The Pershing Square Foundation (PSF) has worked across sectors to catalyze innovative approaches to the most difficult problems. Talented individuals have always been at the center of our approach. We aim to support leaders who transform systems, embrace new paradigms, and have an innate drive to make an impact.  

PSF has funded pioneering cancer researchers through the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance for over a decade and supported women’s health initiatives in New York City. With the Ovarian Cancer Challenge Grant, PSF aims to combine these two priority areas of women’s health and cancer to shine a lens on one of the most understudied and underfunded cancers—ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer, with 80% of women diagnosed at an advanced stage. Only 27% of women diagnosed during an advanced stage survive for five years. Ovarian cancer remains a disease with a poor prognosis due to limited early-detection and treatment options.  

PSF looked to support investigators in the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance community who were either already working on a promising project in ovarian cancer or in another type of cancer that could have an impact on ovarian cancer. Grantees each receive $250,000 a year for three years, totaling $750,000. 

The 2025 Ovarian Cancer Challenge Grant recipients are:

• Jef Boeke, PhD, NYU Grossman School of Medicine: "Diagnostic and Therapeutic targets in High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer"

• Juan Cubillos-Ruiz, PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine: "Unleashing peritoneal-resident memory T cells to eliminate ovarian cancer"

• Ronny Drapkin, MD, PhD, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania: "Targeting Tumor Innervation in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer"

• David Lyden, MD, PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine: "Targeting Ovarian Cancer Metastasis: From Pre-metastatic Niches to Liquid Biopsies"

• Benjamin Neel, MD, PhD, NYU Grossman School of Medicine: "Exploiting co-evolution of the HGSC genome and microenvironment to identify targets for immune therapy"

• Michel Sadelain, MD, PhD, Columbia University Irving Medical Center: "Sensitive HLA-independent T cell receptors for the treatment of ovarian carcinoma"

• Dmitriy Zamarin, MD, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: "Breaking down barriers: overcoming ovarian cancer immunosuppression and tumor microenvironment"

PSF has committed to continue this challenge grant program in 2026. 

The Ovarian Cancer Challenge Grant is supported by an incredible scientific board.