Our mission at OCMF, established at the University of Minnesota, is to raise awareness about ovarian cancer research and recognize the innovative work happening within Midwestern universities and beyond.

Join us at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

November 18 - 19, 2024

Why attend OCMF?

The Ovarian Cancer Midwest Focus (OCMF) Conference is now in its sixth year, and it serves as a powerful example of how collaboration across different fields can make a difference in the fight against ovarian cancer.

Starting at the University of Minnesota, this annual event has become an essential gathering for experts, advocates, and those impacted by cancer, bringing together voices from various disciplines. This year, the conference will join efforts with Sanford Research's annual Center for Cancer Biology Research Symposium.

With a focus on excellence, the OCMF Conference and Cancer Biology Symposium at Sanford Research have consistently expanded their influence. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach has become a driving force for advancing research, promoting collaboration, and raising awareness of cancer in the Midwest and beyond.

We are thrilled to have world renowned keynote speakers at the forefront of clinical and basic cancer-related research presenting this year. As it reaches its sixth year, the conference remains dedicated to improving outcomes for cancer patients through education, research, and community engagement. By embracing diverse perspectives and expertise, the OCMF Conference continues to push for progress in the fight against this challenging disease. We are fully committed to this cause and making a significant impact.

Est. 2019 at

University of Minnesota

6 Years

106 Talks Given

38 Abstracts Presented

184 Posters

2024 Distinguished Keynote Speakers

Dr. Don Cleveland

Don Cleveland is Professor and Chair of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at UC San Diego. He has been elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. He is an elected fellow of the Academy of the American Association for Cancer Research and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

For his efforts in neurosciences, he received the 2018 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the 2019 Sean M. Healey International Prize for Innovation in ALS, the 2022 Lalji & Family ALS Endowed Award for Innovative Healing, and the 2023 Rainwater Prize.

Dr. Denise Montell

Denise Montell earned her B. A. degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from the University of California, San Diego in 1983. She completed her Ph.D. in Neurosciences at Stanford University in 1988. She pursued postdoctoral research with Allan Spradling at the Carnegie Institution Department of Embryology.

In 2013 she returned to her roots at the University of California, where she is now the Robert and Patricia Duggan Professor and Distinguished Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at U.C., Santa Barbara. She served as the 2020 President of the Genetics Society of America, and in 2021, she was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Her recent work leverages discoveries her lab has made using fruit flies to develop novel cell and gene therapies for human diseases including cancer and blindness.

More 2024 Speakers

Thank you to our 2024 Sponsors!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors for their invaluable support. Their commitment and generosity play a crucial role in helping us achieve our goals. Thank you for sponsoring OCMF 2024!