By admin 
CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, a leading national nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the development of new treatments for pediatric malignancies, has announced the appointment of three distinguished professionals to its national Board of Directors. The new appointees—Julianne Averill, Jeffrey Skolnik, M.D., and Mike Crowe—bring a multi-disciplinary array of expertise spanning biotechnology, clinical development, artificial intelligence, and global corporate governance. This strategic expansion of the board is intended to bridge the critical gap between laboratory discovery and clinical application, a phase often referred to in the pharmaceutical industry as the "valley of death," where promising research frequently stalls due to a lack of funding or commercial viability.
The addition of these leaders comes at a pivotal moment for CureSearch as it continues to refine its unique model of venture philanthropy. By integrating industrial rigor with academic excellence, the organization seeks to fast-track the next generation of therapies for the approximately 15,000 children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States. The board’s new members are expected to play a central role in overseeing the organization’s strategic initiatives, ensuring that every dollar invested in research is positioned for maximum impact and clinical success.
Strategic Profiles of the New Board Members
The three new directors represent a calculated effort to diversify the board’s oversight capabilities, covering the financial, scientific, and technological pillars necessary for modern drug development.
Julianne Averill: Financial Strategy and AI in Healthcare
Julianne Averill joins the board as a seasoned healthcare executive with over two decades of experience in the life sciences and digital health sectors. Currently serving as a Managing Director at Danforth Health, Averill has established herself as a leading Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Business Officer (CBO) with a specific focus on organizations driven by complex science. Her career has been defined by helping biotech and med-tech companies navigate the intricacies of scaling operations while maintaining a focus on patient-centric outcomes.
Averill’s expertise in Healthcare AI is particularly relevant as the industry increasingly turns to machine learning and data analytics to identify drug candidates more efficiently. At Danforth Health, she partners with leadership teams to translate high-level scientific concepts into sustainable business models. Her role on the CureSearch board will involve strengthening the organization’s governance and financial oversight, ensuring that the nonprofit remains a robust and transparent steward of donor contributions. Averill’s previous experience on multiple nonprofit and corporate boards underscores her commitment to long-term impact and rigorous research standards.
Jeffrey Skolnik, M.D.: Clinical Development and Immuno-Oncology
Dr. Jeffrey Skolnik, the Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Inovio, brings a profound clinical perspective to the board. As a trained pediatric hematologist-oncologist, Dr. Skolnik has spent his career on the front lines of both patient care and drug innovation. At Inovio, he leads programs focused on DNA medicines and immuno-oncology, a field that seeks to harness the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. His background includes senior leadership roles at global pharmaceutical giants such as AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), as well as TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Skolnik’s relationship with CureSearch spans nearly a decade. For the past nine years, he has served as the Chair of the Industry Advisory Council (IAC), a specialized body that evaluates research proposals through the lens of commercial and clinical feasibility. His leadership in the IAC has been instrumental in ensuring that CureSearch-funded projects are not only scientifically sound but also possess a clear pathway to regulatory approval and market entry. In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Skolnik was named the recipient of the CureSearch 2025 Scientific Visionary Award.
Mike Crowe: Technological Innovation and Personal Advocacy
Mike Crowe, the retired Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Colgate-Palmolive, brings a wealth of experience in global technology infrastructure and strategic advisory. During his 34-year tenure at Colgate-Palmolive, including nine years as CIO, Crowe managed complex digital transformations for one of the world’s most recognizable consumer goods companies. Since his retirement, he has transitioned into advisory roles for technology and AI-focused organizations, as well as serving on the boards of the New York Independent System Operator, Specright, and Uncountable.
Beyond his professional credentials, 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, Steven. This fund is dedicated to supporting innovative research that prevents other families from experiencing the loss of a child to cancer. Crowe’s appointment to the board signifies a fusion of high-level corporate strategy with a grassroots, mission-driven dedication to changing the landscape of pediatric oncology.
The Landscape of Pediatric Cancer Research
To understand the significance of these appointments, one must consider the current state of pediatric oncology funding and development. While survival rates for some childhood cancers have improved significantly over the last 50 years, others remains stubbornly low. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), while the overall five-year survival rate for childhood cancer is around 85%, certain types of brain tumors and metastatic sarcomas have much lower prognoses.
