Advisory Councils

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Our world-class Scientific and Industry Advisory Councils are comprised of experts at the top of their fields in science and industry. Validation of a research project by our councils speaks volumes in the global pediatric cancer arena. By convening thought leaders and key perspectives, we offer a unique and sophisticated approach that is changing the pediatric cancer landscape from within and accelerating the pace of pediatric drug development.

CureSearch Scientific Advisory Council

The Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) is composed of pediatric oncologists and other experts from world-renown pediatric cancer research institutions, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The SAC evaluates projects on scientific merit and sets the academic priorities for our research initiatives. With the support of the SAC, we fund research aimed at transcending barriers and developing innovative approaches to solve the field's most challenging problems.

Brenda Weigel, MD

Scientific Advisory Council Chair

Vice President, Clinical Research Industry Engagement
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Louis Chesler, MD, PhD, FRCPCH

Professor of Childhood Cancer Biology and Therapeutics
Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital, England

Martha Donoghue, MD

Associate Director of Pediatric Oncology and Rare Cancers, FDA

Elizabeth Fox, MD

Senior Vice President, Clinical Trials Administration Comprehensive Cancer Center
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, TN

Elizabeth Lawlor, MD, PhD

Associate Director, Cancer Biology
Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research
Seattle Children's Research InstituteSeattle Children’s Research Institute
Seattle, WA

Duane Mitchell, MD, PhD

Director, UF Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL

Maureen O'Brien, MD, MS

Medical Director of the Leukemia/Lymphoma Program
UC Department of Pediatrics
Cincinnati, OH

Will Parsons MD, PhD

Deputy Director
Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center, Baylor College of Medicine

Andy DJ Pearson, MD

Retired Professor of Paediatric Oncology Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital
England

Christine Pratilas, MD

Associate Professor of Oncology, Pediatrics, & Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD

Ryan D. Roberts, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and BMT, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Jack F. Shern, MD

Head, Tumor Evolution and Genomics Section
Lasker Clinical Research Scholar
Pediatric Oncology Branch
Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute

CureSearch Industry Advisory Council

The Industry Advisory Council (IAC) includes leaders from the largest global oncology and biotechnology companies who champion our pediatric cancer programs within industry. The Council reviews potential research projects for clinical, commercial and regulatory feasibility and provides objective counsel to assess their clinical translation and drug development potential. This expert review ensures we are always funding the most promising research.

Jeffrey Skolnik, MD

Industry Advisory Council Chair
Vice President, Clinical Development
Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Elly Barry, MD, MMSc

Industry Advisory Council Vice Chair
Senior Vice President, Clinical Development
Day One Biopharmaceuticals

Anne Borgman, MD

Chief Medical Officer
Sutro Biopharma 

Debbie Chirnomas

Chief Medical Officer
Faeth Therapeutics

Esther De La Cuesta, MD, MBA

Pediatric Advisor/ Senior Clinical Development Leader, Oncology, Clinical Development and Operations
Bayer Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Ruchi Gupta

Regulatory Program Director
Genentech Inc

Kevin N. Heller, MD

Chief Medical Officer
Tallac Therapeutics

Geoffrey Kannan, MD, PhD

Executive Medical Director, Head of Americas Oncology Team
Fortrea

Mark Kieran, MD, PhD

Vice President of Clinical Development
Day One Biopharmaceuticals

Katherine Minson, MD

Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist, Medical Director
Parexel

Javier A. Otero, MD, PhD

Senior Clinical Program Leader
Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research

Anjali Sharma, MD

Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist and Pediatric Oncology Global Development Lead
Gilead Science

Gauri Sunkersett, DO

Medical Director
AbbVie One Oncology

Jodi Muscal, MD

Medical Director, Clinical Development, Amgen

Jaszianne Tolbert, MD

Executive Medical Director, Oncology Clinical Development, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine

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Curesearch for Children's Cancer logo
Brenda Weigel
Louis Chesler, MD, PhD, FRCPCH
Martha Donoghue, MD
Elizabeth Fox, MD
Elizabeth Lawlor, MD, PhD
Duane Mitchell, MD, PhD
Maureen O'Brien, MD, MS
Will Parsons, MD, PhD
Andy Pearson
Christine Pratilas, MD
Ryan D. Roberts, MD, PhD
Jack F. Shern, MD
Jeffrey Skolnik, MD
Elly Barry, MD, MMSc
Anne Borgman, MD
Debbie Chirnomas
Esther De La Cuesta, MD, MBA
Ruchi Gupta
Kevin Heller
Kannan Headshot 2020 (1)
Mark Kieran, MD, PhD
Katherine Minson, MD
Javier A. Otero, MD PhD
Anjali Sharma, MD
gauri_headshot
jodi muscal (1)
Jaszianne Tolbert, MD