Annie Ellis is a survivor of recurrent ovarian cancer and breast cancer, and a past clinical trial participant. She has provided peer support through SHARE Cancer Support and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Patient to Patient program with a focus on shared decision-making in the recurrent setting, including consideration of clinical trial participation, and serves as a research advocate for Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA).

Annie serves with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as Chair of the Council of Research Advocates (NCRA), was a former Co-chair of the Patient Advocate Steering Committee, a past member of the Gynecologic Cancer Steering Committee and as a patient advocate with two Specialized Program Of Research Excellence (SPORE) programs. Annie’s 15+ years of experience as a research advocate also includes service with FDA, CDMRP/DoD Ovarian Cancer Research Program programmatic panel, ASCO guidelines, Conquer Cancer grant review, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, OCRA’s Scientific Advisory Committee and Rising Tide for Clinical Cancer Research.

Annie is committed to increasing inclusion of diverse perspectives in research activities. She is also involved in encouraging and empowering patients to serve as advocates in all research spaces and eager to share the lessons learned from Mary “Dicey” Jackson Scroggins which continue to guide her efforts.