowered to approach a research manifold still thin in knowledge yet deep in shape and opportunity,” said Neri Oxman, PhD, Co-Trustee of The Pershing Square Foundation.
Tackling a Silent Crisis in Women’s Health
Despite being the most lethal gynecologic cancer, ovarian cancer receives a fraction of the funding allocated to other cancers. Four out of five patients are diagnosed at a late stage, making breakthroughs in detection and intervention urgent priorities.
“This is a disease that takes too many lives and receives too little attention,” said Olivia Tournay Flatto, PhD, President of The Pershing Square Foundation. “By spotlighting ovarian cancer, we’re expanding the frontier of cancer research to where it’s most urgently needed.”
Established in 2006, The Pershing Square Foundation (PSF) supports exceptional leaders and innovative organizations tackling critical social challenges through scalable, sustainable impact. With over $930 million committed to initiatives in health, medicine, education, and economic development, PSF is a leader in philanthropic investment.
Co-trustees Bill Ackman and Neri Oxman oversee the Foundation’s mission-driven approach, which blends bold thinking, scientific excellence, and a commitment to systems change.
Selections were made with input from a prestigious scientific advisory board, with a focus on scientific rigor, innovation, and real-world clinical promise.
Meet the 2025 Ovarian Cancer Challenge Grant Recipients
Dr. Jef Boeke (NYU Grossman School of Medicine)
Boeke’s research investigates retrotransposon L1, an element overexpressed in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. In partnership with Dr. Kathleen Burns of Dana-Farber, the study will assess L1-encoded proteins as blood-based biomarkers and examine whether amplifying L1-driven DNA damage could lead to new therapeutic approaches.
Dr. Juan Cubillos-Ruiz (Weill Cornell Medicine)
Cubillos-Ruiz focuses on harnessing abdominal cavity immune cells to fight ovarian cancer. His team will study how these immune cells coordinate long-term defense and explore methods to activate anti-tumor memory responses, potentially preventing cancer recurrence.
Dr. Ronny Drapkin (University of Pennsylvania)
Drapkin’s lab revealed that sensory nerves grow into ovarian tumors, contributing to tumor growth. This research will delve into nerve–tumor communication and develop therapies to block these interactions, aiming to improve outcomes by disrupting tumor-supporting neural pathways.
Dr. David Lyden (Weill Cornell Medicine)
Lyden will lead a study using multi-omics analysis to identify protein biomarkers within the metastatic tumor microenvironment. His goal is to better understand metastasis and improve early detection via analysis of extracellular vesicles in patient samples.
Dr. Benjamin Neel (NYU Grossman School of Medicine)
Neel’s lab will investigate how tumor genetics and the surrounding microenvironment drive immune evasion and therapy resistance. The research combines experimental modeling with genomic tools to uncover genes and mutations that shape ovarian cancer evolution.
Dr. Michel Sadelain (Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
Sadelain, known for revolutionizing CAR T cell therapy, will apply new HIT receptors—engineered for ultra-sensitive targeting of tumor antigens—to ovarian cancer. The study also includes a diagnostic test and dual-targeting strategies to improve treatment efficacy and prevent antigen escape.
Dr. Dmitriy Zamarin (Icahn School Of Medicine at Mount Sinai)
Zamarin will explore therapies to overcome ovarian cancer’s immunosuppressive environment. Using cutting-edge CRISPR screening and spatial transcriptomics, the study aims to discover how immune resistance develops and how immune-based treatments can be made more effective.
A Strategic Shift Toward Bold Innovation
The launch of this challenge grant not only advances ovarian cancer science but also sends a clear message: the time to invest in women’s health is now.
By assembling a diverse and collaborative cohort of researchers, The Pershing Square Foundation is driving forward a new era of biomedical research where innovation meets urgency—and where women’s health receives the focus and funding it deserves.
Each of the seven scientists funded brings expertise from cancer genetics, immunology, neurobiology, and precision diagnostics, reflecting the interdisciplinary approach needed to tackle a disease as complex and under-researched as ovarian cancer.
“We believe targeted investment can change the story,” added Dr. Flatto. “With this initiative, we aim to save lives, amplify awareness, and accelerate solutions.”
