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CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, a leading national non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating the development of curative therapies for pediatric cancers, has announced the appointment of three prominent leaders to its National Board of Directors. The new members—Julianne Averill, Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik, and Mike Crowe—bring a sophisticated blend of expertise in healthcare finance, clinical drug development, and global information technology. Their appointments come at a critical juncture for the organization as it seeks to bridge the “valley of death” in drug development, ensuring that high-potential laboratory discoveries are successfully transitioned into clinical trials and, ultimately, to the bedsides of young patients.
The addition of these three individuals reflects a strategic effort by CureSearch to diversify its leadership with professionals who possess deep institutional knowledge of both the private and public sectors. By integrating high-level corporate governance with clinical rigor and personal advocacy, the organization aims to refine its venture philanthropy model, which prioritizes research projects with the highest probability of reaching the commercial market.
Strategic Context: The Landscape of Pediatric Oncology Research
To understand the significance of these appointments, it is necessary to examine the current state of pediatric cancer research in the United States. While survival rates for certain types of childhood cancer have improved significantly over the last several decades, cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for children. According to data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), approximately 15,000 children and adolescents under the age of 20 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S. alone.
Despite the gravity of these statistics, pediatric oncology has historically faced a significant funding gap compared to adult cancers. Only a small fraction of the federal budget for cancer research is specifically earmarked for pediatric-specific studies. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical industry often views the pediatric market as less commercially viable due to the smaller patient population, which can lead to a stagnation in the development of new, less toxic treatments. CureSearch has positioned itself as a catalyst to overcome these barriers, and the new board appointments are designed to provide the technical and strategic oversight necessary to navigate these complex market dynamics.
Profile: Julianne Averill and the Integration of Healthcare AI
Julianne Averill joins the board as a recognized expert in the intersection of healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI), and financial strategy. As a Managing Director at Danforth Health, Averill has spent more than two decades advising science-driven organizations on how to scale their operations and translate complex biological data into actionable business solutions. Her background as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Business Officer (CBO) provides CureSearch with a rigorous perspective on fiscal responsibility and organizational scalability.
In the modern research environment, AI and data analytics are becoming indispensable tools for identifying potential drug candidates and optimizing clinical trial designs. Averill’s expertise in this area is expected to help CureSearch evaluate the technological infrastructure of the research projects it funds. Her appointment signals a move toward more data-centric governance, ensuring that the organization’s investments are backed by robust financial modeling and technological feasibility. Averill has emphasized that her role will focus on supporting the scientists and clinicians who are tasked with turning raw discovery into meaningful clinical outcomes for families.
Profile: Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik and the Bridge to Clinical Development
Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik’s appointment strengthens the board’s clinical and scientific authority. Currently the Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Inovio, Dr. Skolnik is a trained pediatric hematologist-oncologist with an extensive resume in the pharmaceutical industry. His previous leadership roles at global giants such as AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), as well as his tenure at TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals, have given him a front-row seat to the challenges of bringing new drugs to market.
Dr. Skolnik is not a newcomer to the CureSearch ecosystem; he has served for nine years as the Chair of the Industry Advisory Council (IAC). The IAC plays a pivotal role in the CureSearch mission by providing an industry-standard review of research proposals. Unlike traditional academic reviews, the IAC evaluates projects based on their “developability”—the likelihood that a pharmaceutical company will eventually pick up the project for large-scale production.
The organization recently honored Dr. Skolnik with the 2025 Scientific Visionary Award, recognizing his commitment to faster, more efficient drug development. On the Board of Directors, he will continue to advocate for a multi-faceted review process that combines the insights of the Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) with the pragmatic realities of the biotech industry.
Profile: Mike Crowe and the Power of Personal Advocacy and Technology
Mike Crowe brings a unique combination of high-level corporate experience and a deeply personal connection to the CureSearch mission. The retired Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Colgate-Palmolive Company, Crowe spent 34 years managing global information systems for one of the world’s most recognizable consumer goods corporations. His experience in managing large-scale digital transformations and complex global supply chains offers CureSearch a roadmap for operational excellence.
