By admin 
CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, a national non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating the development of new treatments for pediatric cancer, has announced the appointment of three distinguished professionals to its national Board of Directors. The new appointees—Julianne Averill, Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik, and Mike Crowe—bring a diverse array of expertise spanning healthcare finance, clinical development, and global technology infrastructure. These appointments come at a critical juncture for the organization as it intensifies its focus on bridging the gap between laboratory discovery and clinical application, a phase often referred to in the pharmaceutical industry as the "valley of death."
By integrating leaders with deep roots in both the private sector and clinical research, CureSearch aims to streamline the trajectory of pediatric drug development. The inclusion of these three leaders is intended to fortify the organization’s strategic governance, ensuring that research investments are not only scientifically sound but also commercially viable and operationally scalable. This multi-disciplinary approach reflects a broader trend in the non-profit sector where high-level corporate and medical expertise is leveraged to solve complex systemic challenges in public health.
Strategic Expertise in Healthcare Finance and AI Integration
Julianne Averill joins the CureSearch Board of Directors bringing over two decades of experience in the life sciences and digital health sectors. As a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Business Officer (CBO) specializing in healthcare artificial intelligence (AI), Averill has a proven track record of steering science-driven organizations through complex growth phases. Her current role as a Managing Director at Danforth Health involves partnering with leadership teams to translate intricate scientific data into scalable business solutions that impact patient outcomes.
Averill’s appointment is particularly significant given the increasing role of AI and machine learning in drug discovery. The integration of high-level financial oversight with a focus on emerging technologies allows CureSearch to better evaluate the economic feasibility of the research projects it funds. In the current economic climate, where venture capital and federal funding for pediatric-specific oncology can be volatile, having a director with Averill’s background ensures that the organization remains fiscally resilient and strategically positioned to leverage data-driven innovations.
Beyond her professional accolades, Averill’s commitment to governance and long-term impact aligns with the organization’s mission to move beyond traditional grant-making. Her focus on supporting the "scientists, clinicians, and organizations working to turn discovery into meaningful outcomes" underscores a shift toward a more outcomes-oriented philanthropic model.
Clinical Leadership and the Acceleration of Immuno-Oncology
Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik, a trained pediatric hematologist-oncologist, brings a wealth of clinical and regulatory experience to the board. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Inovio, Dr. Skolnik leads programs focused on DNA medicines and immuno-oncology—a field that has revolutionized cancer treatment in adults but has faced unique hurdles in pediatric populations. His prior leadership roles at global pharmaceutical giants such as AstraZeneca and GSK, as well as his academic role as an adjunct associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania, provide him with a 360-degree view of the drug development lifecycle.
Dr. Skolnik is no stranger to the CureSearch ecosystem, having served for more than nine years within the organization. As the Chair of the Industry Advisory Council (IAC), he has been instrumental in refining the organization’s peer-review process. The IAC serves a vital function by evaluating research proposals through the lens of industry viability. This ensures that the projects CureSearch funds are not merely academic exercises but have a clear path to being picked up by pharmaceutical companies for large-scale clinical trials and eventual market approval.
The recent announcement that Dr. Skolnik will receive the CureSearch 2025 Scientific Visionary Award further highlights his influence. His leadership is expected to enhance the synergy between the Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) and the IAC, creating a robust framework for selecting "the best of the best" in pediatric research. This dual-layered review process is a hallmark of the CureSearch model, designed to minimize the risk of investment in projects that lack a clear clinical or commercial trajectory.
Technological Transformation and Personal Philanthropy
The appointment of Mike Crowe adds a layer of global operational expertise to the board. Crowe, the retired Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Colgate-Palmolive Company, spent over three decades managing the technological infrastructure of one of the world’s most recognizable consumer goods corporations. In his nine years as CIO, he oversaw digital transformations that enhanced global supply chains and data management systems. Today, he serves as an independent board director for organizations such as the New York Independent System Operator and Specright, advising on AI and technology-focused initiatives.
Crowe’s involvement with CureSearch is also deeply personal. In early 2023, he and his family established "Team Steve: The Steven Crowe Legacy Fund" at CureSearch to honor their late son. This personal connection provides a profound motivation that complements his technical and strategic skills. In a non-profit setting, directors who possess both high-level corporate experience and a personal stake in the mission often drive the most significant organizational changes.
