From Ovarian Cancer to “Eat Popcorn for Science”: How Meg Wilkinson Is Turning Survivorship Into Research
- 6 days ago
- 1 min read
WEXT | By Dave Michaels
Published March 25, 2026 at 6:00 AM EDT
From WEXT:
After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Meg Wilkinson went through the kind of treatment many patients face—including surgery that removed an often-overlooked organ called the omentum. But what came next raised more questions than answers.
The omentum plays a role in immune function and fluid balance, yet it’s rarely studied—even though it’s routinely removed during cancer surgeries. Wilkinson, searching for answers about her own post-treatment symptoms, discovered a major gap in research.
So she decided to do something about it.
Wilkinson founded The Omentum Project, a citizen science initiative focused on understanding life without this little-known organ. One of its most attention-grabbing efforts? A study called “Eat Popcorn for Science,” where participants help researchers gather data in a simple, accessible way.
It’s a creative approach to a serious issue—giving cancer survivors a voice in research that could shape future care.
Learn more and get involved at The Omentum Project.com.
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