Ovarian Cancer Action

What Ovarian Cancer Action does

Ovarian Cancer Action is a UK-registered charity (England and Wales charity no. 1109743; Scotland charity no. SC043478; company limited by guarantee no. 5403443), founded in 2006 and headquartered at 483 Green Lanes, London. It is the only UK charity focused exclusively on ovarian cancer research, operating a direct-to-consumer nonprofit model that funds prevention, early detection and treatment research while delivering free public-facing digital tools and awareness programmes. The charity's research architecture combines long-running academic partnerships with the University of Oxford (OvarianVax vaccine led by Professor Ahmed Ahmed, based on more than a decade of fallopian-tube immunology research) and Imperial College London (the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre at Hammersmith Hospital, led by Professor Iain McNeish and Professor Christina Fotopoulou, described as one of the largest clusters of ovarian cancer research in Europe). It also convenes the four-yearly HHMT International Forum and runs the IMPROVE UK programme, launched in 2020 with over £1 million of Tampon Tax Fund grant funding, to address regional survival-rate disparities across NHS Cancer Centres.

Product surface comprises core research programmes — OvarianVax (preclinical vaccine targeting BRCA-mutation carriers), AI-driven ovarian cancer research funded via a $1 million Global Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium AI Accelerator Grant announced in February 2026, the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, IMPROVE UK and the OCA Patient Research Network — together with consumer-facing diagnostic and awareness tools: a free Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Checker, a Hereditary Cancer Risk Checker covering BRCA and Lynch syndrome eligibility, and a downloadable Symptoms Diary. Commercial revenue does not exist; all £12.7-13 million of cumulative research investment since 2006 is sourced from individual one-off donations (£5-£50 tiers), monthly recurring donations (£5-£20), legacy gifts in wills, in-memory donations and challenge events (skydives, marathons, cycle rides, Walk in Her Name). Multi-channel awareness is driven through Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (March), World Ovarian Cancer Day (May 8), Hereditary Cancer Awareness Week, the BBC Lifeline Appeal, and an "Ask Your MP" advocacy campaign.

Name

Ovarian Cancer Action

Legal name

Ovarian Cancer Action

Website

https://ovarian.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UK charity founded in 2006 funding ovarian cancer research, including the OvarianVax preventive vaccine, AI-driven cancer research, the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre at Imperial College, and the IMPROVE UK health-inequalities programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Research Charity

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

Keywords

• Cancer research charity
• Ovarian cancer awareness
• Hereditary cancer testing
• Cancer research grants
• Health fundraising events

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. One-off Donations: Individual donors make one-time donations via the website (donate.ovarian.org.uk) to support ovarian cancer research and awareness programmes.
2. Monthly Donations: Recurring monthly donations from supporters enabling long-term commitment to research funding and planning.
3. Legacy Giving / Gifts in Will: Donors leave gifts in their Wills to fund future ovarian cancer research, creating sustainable long-term funding for the charity's mission.
4. In-Memory Donations: Donations made in memory of loved ones who have passed away from ovarian cancer, including tribute funds and funeral collections.
5. Fundraising Events: Supporters raise money through challenge events including skydives, marathons, cycle rides, walks, and other fundraising activities. Charity receives proceeds from participant fundraising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Ovarian Cancer Action is a UK charity that funds ovarian cancer research (including the OvarianVax world-first preventive vaccine, AI-driven cancer research, and the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre at Imperial College London) and provides free public-facing digital health tools such as an Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Checker and a Hereditary Cancer Risk Checker. The charity raises funds through individual donations, monthly giving, legacy gifts, in-memory donations, and fundraising events, while also delivering awareness campaigns, the IMPROVE UK health inequalities programme, and the HHMT International Forum.

