$1.51 million+
directly invested in metastatic breast cancer research since 2015
13 funded research initiatives across 6 major institutions
including Johns Hopkins University, University of Louisville – James Graham Brown Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Harvard University (via collaboration)
$600,000 collective grant
with Hope Scarves and The Cancer Couch Foundation in 2017, which was matched to $1.2 million, significantly multiplying donor impact.
Focus Areas
Metastatic breast cancer treatment strategies
Immunotherapy combinations (e.g., botensilimab + balstilimab)
Overcoming drug resistance in ER+ breast cancer
Personalized medicine through genomic profiling
Palliative approaches paired with immunotherapydirectly invested in metastatic breast cancer research since 2015
Types of Research Supported
Clinical trials
Basic/translational science
Therapeutic target discovery
Epigenetic and metabolic resistance research
Metastatic Breast Cancer Research funded by Twisted Pink and your generosity:
Thanks to our generous supporters, Twisted Pink has funded critical research. Explore the highlights below and stay tuned for future updates.
2024
Ashley Schreier, DO, MS – Weill Cornell Medicine
Grant: $200,000 over two years
Study: Investigating the impact of immunotherapies on metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC)
Focus: A phase II clinical trial using a combination of checkpoint inhibitors (botensilimab and balstilimab) targeting CTLA-4 to improve survival outcomes in mTNBC patients
2022
Dr. Andrew Ewald, Ph.D. – Johns Hopkins University
Grant: $200,000
Research: Defining and targeting the epigenetic changes that promote breast cancer metastasis
2019-2020
Dr. Andrew Ewald, Ph.D. – Johns Hopkins University
Grant: $200,000 ($100,000 in 2019 and $100,000 in 2020)
Study: Strategies to promote innate immune targeting of breast cancer metastasis
Note: This funding was matched, resulting in a total of $400,000 towards the project
2019
Drs. Elizabeth Riley and Jason Chesney – University of Louisville, James Graham Brown Cancer Center
Grant: $100,000
Study: A Phase 2 study of palliative radiation in combination with pembrolizumab in subjects with unresectable metastatic Stage IV breast cancer
Status: Trial enrollment began in July 2021 after delays due to COVID-19
2018
Dr. Yoannis Imbert-Fernandez, Ph.D. – University of Louisville, James Graham Brown Cancer Center
Grant: $50,000
Research: Targeting breast cancer resistance to palbociclib via oncolytic virotherapy
Outcome: Supported subsequent NIH funding of $2 million for continued research
2018
Dr. Andrew Ewald, Ph.D. – Johns Hopkins University
Grant: $150,000
Study: New therapeutic targets for patients with existing metastasis
Note: This funding was matched, totaling $300,000 towards the project
2017
Metastatic Breast Cancer Research Collective
Twisted Pink Contribution: $190,000
Collaborators: Hope Scarves and The Cancer Couch Foundation
Total Raised: $600,000, matched to $1.2 million
Supported Projects:
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Research on CDK 4/6 inhibitors and resistance mechanisms
Dana-Farber Cancer Center at Harvard University: Development of a “Resistance Atlas” for ER-positive metastatic breast cancer
2016
Dr. Yoannis Imbert-Fernandez
Grant: $120,000
Study: Targeting 6-Phosphofructo-2-Kinase to increase the efficacy of ER and CDK4/6 inhibitors against metastatic breast cancer
2015
University of Louisville, James Graham Brown Cancer Center
Grant: $100,000
