Robin Cohen, Board Chair
17 December 2025
As we approach the end of 2025, I hope you will indulge me as I reflect on my first year as Chair of the Coalition and celebrate the successes we achieved together thanks to the dedication, determination and efforts of our staff, Board, advocacy partners (all 233 of you!), study leads and sponsors. Thank you all for supporting our work addressing the global need for greater awareness, earlier diagnosis, and equitable access to care for all women with ovarian cancer, so that there is #NoWomanLeftBehind.
Building a body of evidence
In 2025, the findings from two groundbreaking studies were published, providing important data and recommendations for action, to drive meaningful change in support of women with ovarian cancer. In March, the Socioeconomic Burden of Ovarian Cancer in 11 Countries was published in JCO Global Oncology, an American Society of Clinical Oncology Journal. Data from this Study offers pivotal evidence that the Coalition and our advocacy partners can leverage to engage policy makers in new ways to call for policy changes that will benefit women, their families and carers.
And in December, The Every Woman StudyTM – Low- and Middle-Income Countries Edition initial findings were published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health. The EWS-LMIC, a collaborative initiative with IGCS (International Gynecologic Cancer Society) is the first-ever and largest-ever patient-experience comprehensive study capturing the lived experiences of nearly 2500 women with ovarian cancer from 22 low-and middle-income countries. Its publication is accompanied by a direct call to governments, health systems, and global partners to act on the evidence without delay.
And Action!
And act we did! In collaboration with NICRAT (The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment in Nigeria), the Coalition launched a 12-month Pilot, designed to address the specific challenges identified in the EWS-LMIC Edition– the urgent need for increased awareness, improved diagnostic infrastructure, expanded access to genetic testing, and better healthcare pathways to facilitate early detection and treatment.
The Global Expert Advisory Group on Ovarian Cancer brings together ovarian cancer advocates, clinicians, and policymakers, working toward the establishment of a Global Ovarian Cancer Mortality Target—an essential step in driving accountability, focus, and measurable progress against this disease.
This year saw the debut of our podcast, “Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story,” which is amplifying voices from every corner of the globe. Through honest conversations and shared experiences, we are building a stronger, more informed, and connected community committed to rewriting the narrative surrounding ovarian cancer.
In November, we welcomed our new CEO, Christel Paganoni-Bruijns, whose two decades of leadership experience in global patient engagement and advocacy will serve us well and I’m excited to work with her to continue advancing our work.
These transitions are also bittersweet. Clara MacKay, a leader whose vision, commitment, and compassion have shaped the Coalition in immeasurable, and lasting ways, and led the Coalition’s successful achievement of so many ambitious initiatives, stepped down after eight years as CEO of the Coalition. We thank her and wish her well.
Looking toward 2026 and beyond
Next year we will celebrate the Coalition’s 10 year anniversary. As we celebrate the many successes of the last decade, we know that there is still work to be done. We will continue to drive awareness of ovarian cancer globally because knowledge of the symptoms and risks are critical to early detection. In 2026, we will continue to generate data that supports action at the global, local and country level. And we look forward to the publication of additional findings from the EWS-LMIC and launching an update of the Every Woman Study – High Income Countries Edition.