Furthermore, survivors often face lifelong health challenges resulting from the toxicity of current treatments, which are frequently adapted from adult protocols rather than designed specifically for the developing bodies of children. Statistics indicate that by age 50, more than 99% of childhood cancer survivors will have a chronic health problem, and 96% will have a severe or life-threatening condition related to their previous treatment.
The financial reality of drug development also poses a hurdle. Because pediatric cancers are considered "orphan diseases" due to their relatively small patient populations compared to adult cancers like lung or breast cancer, pharmaceutical companies often view pediatric drug development as a high-risk, low-reward investment. This is where CureSearch intervenes, providing the "seed" funding and industry expertise necessary to de-risk these projects, making them more attractive for further private investment and clinical trials.
A Chronology of Strategic Growth
The appointment of Averill, Skolnik, and Crowe is part of a broader timeline of strategic evolution at CureSearch.
- 1980s – 2000s: The organization, originally known as the National Childhood Cancer Foundation, focused primarily on supporting clinical trials through the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).
- 2010s: Recognizing the need for new drug discovery, CureSearch shifted its focus toward "Catapult" and "Acceleration" initiatives, targeting early-stage research that had the potential to move quickly into the clinic.
- 2015 – 2023: The establishment and expansion of the Industry Advisory Council (IAC) and the Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) created a dual-review system that mimics the due diligence process of venture capital firms.
- Early 2023: The launch of the Steven Crowe Legacy Fund highlighted the organization’s ability to partner with families to create targeted research funding streams.
- Late 2024: The announcement of the three new board members marks a move toward integrating AI, digital health, and large-scale corporate governance into the organization’s long-term roadmap.
Analysis of Implications: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach
The integration of these three leaders suggests several key shifts in how CureSearch will operate in the coming years.
First, the emphasis on AI and data (represented by Averill and Crowe) indicates that CureSearch may look to support research that utilizes "in silico" modeling—using computers to simulate drug interactions—to reduce the time and cost of laboratory experiments. This is a critical factor in pediatric research, where patient populations for clinical trials are small and every month of delay can be catastrophic for patients.
Second, the continued leadership of Dr. Skolnik ensures that the "Industry Perspective" remains at the heart of the organization’s grant-making process. By having a board member who understands the regulatory hurdles of the FDA and the requirements for pharmaceutical partnerships, CureSearch can better prepare its grantees for the transition from academic labs to commercial manufacturing.
Finally, the presence of Mike Crowe provides a vital link between the board’s strategic decisions and the lived experience of the families CureSearch serves. His background in global operations at Colgate-Palmolive also brings a level of organizational discipline that is essential for a nonprofit seeking to influence a multi-billion-dollar global pharmaceutical industry.
Official Responses and Organizational Vision
In official statements, the new board members emphasized their alignment with CureSearch’s "bold purpose." Julianne Averill noted the importance of applying governance and healthcare experience to research that can "truly change lives." Dr. Skolnik highlighted the unique positioning of CureSearch in the non-profit space, pointing to the synergy between the Scientific and Industry Advisory Councils as a mechanism to support "only the best of the best." Mike Crowe’s statement resonated with a call to action, expressing a desire to ensure no other family has to endure the pain of losing a child to cancer.
The leadership at CureSearch believes that this infusion of new talent will strengthen the organization’s ability to meet its 2025 and 2030 strategic goals. By fostering an environment where science is supported by sound business logic and cutting-edge technology, CureSearch aims to reduce the average 10-to-12-year timeline for drug development.
Conclusion: The Path Toward Faster Cures
The appointment 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 tactical reinforcement of the organization’s mission to end childhood cancer. As the landscape of oncology becomes increasingly complex—defined by genomic sequencing, personalized medicine, and AI-driven discovery—the need for a board that can navigate these diverse fields is paramount.
With these leaders at the helm, CureSearch is well-positioned to continue its role as a catalyst in the pediatric cancer ecosystem. The organization’s focus remains clear: moving promising discoveries from the lab to the bedside "better and faster." For the thousands of children currently undergoing treatment, and for those who will be diagnosed in the future, the expertise of this expanded board represents a significant step toward a future where every child can lead a long, healthy life free from the burden of cancer.
