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CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, a leading national non-profit organization dedicated to ending childhood cancer by driving targeted and innovative research, has officially announced the expansion of its national Board of Directors. The organization has welcomed three distinguished leaders—Julianne Averill, Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik, and Mike Crowe—to its governing body. This strategic move is designed to bolster the organization’s multi-disciplinary expertise across healthcare finance, clinical drug development, and global information technology. Each of the new appointees brings a documented history of advocacy for the CureSearch mission, positioning the organization to more effectively bridge the critical gap between laboratory discovery and clinical application for pediatric patients.
The expansion comes at a pivotal time for the pediatric oncology sector, which faces unique challenges including limited federal funding compared to adult cancers and a complex regulatory environment for drug development. By integrating leaders with high-level experience in artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and corporate governance, CureSearch aims to streamline the "bench-to-bedside" pipeline, ensuring that promising therapies reach children and families with greater speed and efficiency.
Profiles of the Newly Appointed Directors
The three new board members represent a convergence of technical, clinical, and strategic proficiency, reflecting the modern requirements of non-profit governance in the life sciences sector.
Julianne Averill: Expertise in Healthcare AI and Strategic Finance
Julianne Averill joins the board as a recognized expert in healthcare financial management and the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence in life sciences. Currently serving as a Managing Director at Danforth Health, Averill acts as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Business Officer (CBO) for various science-driven organizations. Her career spans over two decades, during which she has guided biotech and digital health companies through complex scaling operations.
Averill’s role at Danforth Health involves partnering with leadership teams to translate high-level scientific research into sustainable, patient-impacting business models. Her appointment to the CureSearch board is expected to provide critical oversight regarding the organization’s financial health and its ability to invest in high-potential research ventures. Averill has emphasized that her commitment to the board is rooted in applying rigorous governance and healthcare experience to support the scientists and clinicians working on the front lines of pediatric discovery.
Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik: Bridging Clinical Development and Industry
Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik, a trained pediatric hematologist-oncologist, brings a wealth of clinical and industry-specific knowledge to the board. As the Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Inovio, Dr. Skolnik leads programs focused on immuno-oncology DNA medicines, a cutting-edge field that seeks to harness the body’s immune system to combat cancer. His professional trajectory includes senior leadership roles at global pharmaceutical giants such as AstraZeneca and GSK, as well as TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Skolnik’s relationship with CureSearch is well-established; he has served the organization for more than nine years. Most notably, he chairs the Industry Advisory Council (IAC), a body that works alongside the Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) to evaluate research proposals. The IAC’s primary function is to ensure that funded projects are not only scientifically sound but also commercially and clinically viable. Dr. Skolnik was recently honored with the CureSearch 2025 Scientific Visionary Award, a testament to his dedication to advancing faster drug development pathways.
Mike Crowe: Technological Innovation and Personal Advocacy
Mike Crowe, the retired Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Colgate-Palmolive Company, joins the board with 34 years of experience in global technology and operational strategy. During his nine-year tenure as CIO at Colgate-Palmolive, Crowe managed massive digital transformations and information systems. Since his retirement, he has served as an independent board director for organizations such as the New York Independent System Operator, Specright, and Uncountable.
Crowe’s involvement with CureSearch is deeply personal. In early 2023, he and his family established "Team Steve: The Steven Crowe Legacy Fund" at CureSearch to honor the memory of their late son. His appointment represents a blend of high-level corporate technology expertise and a profound personal commitment to ensuring that other families do not have to endure the loss of a child to cancer. Crowe’s background in AI and data systems is expected to assist CureSearch in optimizing its data-driven research initiatives.
The Critical Need for Pediatric Cancer Innovation
The addition of these three leaders is contextualized by the stark realities of the pediatric cancer landscape in the United States. While survival rates for some childhood cancers have improved significantly over the last 50 years, the pace of drug development for pediatric-specific indications remains sluggish.
According to data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children in the U.S. Despite this, only a small fraction of drugs approved by the FDA for oncology are specifically labeled for pediatric use. Many children are treated with "off-label" therapies originally designed for adults, which can lead to severe long-term side effects, including secondary cancers, organ damage, and cognitive impairments.
Furthermore, the "Valley of Death"—the gap between a laboratory discovery and the start of clinical trials—is particularly wide in pediatric oncology. Because the market for pediatric drugs is smaller than that for adult cancers, traditional pharmaceutical companies often lack the financial incentive to move pediatric discoveries forward. CureSearch addresses this by funding research that has the highest potential for clinical transition, acting as a catalyst for treatments that might otherwise languish in the lab.
Chronology of CureSearch and Strategic Evolution
The appointment of Averill, Skolnik, and Crowe marks a new chapter in the evolution of CureSearch. To understand the significance of these appointments, one must look at the organization’s trajectory:
- Foundational Roots: CureSearch grew out of the need for a unified funding and advocacy body to support the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), the world’s largest organization devoted to childhood cancer research.
- Strategic Pivot: Over the last decade, CureSearch shifted its focus toward "venture philanthropy." This model prioritizes funding for research that has a clear path to the clinic, utilizing an Industry Advisory Council to vet the commercial viability of projects.
- Introduction of the IAC: Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik’s leadership of the IAC has been central to this shift, ensuring that the organization’s "Catapult Awards" and "Impact Awards" are granted to researchers who can navigate the complexities of the FDA and pharmaceutical partnerships.
- The 2023-2025 Expansion: With the founding of the Steven Crowe Legacy Fund in 2023 and the subsequent appointment of the new board members in late 2024, the organization is doubling down on its commitment to multi-disciplinary leadership.
Analysis of Implications: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Survival
The move to integrate expertise in AI, clinical drug development, and corporate governance suggests that CureSearch is preparing for a future where data science and precision medicine play central roles in oncology.
Julianne Averill’s background in AI and finance is particularly relevant as the industry moves toward using machine learning to identify drug targets more rapidly. By leveraging AI, researchers can simulate drug interactions and predict patient outcomes, potentially shaving years off the development timeline.
Dr. Skolnik’s presence ensures that the board remains tethered to the realities of clinical trials. His expertise in DNA medicines and immuno-oncology reflects the cutting edge of the field, where treatments are becoming increasingly personalized.
Mike Crowe’s background in information systems provides the infrastructure necessary for managing the vast amounts of data generated by modern research. In an era of "Big Data," the ability to store, analyze, and share research findings across institutions is vital for collective progress.
Official Responses and Strategic Outlook
The organization has expressed high confidence that this new leadership cohort will accelerate its mission. In official statements, the board emphasized that the combined expertise of the new members will ensure that "promising discoveries move more quickly from the lab to the children and families who need them most."
The collective sentiment among the new directors is one of urgent service. Dr. Skolnik noted that the combination of the Scientific Advisory Council and the Industry Advisory Council allows CureSearch to support "only the best of the best," while Mike Crowe highlighted the alignment between his family’s personal goals and the "bold purpose" of the organization.
As CureSearch moves into 2025, the focus will remain on the "Scientific Visionary" framework—identifying high-risk, high-reward research and providing the necessary capital and industry guidance to bring those projects to fruition. With a board now equipped with deep roots in technology, clinical science, and strategic finance, CureSearch is positioned to remain at the forefront of the fight against pediatric cancer, advocating for a future where every child has access to the treatments they deserve.
