Research and the OVARI biobank
Our Research Mission
OVARI exists to advance scientific understanding of reproductive health for women and individuals assigned female at birth, where historic gaps in research, data, and representation have limited progress in care and public health.
Biomedical research has long relied on male-default models - from cellular studies to population datasets. As a result, female biology has often been treated as complex, variable, or exceptional, rather than fundamental. This has constrained understanding across fertility, hormonal health, pregnancy, immune function, and disease risk.
OVARI’s research mission is to correct these imbalances by supporting ethically governed, female-focused research designed to deliver public benefit.
Our approach to research
OVARI conducts and supports research that is:
Female-centred,
with a specific focus on biological, hormonal, and reproductive health
Ethically rigorous,
meeting UK regulatory and governance standards
Independent,
free from commercial influence
Inclusive,
reflecting diversity in age, ethnicity, and lived experience
Open and transparent,
with findings shared for public benefit
Research priorities are selected through structured assessment of unmet need, scientific opportunity, and potential impact on public understanding, policy, or care.
Research Governance
All OVARI research is conducted within a robust governance framework.
This includes:
- Oversight by the Board of Trustees
- Input from a Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Board
- Scientific and ethical review via a dedicated Research Subcommittee
- Independent approval from UK Health Research Authority–recognised Research Ethics Committees (RECs) where applicable
- Compliance with UK GDPR and data protection legislation
- Adherence to Human Tissue Authority (HTA) standards for any work involving human biological material
OVARI does not conduct informal, ad hoc, or unregulated research. All studies are subject to documented protocols, ethical approval, and ongoing oversight.
Patient and Public Involvement & Engagement (PPIE)
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OVARI is committed to meaningful Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) across its research activities.
PPIE ensures that research is informed not only by scientific and clinical expertise, but also by the experiences, priorities, and concerns of women and individuals assigned female at birth. This approach helps ensure that research questions remain relevant, ethically grounded, and aligned with public benefit.
At OVARI, PPIE is embedded at a strategic level. It informs how research priorities are identified, how studies are designed, and how findings are communicated to the public. Input from lived experience helps highlight gaps in knowledge, barriers to access, and outcomes that matter most to those affected by reproductive health conditions.
PPIE at OVARI does not involve informal data collection or ad hoc engagement. All involvement activities are planned, documented, and governed in line with best practice. Where appropriate, PPIE input is sought through structured consultation, advisory input, and feedback mechanisms that respect participant autonomy and avoid burden.
PPIE contributors do not act as research participants unless separately recruited under approved study protocols. Their role is to advise, inform, and shape research direction rather than to provide data or biological samples.
By embedding PPIE within its governance framework, OVARI ensures that its research remains ethically robust, socially informed, and focused on delivering meaningful public benefit.
The OVARI research biobank
As part of its commitment to advancing female-focused research, OVARI is establishing a dedicated research biobank designed to support high-quality, ethically approved studies into reproductive and hormonal health.
The biobank is intended to address a critical gap: the lack of well-governed, female-specific biological resources that reflect real-world diversity and are suitable for modern genomic and systems-level research.
Purpose of the Biobank
The OVARI biobank exists to:
Enable research
into female biology that is currently underrepresented or poorly characterised
Support studies
into fertility, reproductive ageing, hormonal regulation, and related conditions
Provide high-quality biological material
for non-commercial, public benefit research
The biobank is not a clinical service and is not used for diagnosis or treatment.
Ethical Use of Samples & Data
Where research involves biological samples or health data, OVARI applies strict ethical and governance controls.
Biological material used in research is:
- Collected with informed, explicit consent
- Anonymised or pseudonymised where appropriate
- Used only for ethically approved research aligned with the charity’s purposes
- Never sold or used for commercial exploitation
Data derived from samples is handled in accordance with UK GDPR, with clear safeguards around access, security, and participant rights.
Transparency & Accountability
OVARI is committed to transparency in how research is conducted, governed, and shared.
Where appropriate, we publish:
Governance frameworks
Ethical principles guiding our work
Public-facing explanations of initiatives
This ensures accountability not only to regulators and collaborators, but to the public whose interests the charity exists to serve.
Contact us
For enquiries relating to research governance, scientific collaboration, or OVARI’s research infrastructure