Helping research get off the ground

“Our ultimate vision is to end head and neck cancer,” Karen says. “Research is the only way to do that.”

The Gromada Foundation focuses on supporting innovative projects that need initial funding to get off the ground. This allows researchers to collect preliminary data needed for subsequent grant applications, explains Vinita Takiar, MD, PhD, vice chair of research with the radiation oncology department at the UC College of Medicine.

“Our lab focuses on ways to improve treatments and outcomes,” Takiar says. “We are very translational and seek to learn from our patients as to why they may have responded (or not) to treatment. From there, we work to develop new treatments or understand reasons why the tumor may have been resistant to treatment.”

The approach has been effective. One cancer center project, centered on using human tumor tissue to grow the tumor in a petri dish, launched thanks to an initial $25,000 investment from the Gromada Foundation, and then gained subsequent funding from the American Cancer Society.

“From this research, we identified new pathways for future treatment and undertook new investigations. The data allowed us to submit for a larger grant so we could focus on activation of Natural Killer cells that may be important for immunotherapy-based treatment,” says Trisha Wise-Draper, MD, PhD, medical director of the UC Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office. Wise-Draper helped to care for Brandon during his fight.

The Gromada Foundation chooses to support UC research not only because it is where Brandon received such compassionate care, but also because of the cancer center’s consistently strong research proposals. The UC Cancer Center and UC College of Medicine’s projects routinely made the top list of proposals reviewed by outside experts in a blinded review process.

“This inspired our board’s confidence in the research and work being done at the UC Cancer Center,” Karen explains.

She adds that staying local was important to the family during his care.

“For Brandon, a big thing was being able to stay close to home for his treatment,” Karen says. “When you’re sick like that, you shouldn’t have to drive far for excellent treatment. It’s the last time you want to be far from home.”

In November 2021, Dr. Joseph Gromada, Karen’s husband, was diagnosed with another type of head and neck cancer. They have entrusted his care to the cancer center.

“The family has been struck by a lot of adversity and are aware of the devastation that can occur with this type of cancer. They both are trying to help create better outcomes for future patients,” Wise-Draper said. 

Since its founding, the Gromada Foundation has contributed an impressive $325,000 to head and neck cancer research.

For more information on the Gromada Foundation and their upcoming events, visit gromadacancerfndn.org. 

Feature image at top: Christina, Morgan and Brandon Gromada. Photo/Provided.