Gromada Foundation Donates $25,000 for Head and Neck Cancer Research

The Brandon C. Gromada Head and Neck Cancer Foundation awarded $25,000 to the UC Cancer Institute Friday, March 16, to fund basic and translational research for head and neck cancers.

This gift is the first of what is to become an annual pilot grant to provide continual head and neck cancer research support at the University of Cincinnati.

UC head and neck cancer researchers and clinicians as well as institute leadership gathered with the Gromada family in the UC Health Barrett Cancer Center to celebrate the generous gift as well as the namesake of the foundation: Brandon.

"Today would have been Brandon's 44th birthday," said his mother Karen, who brought a birthday cake to share.

Brandon was diagnosed with a squamous cell carcinoma March 1, 2010 after removal of nasal polyps from his right maxillary sinus. He passed away June 2, 2012 as a result of his cancer, and the Gromada Foundation was launched the next day. 

"We're so thankful for your generous gift," William Barrett, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology and director of the UC Cancer Institute, told Karen Friday.