Product overview

Ovarian Cancer Action is the UK's leading ovarian cancer research charity offering a portfolio of digital health tools and research programmes. The core products include the Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Checker and Hereditary Cancer Risk Checker (free online assessment tools), alongside major research initiatives such as OvarianVax (world-first preventive vaccine), AI in Ovarian Cancer Research (AI Accelerator Grant programme), and the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre (OCARC). Additional offerings include the IMPROVE UK health inequalities programme, HHMT International Forum for global collaboration, and the Patient Research Network for community engagement. Fundraising activities include Walk in Her Name events and various challenge events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IMPROVE UK: A groundbreaking programme to tackle health inequalities for women with ovarian cancer across the UK, addressing disparities based on geography, age, and ethnicity.
• Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre (OCARC)
• OvarianVax
• HHMT International Forum
• OCA Research Network

Products and services

• Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Checker

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% survival rate when diagnosed at Stage 1 vs. 45% overall 5-year survival
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Global Ovarian Cancer Research ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026International coalition of ovarian cancer charities from the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK committing $1 million in AI-focused research grants to improve survival and outcomes for ovarian cancer patients worldwide.
• Imperial College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome of the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre at Hammersmith Hospital. Led by Professor Iain McNeish and Professor Christina Fotopoulou, the centre is one of the largest clusters of ovarian cancer research in Europe.
• University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation of Professor Ahmed Ahmed's laboratory, leading the OvarianVax vaccine project. Over a decade of Ovarian Cancer Action-funded research at Oxford has led to the OvarianVax breakthrough.
• British Gynaecological Cancer Society (BGCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical partner supporting the IMPROVE UK programme with expert advisory group including Professor Sudha Sundar (Chair) and Professor Iain McNeish (Vice Chair).
• OvacomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOvarian cancer patient support charity collaborating on the IMPROVE UK programme as a patient advocacy partner.
• Macmillan Cancer SupportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a partner resource for practical support with managing work, finances, and benefits while living with ovarian cancer.
• Lynch Syndrome UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport group for people with Lynch syndrome, referenced as a resource for those seeking support with hereditary cancer risk.
• Citizens AdviceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a partner resource for practical support with managing work, finances, and benefits while living with ovarian cancer.
• NHS Cancer CentrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple NHS Cancer Centres across the UK participating in IMPROVE UK pilot projects including Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Royal United Hospital Bath, Belfast City Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, and University of Manchester.
• Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based ovarian cancer research charity collaborating as a global partner on the 2024 HHMT International Forum.
• Ovarian Cancer Foundation (OCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based ovarian cancer charity collaborating as a global partner on the 2024 HHMT International Forum.
• Target Ovarian CancercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK ovarian cancer charity collaborating as a global partner on the 2024 HHMT International Forum.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ovacome: UK ovarian cancer support charity providing patient information and advocacy; comparable beneficiary population and UK donor pool, with overlapping research partnerships.
• National Ovarian Cancer Coalition: US-based ovarian cancer awareness and education organisation; comparable single-disease awareness focus and donor-funded model, serving as a US complement.
• Ovarian Cancer Canada: Canada's national ovarian cancer charity; directly comparable mission around research funding and awareness, and a partner in the Global Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium.
• Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA): Largest US-based ovarian cancer research and advocacy organisation; similar research-grant-making model and global consortium participation, serving as the natural US counterpart.
• Wellbeing of Women: UK charity funding research into women's health including gynaecological cancers; comparable research-grant model and overlapping beneficiary population of women at risk.
• The Eve Appeal: UK gynaecological cancer charity funding research across ovarian, womb, cervical, vulval, and vaginal cancers; comparable research-grant model with adjacent disease focus.
• Target Ovarian Cancer: UK-based charity focused exclusively on ovarian cancer awareness, support, and research; directly comparable single-disease mission, donor base, and policy-advocacy posture.

Broad incumbents

• Macmillan Cancer Support: UK-wide cancer support charity providing patient services and information; overlaps with OCA's patient-support content and shares the UK cancer donor pool.
• Cancer Research UK: The UK's largest cancer research funder; co-funder of OvarianVax and a strategic grant-making incumbent covering all cancer types, including ovarian.

Regional players

• Ovarian Cancer Australia: Australia's national ovarian cancer charity; comparable single-disease mission and a partner in the Global Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium, but geographically distinct.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ovariancanceraction
• Instagraminstagram.com/ovariancanceraction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ovarian-cancer-action

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ovarian Cancer Action