Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance Honours Dr. David Huntsman with the 2025 Rosalind Franklin Prize for Excellence in Ovarian Cancer Research
The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) has awarded GCI Member Dr. David Huntsman the 2025 Rosalind Franklin Prize for Excellence in Ovarian Cancer Research for his findings that have profoundly impacted the treatment of certain ovarian cancer subtypes. “Dr. Huntsman [exemplifies] the very best of scientific leadership and innovation. [His] work is advancing our understanding of ovarian cancer and helping move the field forward in meaningful ways for patients. We are proud to honor researchers whose dedication and discoveries are reshaping the future of care and bringing us closer to more effective treatment options,” said Audra Moran, President and CEO of OCRA.
The Rosalind Franklin Prize Recognizes Breakthroughs in Ovarian Cancer Treatment. Dr. Huntsman is a professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia. He is being honored for research that includes demonstrating ovarian cancer subtypes should be treated as distinct diseases–an approach that has led to improved patient outcomes. Dr. Huntsman has further contributed to the field through co-founding the British Columbia-based multidisciplinary research team OVCARE.
Dr. Huntsman shares, “I was drawn to ovarian cancer research by two brilliant and inspiring women. When I was a pathology resident, I met Professor Nelly Auersperg, the first Canadian researcher to study the origins of ovarian cancer. She needed help looking at some ovarian cancer slides. Through those interactions she hooked me into studying ovarian cancer and taught me the importance of absolute rigor in science. Later, when I had finished my clinical training, I was invited to a meeting by Dr. Dianne Miller, the leader of our provincial gynecologic cancer team, who declared that she was sick of seeing women die of ovarian cancer but suggested that if we worked together, we could do something about it. I saw there were great people around the table who were not working well together so we formed a team OVCARE which has morphed into a gynecologic cancer initiative with a mission of using research to decrease death and suffering from these cancers by 50%. This is a massive task which requires our team to work from prevention to survivorship across all gynecologic cancers and find solutions that leave no women behind. Big goals are inspiring and there is more than enough work to provide space for all our team to shine but we needed help and have been supported by OCRA as well as local foundations and an incredible team of patient partners who keep us focused on what matters. One of our patient partners, Nancy McKinstry, a Vancouver business leader has been instrumental in our team’s growth and maturation through mentorship, aiding our strategic planning, improving our communications and encouraging us to push harder and think bigger, in particular when we are feeling challenged or frustrated. My own research has contributed to change but the growing impact and potential of our team astounds and excites me.”
The Rosalind Franklin Prize for Excellence in Ovarian Cancer Research is a $10,000 annual prize awarded to a senior researcher for contributions to basic science, translational, or clinical research in ovarian cancer. It is named for Dr. Rosalind Franklin, a pioneering molecular biologist who played a pivotal part in discovering the structure of DNA before her death of ovarian cancer at age 37.
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