Community Champion – Caitlin Brammer

We are honored to introduce Community Champion Caitlin Brammer, a longtime volunteer and legacy caregiver of her mom, Judy. After losing her mom to cholangiocarcinoma, Caitlin became a dedicated volunteer as a Research Advocate and has supported the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation in many meaningful ways.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a clinical research professional based in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I work with the Infectious Diseases of Immunocompromised Hosts team at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. My work focuses on infectious epidemiology and outcomes for pediatric oncology and transplant patients, a field I care deeply about. I’ve always believed that rigorous, data-driven research is one of the most powerful ways we can improve the lives of vulnerable patients.

I currently hold a Master’s in Medical Sciences and will begin an MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics this fall. I’m looking forward to continuing to strengthen our team’s research and helping ensure our findings lead to meaningful outcomes for the children and families we serve.

How have you been involved with the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation?
I’ve been grateful to serve the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation in many capacities over the years. My journey began as a Research Advocate, which remains the heart of my involvement today. My passion for holistic support also led me to join the CARE Team, where I helped create the Wellness for Life program. Though the program was active for about a year beginning in 2021, helping develop and launch it remains especially meaningful to me.

Since 2023, I’ve also connected with this community through my art by designing the large-scale collaborative art piece for the annual conference. In-person attendees color the piece together throughout the event. Whether I’m helping organize the Light It Green database, conducting outreach to healthcare providers, or personally thanking donors, I remain deeply committed to the foundation and to bridging the gap between clinical research and the human experience of the community we serve.

What has been the most meaningful part of your involvement?
While every part of my involvement has been rewarding, the most meaningful has been the opportunity to transform personal loss into hope and connection for others. I lost my mother to cholangiocarcinoma while I was in college, and years later my family faced the disease again with my paternal grandfather. My work with the foundation has become an important part of my healing process and a meaningful way to channel grief into something productive.

The collaborative art pieces I create for the conference hold a special place in my heart. What began as a simple project has grown into a thoughtful tradition I look forward to each year. Designing these pieces feels like a way to honor my mother and grandfather, especially my mom, who was an artist herself. Seeing the community bring the artwork to life through color is a powerful reminder that we are all in this together.

What message would you like to share with others in the cholangiocarcinoma community?
You are part of a movement that is moving toward hope every single day. To those navigating a diagnosis or supporting a loved one: stay curious and stay empowered. Research is the bridge to our future, and because of the progress we are making together, more patients are surviving and thriving.

Please know you don’t have to carry the weight of this journey alone. Whether you are a patient, caregiver, or researcher, we are a community built on shared strength. Just like the art we color together at the conference, each of our stories is unique, but together they create something powerful.

Anything else you’d like to add?
I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. Having the opportunity to contribute through both clinical research advocacy and art has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.

I am continually inspired by this community’s resilience and honored to stand alongside so many incredible people as we work toward a future where this disease is a thing of the past. Your resilience fuels our commitment to turning research into cures, and there is real power in the connection and progress we are building together.