Crowe’s involvement with the organization is also driven by his family’s experience. In early 2023, the Crowe family established “Team Steve: The Steven Crowe Legacy Fund” at CureSearch to honor their late son, Steven. This fund is dedicated to ensuring that other families do not have to endure the loss of a child to cancer. By joining the board, Crowe merges his professional acumen in technology and governance with a mission-driven urgency to find cures. He currently serves as an independent board director for several organizations, including the New York Independent System Operator and Specright, where he advises on AI and academic partnerships.
A Chronology of Leadership and Organizational Growth
The appointment of Averill, Skolnik, and Crowe marks a new chapter in the chronology of CureSearch’s evolution. Founded originally to support the Children’s Oncology Group, the organization pivoted its strategy several years ago to focus specifically on translational research. This shift was necessitated by the realization that while basic research is vital, the primary bottleneck in pediatric oncology is the movement of that research into the clinic.
- 2010–2015: CureSearch refined its focus on the “Accelerated Cure” model, seeking to fund projects that had a clear path to the clinic within three to five years.
- 2016–2020: The organization strengthened its Industry Advisory Council, bringing in voices from the pharmaceutical sector to vet grant applications.
- 2021–2024: CureSearch expanded its fundraising and awareness initiatives, including the "Ultimate Hike" and various legacy funds, while simultaneously increasing its investment in high-risk, high-reward research.
- 2025 and Beyond: The current board expansion aims to leverage AI, digital health, and industry partnerships to further compress the timeline for drug approval.
Analysis of Implications: The Future of Venture Philanthropy
The integration of these three leaders suggests that CureSearch is doubling down on a "venture philanthropy" model. This approach involves treating charitable donations more like venture capital investments, where the "return" is not financial profit but the successful delivery of a new drug to the market.
By having a healthcare CFO (Averill), a pharma clinical lead (Skolnik), and a corporate CIO (Crowe) on the board, CureSearch is positioned to address the three pillars of modern drug development:
- Financial Sustainability: Ensuring that funds are allocated to projects with a viable business case for future manufacturing.
- Scientific Rigor: Maintaining the highest standards of pediatric oncology and immuno-oncology research.
- Operational Efficiency: Utilizing technology and data to streamline the oversight of global research portfolios.
This strategic alignment is expected to attract more corporate partners and institutional donors who are looking for high-impact, measurable results in the non-profit sector. As the regulatory environment for pediatric drugs continues to evolve—with initiatives like the RACE for Children Act requiring companies to evaluate adult cancer drugs in children—the expertise of the new board members will be vital in navigating these legal and clinical mandates.
Official Perspectives and Institutional Impact
In statements regarding their new roles, the appointees highlighted a shared vision of urgency. Dr. Skolnik noted that the combination of the Scientific Advisory Council and the Industry Advisory Council allows the organization to support "only the best of the best," ensuring that limited resources are not wasted on projects that lack a path to the clinic. Similarly, Julianne Averill emphasized the importance of governance in translating "complex science into scalable, patient-impacting solutions."
The collective expertise of Averill, Skolnik, and Crowe is expected to enhance CureSearch’s ability to influence the broader oncology ecosystem. Their leadership will likely facilitate new collaborations between academia, the biotech industry, and regulatory bodies. As CureSearch continues to fund innovative research into rare pediatric cancers, the strategic oversight provided by this expanded board will be essential in moving the needle toward a future where every child diagnosed with cancer has a viable path to a cure.
Ultimately, the addition of these leaders reinforces the organization’s commitment to a "better, faster" approach to drug development. By bridging the gap between corporate efficiency and medical necessity, CureSearch is setting a new standard for how medical research non-profits operate in the 21st century.
