About the Project and the Involvement Opportunity
Ovarian cancer can be difficult to treat. Although many women respond well to their initial treatment, the cancer can return and become harder to control. We are studying the cells that surround and support ovarian cancer, called fibroblasts, and how these cells change as the cancer grows and responds to treatment. By studying patient tumour samples and using advanced laboratory and computer-based approaches, we hope to discover how these support cells help cancers survive treatment and establish new tumours.
This research is for women affected by ovarian cancer, particularly those who experience recurrent or treatment-resistant disease. Your experience can help shape this research. We want to work alongside you to make sure we are asking questions that matter to patients and focus on outcomes that can make a real difference to lives. We hope our findings will help identify women at greater risk of treatment resistance and uncover new ways to make existing treatments more effective.
Consumers will have opportunities to share their experiences, comment on research priorities and findings, and help us communicate our discoveries in ways that are meaningful and accessible to the ovarian cancer community. Your perspective will help keep this research focused on what matters most to people living with ovarian cancer.
About the Position
People with lived experience of ovarian cancer bring unique and valuable perspectives that can help ensure research focuses on the issues that matter most to women and families affected by the disease. Working together with researchers, you can make the research more relevant, accessible and meaningful, and help ensure that its potential benefits are aligned with patient needs.
As a Research Buddy, you will work alongside the research team throughout the project, bringing your lived experience and personal perspective to the research process. You will have opportunities to provide feedback on research priorities, help us understand which outcomes are most important to patients, comment on how we interpret and communicate our findings, and suggest ways to make the research more accessible to the wider ovarian cancer community.
Your role is not to provide medical or scientific expertise. However, your experience and perspective will help us ask better questions, consider what matters from a patient perspective, and keep the research focused on improving outcomes and quality of life for people affected by ovarian cancer.
What Am I Expected to Do?
- Attend regular meetings with the research team (e.g., monthly or quarterly)
- Review documents (e.g., grant applications, consent forms, surveys)
- Share your lived experience and insights
What Skills or Experience Do I Need?
No skills necessary! Your lived experience of ovarian cancer, as a patient or carer, is the expertise.
How Long Am I Expected to Be Involved?
We anticipate a commitment of approximately 1-2 hours per quarter over the project’s duration. Meetings will be held quarterly, with occasional brief document reviews via email in between. Flexible participation is fully supported to accommodate your health and personal availability.
Where Will Meetings Be Held?
A mix of in-person and online, depending on consumer preference
What Support Is Offered?
- An honorarium of $50.00 per hour is available for consumer involvement activities in line with CCIProgram guidelines
- Training and support provided by the CCIProgram or relevant support body.
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