On Jul. 30, 1995, Peter Karmanos generously gave a large donation to the cancer research, patient care and education partnership formed a year earlier by Michigan Cancer Foundation, the Meyer L. Prentis Comprehensive Cancer Center of Metropolitan Detroit, The Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University.

The institute was originally founded in 1943 under the name Detroit Institute for Cancer Research. The original designation as an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center was obtained under the name “Meyer L. Prentis Comprehensive Cancer Center of Metropolitan Detroit” in 1978.

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute was named in memory of the Detroit native who married Peter Karmanos Jr., her high school sweetheart, raised three sons, and helped launch a major international business.