Bryan Rogers Memorial Fund

Bryan Rogers died unexpectedly yet peacefully in his sleep on November 1, 2021 at the age of 35 years. He was a devoted husband to Danielle and an adoring father to Wyatt.

Bryan’s death occurred literally in the only few-months window in his entire career in which there is no life insurance. His new policy was set to begin in January, 2022. Having just started a new position in September, Danielle’s spousal benefits were also not set to begin until the new year.

Please help cover the cost of Bryan’s funeral and establish a fund for Wyatt’s future. 


While only 35 years old, Bryan had already made significant contributions to science in the fields of biochemistry and tumor immunology. After five years in the industry, working as Senior Scientist I at AbbVie, Bryan was lead author of a report on antibody-based therapeutics that was published in the prestigious, peer-reviewed Journal of Experimental Medicine. Working on such a report is impressive, but being lead author of such a report pre-PhD is remarkable. Just months later, in August 2021, Bryan began PhD studies at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. His acceptance letter to the program said there had been no better candidate. His advisor, close to retirement, was not planning on accepting any more PhD students--until she read Bryan's materials and made an exception. At the time of his passing, Bryan was working on a similar article as second author. While fate had other plans, those who knew Bryan have no doubt that the future Dr. Rogers would have changed the face of cancer treatment for generations.

Bryan's wife Danielle is also part of the Tar Heel community: after years of nursing in pediatrics and oncology across the country, Danielle joined UNC Health as an Oncology Nurse Navigator in September 2021.

Bryan loved all things historical and had a singular capacity for compassion. In his free time, he studied classical architecture and Baroque guitar. He was so inspired by exploring his family roots that he claimed dual citizenship between the US and Italy. From Bryan’s study of the ancient arose a desire to see archaic and oppressive norms give way to greater equity, freedom, and love. He and Danielle travelled the world together, learning about different places and their stories and cultivating deep senses of compassion and humanism. 

Bryan and Danielle hoped to expand their family in 2022. It was their mission to raise loving, kind, and open children. They dreamed of taking baby Wyatt to Italy (where he is also a dual citizen) and beyond. They filled their home with music and even enrolled the youngster in Spanish-immersion daycare, all to instill in him a value for the vastness of the world and its peoples. It’s clear that they were succeeding: bouncy and bubbly, Wyatt is the image of a well-nurtured spirit. He is curious and affectionate, with a love for dinosaurs, trains and trucks.

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“Bryan’s aptitude for science knew no bounds. He was always eager to learn and broaden his expertise far beyond the constraints of his formal training. Despite his biochemistry background, he was able to conduct and publish a cutting edge immunology research article as lead author. This accomplishment is usually reserved for PhD level Immunology scientists with many years of specialized experience; however, he was able to complete this endeavor while only armed with his curiosity, enduring scientific drive, and guidance from a few nearby colleagues. Bryan’s shining example has and will continue to inspire the scientific community, colleagues, friends and family.” - Gabe Starbeck-Miller, PhD; mentor, colleague, and friend

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Many thanks to UNC postgraduate student and colleague, Austin Graves, for providing additional context about Bryan's professional accomplishments.

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This GoFundMe is being coordinated by Frankie DiCiaccio, Bryan’s first cousin. The funds raised will go to Danielle Rogers (Bryan’s wife) for her and their son, Wyatt.

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