Dr. Juan Santamaria is a John Wayne Alumni Fellow working at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. His groundbreaking research just earned a grant from the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. 

Cancer Research Project:
Efficacy of FLX475 (Tivumecirnon), a Novel CCR4 Inhibitor, Against ErbB2-positive and Triple-negative Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis

"With this award, we will study a protein called CCR4 that we found a lot of in breast cancer that spreads to the brain. We will test a new drug called FLX475 to see if it can help treat this kind of cancer. If our research works, it could help us find new ways to treat and even stop breast cancer from spreading to the brain. Right now, when breast cancer spreads to the brain, it's very hard to cure and causes a lot of pain and problems for patients."

"I deeply appreciate the John Wayne Cancer Foundation for this invaluable award. They supported my training to become a cancer surgeon and continue to promote my success as a cancer surgeon-scientist. With this award, we will continue our work to find novel treatments for breast cancer brain metastasis, a challengingand currently incurable condition."

–Dr. Juan Santamaria