Crowe’s background in information technology and AI is expected to be a major asset as CureSearch seeks to modernize its donor engagement strategies and data-sharing platforms. As pediatric oncology research becomes increasingly data-heavy, the ability to manage and protect large datasets—while making them accessible to global researchers—is a logistical challenge that requires the oversight of a seasoned technology executive.
The Landscape of Pediatric Oncology: Context and Supporting Data
The addition of these leaders comes at a time when the field of pediatric oncology faces significant hurdles. While survival rates for some childhood cancers, such as certain types of leukemia, have improved dramatically over the last 50 years, progress for other types—including brain tumors and certain sarcomas—has remained stagnant. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States.
A primary challenge in the field is the lack of "pediatric-first" drug development. Most oncology drugs are developed for adult cancers and only later tested in children. This often leads to delays of several years before children gain access to life-saving therapies. Furthermore, the long-term side effects of current treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can be devastating for developing bodies, leading to chronic health issues later in life.
CureSearch’s strategy focuses on funding research that is specifically designed for the unique biology of childhood cancers. By appointing board members with expertise in clinical development (Skolnik), AI and finance (Averill), and global technology (Crowe), the organization is better equipped to navigate the "RACE for Children Act" (Research to Accelerate Cure and Equity), which mandates that certain adult cancer drugs also be evaluated for pediatric use if the molecular targets are relevant.
Chronology of Organizational Growth and Strategic Shift
To understand the impact of these appointments, it is necessary to look at the evolution of CureSearch over the past decade. Originally focused on supporting a broad spectrum of clinical trials, the organization shifted its strategy in the mid-2010s toward "translational research." This move was prompted by the recognition that many promising laboratory discoveries were failing to reach the clinic due to a lack of funding for Phase I and Phase II trials.
- 2013-2015: CureSearch revamped its grant-making process, introducing the Industry Advisory Council to provide a "commercial" perspective on scientific research.
- 2017-2020: The organization expanded its focus on high-risk, high-reward projects, specifically targeting cancers with the lowest survival rates.
- 2023: The establishment of legacy funds, like Team Steve, signaled a move toward more personalized, family-led philanthropy that integrates directly into the organization’s research portfolio.
- 2024: The appointment of Averill, Skolnik, and Crowe marks a new era of governance, prioritizing AI integration, clinical acceleration, and digital infrastructure.
Analysis of Implications for the Future
The inclusion of Averill, Skolnik, and Crowe suggests that CureSearch is positioning itself as a more agile, tech-forward, and industry-aligned entity. For the broader pediatric cancer community, this could mean a faster turnaround from the time a drug is discovered in a lab to the time it enters a clinical trial.
From a financial perspective, Julianne Averill’s presence on the board likely signals an intent to explore more sophisticated funding models, perhaps including venture philanthropy or public-private partnerships. In an era where "impact investing" is becoming more common in healthcare, CureSearch may seek to leverage its research portfolio to attract diverse forms of capital.
Dr. Skolnik’s leadership ensures that the organization remains at the cutting edge of immuno-oncology. As cell and gene therapies become more prevalent, his expertise will be vital in navigating the complex regulatory landscape of the FDA and other international bodies. Meanwhile, Mike Crowe’s technological oversight will be essential for managing the "Big Data" aspects of modern oncology, ensuring that CureSearch-funded researchers can collaborate more effectively across borders.
Official Responses and Broader Impact
The organization has expressed confidence that the new board members will catalyze progress toward a future where every child with cancer has access to better treatments. The sentiment shared by the new directors reflects a unified focus on the human element of their work. Mike Crowe emphasized that his family’s goal is to "ensure no child and no family ever again has to endure the pain and loss" they experienced, while Julianne Averill noted the "meaningful" opportunity to apply governance experience in service of life-changing research.
The broader impact of these appointments extends beyond CureSearch itself. It serves as a blueprint for other disease-specific non-profits on how to construct a board that is not only a source of philanthropic support but a powerhouse of strategic and technical capability. By bridging the gap between industry, technology, and medicine, CureSearch is enhancing its ability to solve one of the most pressing challenges in modern medicine: curing cancer in the most vulnerable population.
As the organization moves into its next phase, the combined leadership of Averill, Skolnik, and Crowe will be instrumental in ensuring that the most promising discoveries move "better and faster" from the lab to the bedside. This strategic reinforcement of the board is a clear signal that CureSearch intends to remain at the forefront of the fight against pediatric cancer, utilizing every tool—from AI to DNA medicine—to change the outcomes for children and families worldwide.
