By admin 
CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, a leading national non-profit dedicated to accelerating the development of transformative pediatric cancer treatments, has announced the appointment of three prominent leaders to its National Board of Directors. Julianne Averill, Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik, and Mike Crowe join the governing body at a critical juncture for the organization as it seeks to bridge the significant funding and innovation gap in the pediatric oncology landscape. These appointments reflect a strategic effort by CureSearch to integrate high-level expertise from the sectors of healthcare finance, immuno-oncology, and global technology to streamline the path from laboratory discovery to clinical application.
The addition of these three professionals is expected to enhance the organization’s oversight of its research portfolio and its ability to navigate the complex regulatory and financial hurdles inherent in pediatric drug development. By leveraging their diverse backgrounds, CureSearch aims to address the "valley of death"—the precarious phase in drug development where promising research often stalls due to a lack of funding or industry interest.
Profiles in Leadership: The New Appointees
The three new board members bring a combined century of experience in specialized fields that are increasingly vital to the modern non-profit healthcare model.
Julianne Averill: Bridging Biotech Finance and Patient Outcomes
Julianne Averill joins the board as a recognized authority in healthcare finance and strategic advisory. Currently serving as a Managing Director at Danforth Health, Averill has spent over two decades navigating the life sciences and digital health ecosystems. Her career has been defined by her ability to translate complex scientific concepts into scalable business models that attract investment and drive patient-centric results.
As a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Business Officer (CBO) with expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) within the healthcare sector, Averill’s role on the board will likely focus on fiscal governance and the strategic scaling of CureSearch’s initiatives. Her commitment to rigorous research and long-term impact is evidenced by her extensive history of serving on both nonprofit and corporate boards, where she has championed the necessity of supporting the scientists and clinicians who turn early-stage discoveries into tangible medical outcomes.
Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik: A Visionary in Immuno-Oncology
Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik’s appointment represents a deepening of his nearly decade-long relationship with CureSearch. As the Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Inovio, Dr. Skolnik is at the forefront of developing DNA medicines focused on immuno-oncology. His background as a trained pediatric hematologist-oncologist provides him with a unique "bench-to-bedside" perspective that is essential for evaluating the clinical viability of new treatments.
Dr. Skolnik has previously held senior leadership positions at pharmaceutical giants including AstraZeneca and GSK, and he continues to contribute to academia as an adjunct associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Within CureSearch, he has served as the Chair of the Industry Advisory Council (IAC), a role in which he has been instrumental in ensuring that research projects are not only scientifically sound but also commercially and clinically feasible. His dedication was recently recognized with the CureSearch 2025 Scientific Visionary Award.
Mike Crowe: Fusing Technology Strategy with Philanthropic Legacy
Mike Crowe brings a wealth of experience in global operations and information technology. Having served as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Colgate-Palmolive Company for nine of his 34 years with the firm, Crowe is an expert in leveraging technology to drive organizational efficiency. Since his retirement, he has transitioned into advisory roles for technology and AI-focused organizations, as well as academic institutions.
Crowe’s involvement with CureSearch is also deeply personal. Following the loss of his son, Steven, the Crowe family established "Team Steve: The Steven Crowe Legacy Fund" at CureSearch in 2023. This fund is dedicated to honoring Steven’s memory by ensuring that other families do not have to endure the same tragedy. Crowe’s presence on the board provides a vital link between high-level corporate strategy and the lived experience of the families CureSearch serves.
The Chronology of Strategic Growth at CureSearch
The appointment of these three directors follows a multi-year period of organizational refinement for CureSearch. Historically, pediatric cancer research has faced a systemic lack of investment compared to adult cancers. In response, CureSearch shifted its model to focus specifically on "clinical acceleration," prioritizing projects that have a clear pathway to reaching patients within a shortened timeframe.
In early 2023, the organization expanded its collaborative efforts with the establishment of the Steven Crowe Legacy Fund, marking a shift toward more personalized, legacy-driven fundraising. By mid-2024, the Industry Advisory Council, under Dr. Skolnik’s leadership, had successfully refined the organization’s project vetting process, incorporating more stringent "milestone-based" funding models. The late 2024 announcement of these new board members serves as the culmination of this growth phase, positioning the organization to enter 2025 with a leadership team capable of managing increasingly complex biotechnological and data-driven research portfolios.
Supporting Data: The Current State of Pediatric Oncology
The urgency behind these appointments is underscored by sobering statistics regarding pediatric cancer research and development. According to the National Cancer Institute, while cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States, only about 4% of federal funding for cancer research is specifically directed toward pediatric applications.
Furthermore, the pharmaceutical industry often views pediatric oncology as a "niche" market due to the relatively small number of patients compared to adult oncology. This results in a lack of incentive for private-sector R&D. Data indicates that since 1980, fewer than 40 new drugs or indications have been FDA-approved specifically for use in children with cancer, compared to hundreds for adults. CureSearch’s mission is to fill this gap, and the expertise of the new board members in AI, clinical development, and corporate governance is designed to maximize the impact of every dollar raised.
Official Responses and Strategic Implications
The leadership at CureSearch has expressed high confidence that the new directors will provide the necessary oversight to accelerate their mission. In official statements, the organization emphasized that the combined expertise of Averill, Skolnik, and Crowe will ensure that "promising discoveries move more quickly from the lab to the children and families who need them most."
Julianne Averill highlighted the importance of governance in the nonprofit sector, stating that her role is a chance to apply healthcare and governance experience "in service of children and families, and to support research that can truly change lives."
Dr. Skolnik pointed to the unique structure of CureSearch as a key factor in its success. He noted that the synergy between the Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) and the Industry Advisory Council (IAC) ensures a "robust, multi-faceted review of all research projects," allowing the organization to support only the "best of the best" in terms of scientific rigor and clinical potential.
Mike Crowe’s response centered on the alignment of organizational purpose with personal mission. He stated that the "bold CureSearch purpose" directly aligns with his family’s goal of preventing other families from experiencing the pain of losing a child to cancer.
Broader Impact and Industry Analysis
The appointment of high-level corporate and medical executives to the boards of pediatric cancer nonprofits represents a broader trend in the philanthropic sector: the "professionalization" of the mission. By bringing in a former Fortune 500 CIO and a biotech CFO, CureSearch is signaling to donors and industry partners that it operates with the efficiency and strategic foresight of a for-profit corporation, while maintaining the heart of a mission-driven charity.
From an industry perspective, the inclusion of an AI expert like Averill suggests that CureSearch may be looking to leverage big data and machine learning to identify new drug targets or optimize clinical trial designs—a move that could significantly lower the cost and time associated with drug development.
Moreover, Dr. Skolnik’s expertise in DNA medicines and immuno-oncology suggests that CureSearch will continue to prioritize high-frontier science. Immuno-oncology is widely considered the future of cancer treatment, offering the potential for "smarter" therapies that target cancer cells with fewer toxic side effects than traditional chemotherapy.
Conclusion
The addition of Julianne Averill, Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik, and Mike Crowe to the CureSearch National Board of Directors is more than a routine administrative update; it is a strategic reinforcement of the organization’s capacity to innovate. As the landscape of pediatric oncology becomes increasingly reliant on complex technology and sophisticated financial structures, the leadership of these three individuals will be instrumental in ensuring that CureSearch remains at the vanguard of the fight against childhood cancer. Their tenure begins at a time when the need for "better, faster" treatments has never been more urgent, and their collective expertise provides a promising roadmap for the future of pediatric cancer research.