Mercer Island-based Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research will be embarking on a new journey while continuing its crucial mission come April 1.

On that day, the vital center that has been in existence for 30 years will join forces with the New York- and Washington, D.C.-based Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), the world’s leading gynecologic cancer nonprofit to advance research for a cure for ovarian cancer, according to a press release.

Rivkin Center’s partnership with the 30-year-old OCRA will see the Seattle-area center retire as a separate entity when the April date hits, notes its web site.

Linking up with OCRA is a natural and exciting progression for the Rivkin Center and they’ll be able to fund copious more research, said Melissa Rivkin, who serves as board president of the Rivkin Center board of directors.

Through the collaboration, Rivkin said in a video interview that placing ovarian cancer “in the national spotlight is too good to pass up.”

Melissa’s father, Dr. Saul E. Rivkin, founded the center after his wife Marsha died of ovarian cancer at age 49 after a four-year battle in 1993. Saul is a retired oncologist who has resided on the Island for more than 60 years.

“The next step is to cure ovarian cancer,” Saul said in a video interview. “Combining with Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, our footprint’s going to be bigger. They want us because of the west coast connection and we want them for the east coast connection. There are more people there, so it’s a perfect marriage.”

Saul added that if ovarian cancer is detected early, it’s curable. He noted that their goal is to put themselves out of a job by joining OCRA in finding a cure for the disease.

“Hopefully this will be a wonderful opportunity for all of us, and mainly the opportunity for the patients with ovarian cancer — they won’t have to suffer anymore,” Saul said.

Melissa said she will join the OCRA board to ensure the Rivkin voice continues with this partnership. Further in the video interview, she showed appreciation for the support the Rivkin Center has received from their community of patients and families, survivors, families of those people that unfortunately didn’t survive the disease and donors.

“We know that what we’re doing at the Rivkin Center and what our family is doing to get ovarian cancer noticed is really helping people,” she said. “We don’t want people to have to suffer the way that my mom suffered. That’s why we’ve been very laser focused on this. It’s a legacy for my mother, but it’s really an impact for women everywhere.”

As part of the transition, Rivkin Center’s website notes that: 2025 scientific grants will be announced in March 2025 as planned; OCRA will continue to award the Rivkin Pilot Grants with $400,000 a year dedicated to supporting new ideas in ovarian cancer research throughout the world; the SummeRun will continue and will be held on July 13 at Seward Park; the Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium will continue and be renamed for Dr. Rivkin; and its Scientific Programs Director Dr. Jackie Lang will join OCRA to ensure continuity and drive the programs central to Rivkin Center’s shared mission.

“OCRA has always respected the remarkable contributions of the Rivkin Center in advancing ovarian cancer research and building meaningful connections within the community,” said Audra Moran, OCRA president and CEO in a press release. “By coming together, we are creating a stronger foundation to support patients and families, while carrying forward Dr. Saul Rivkin’s incredible legacy and driving progress in research.”

Over the years, OCRA has invested $128 million in scientific breakthroughs, helped to secure $3.8 billion in federal research funding, and supports 95,000 individuals annually through its programs.

A note from the Rivkin family — Saul, Joyce, Melissa, Rebecca, Heidi, Aimee and Jessica — on its website reads, in part, that Saul often puts forth a reminder to them that, “‘The mission of the Rivkin Center is to end ovarian cancer within our lifetimes.’ With this powerful partnership, that vision is closer than ever to becoming a reality.”

For more information, visit: https://tinyurl.com/bddrt4bw

Marsha Rivkin in 1988. Courtesy photo