Solving Kids' Cancer - every kid deserves to grow up

John London MBA

Co-founder and Chair

The inspiration for John London in co-founding Solving Kids' Cancer belongs solely to his daughter, Penelope, who once told him "I want no one to feel yucky Daddy". The mission of both his life and that of Catherine's is to make sure that no other children and families suffer the loss his family has had to endure with the passing of Penelope. As Chairman of the Board of Directors, John has primary responsibilities with SKC that include leadership and overall management of organizational governance, compliance, donor cultivation, and fundraising. John also serves as a strategic advisor in all areas of therapeutic development. John also co-founded and currently serves as general partner for SuttonBrook Capital Management, an investment fund based in New York City. He has an MBA from The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University.

Scott Kennedy MBA

Co-founder

Scott co-founded SKC in 2007 as a tribute to his son, Hazen Kennedy, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 3. Hazen was Scott's inspiration for creating Solving Kids' Cancer in part because Hazen wanted to become a scientist when he grew up in order to help people by creating new medicines. As Executive Director, Scott Kennedy is involved in all aspects of SKC, from managing operational staff and fundraising to policy development and fiscal management. He is integrally involved in the identification, funding, and management of the organization's scientific programs. Before co-founding SKC, Scott worked in marketing at CDW in Chicago and Pfizer in New York City. He also founded a New York City theatre and sightseeing business, Manfreakinhattan. Scott has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Psychology from Indiana University and a MBA from the Asian Institute of Management.

David Blaustein MD, MBA

Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Blaustein's role as Chief Scientific Advisor for SKC includes working with its scientific advisory board and Therapeutic Development Initiative (TDI) advisory group to provide overall scientific strategy and direction for the organization. He plays an integral role in identifying and investigating new therapies relevant to SKC's mission. He was instrumental in helping design SKC's entrepreneur-based TDI model. His unusual background, combining medicine, academia and business gives him a unique perspective on how to successfully apply entrepreneurial practices to traditional scientific research models, develop novel partnerships and foster innovation. Prior to his work in the financial industry, Dr. Blaustein served as an assistant professor of medicine and surgery at Yale University School of Medicine. He received his MBA from The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, and his MD from the Weill Medical College, Cornell, New York.

Wayne Robinson CPA, MT

Treasurer

Wayne is a partner in the New York office of PriceWaterhouseCoopers where he provides tax advice to a variety of multinational clients. Wayne joined the Board of SKC in 2009 and is responsible to assist the organization in maintaining its public charity status as well as providing financial and accounting advice and insight. Wayne is the father of three children and has a keen interest in medicine and in particular the treatment of cancer. Wayne received his BS in Accounting and Master of Taxation from the University of Akron.

Channing Stave PhD

Secretary

Channing is Senior Director, Market Insights at Medco Health Solutions, where the team he leads is responsible for all primary market research. Prior to joining Medco, Channing held research positions at Pfizer, with a focus on Neuroscience, as well as at IBM and Delta Consulting Group. Channing has a BA from Columbia University and an MA and PhD in Organizational Psychology from New York University.

John Codling

New Yorker John William Codling defies just about every pigeonhole you may be inclined to put him in. John Codling is an artist and entrepreneur who burst on the art scene in 2008 with his "Sundays With Chris", an exhibition of portraits of Christopher Walken. John now helps SKC in New York and internationally to connect with major donors as well as shepherd creative projects that help make the SKC vision and mission a reality. To learn more about John visit www.ifollownobody.com

Valerie Castle MD

Senior Director, Neuroblastoma Scientific Programming, Chair, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan

Dr. Castle is the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases at the University of Michigan. Prior to becoming chair, Dr. Castle served as Associate Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs at the University of Michigan. Dr. Castle received her bachelor's degree from McGill University in Montreal and her medical degree from McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario. Following residency training in pediatrics Dr. Castle next completed fellowship training in pediatric hematology-oncology at the University of Michigan.

Hearn Jay Cho MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. Cho is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital. His laboratory is investigating the tumor immunology and molecular biology of multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Dr. Cho is the chairperson of the Multiple Myeloma Working Group sponsored by the Cancer Research Institute and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. This international collaborative of Ludwig-affiliated laboratories is dedicated to developing clinical trials of novel immunologic therapies for this disease. Dr. Cho received his undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from Princeton University and is a graduate of the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program of Cornell University Medical College with a doctoral degree in Immunology. Dr. Cho was a resident in the Clinical Investigator Track in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, where he also did a post-doctoral research fellowship in Immunology. Dr. Cho completed his clinical fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at The New York-Presbyterian Hospital/ Cornell Medical Center and was a visiting research fellow at the Rockefeller University. Prior to joining the faculty at NYU, Dr. Cho was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Kenneth Cohen MD, MBA

Director Pediatric Neuro-oncology, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Cohen serves on SKC’s scientific advisory board, where he helps define the organization’s scientific approach and research priorities. Additionally, as an Executive Officer of the TDI advisory board he is actively involved in the daily operations of the TDI including the grants solicitation and review process. He is currently the Director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology and the Clinical Director in the Division of Pediatric Oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins in 1994, after completing his Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship. The Pediatric Neuro-Oncology program’s major focus is the development and testing of novel therapeutics for children with brain tumors. Research is also coordinated with the neuropsychology group at the Kennedy-Krieger Institute. He serves as the co-chair of the High-Grade Glioma committee for the Children’s Oncology Group where his focus is the development of therapeutics for the treatment of infiltrating gliomas. Dr. Cohen is a scientific advisor for the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation. He received his undergraduate degree at Brown University and his MD from the State University of New York Upstate Medical Center in 1987. He completed his residency and Chief Residency in Pediatrics at the University Of Colorado School of Medicine in 1991.

David Kaplan PhD

Neuroblastoma Basic Researcher Senior Scientist, Cell Biology Program, Hospital for Sick Children Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics University of Toronto

Dr. Kaplan is a Senior Scientist and Co-Head of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, a Professor at the University of Toronto, and holder of the Canada Research Chair in Cancer and Neuroscience. He has made several discoveries in the signal transduction field. Dr. Kaplan obtained his BA from Clark University in Massachusetts, his PhD from Harvard University with Dr. Thomas Roberts in 1987, and completed his postdoctoral training with Dr. Harold Varmus at the University of California, San Francisco in 1990. At his laboratory in Toronto he is the Head of the Cancer Research Program at the Hospital for Sick Children. He is also a member of the Canadian Stem Cell Network, where he leads a high throughput screening effort to identify new drugs to treat cancer using cancer stem cells, with an emphasis on neuroblastoma.

Mark Kieran MD, PhD

Pediatric Neuro-oncologist, Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Dr. Kieran received his PhD in 1983 from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, and his MD in 1986 from the University of Calgary. He completed postgraduate training in molecular biology at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. After a pediatric residency in Montreal, he received postdoctoral education at Children's Hospital Boston. In 1999, he became Director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He also works on angiogenesis in the laboratory of the late Dr. Judah Folkman, and in 2002 Dr. Kieran received the Nick Palmer Award and Lecture, London, UK. Dr. Kieran is most known for his research efforts. His laboratory selects promising agents and evaluates them in human tumors which have been orthotopically implanted into mice. This process quickly moves potential therapies into the clinic. At present, more than five such projects are ongoing in conjunction with different groups at DFCI, BWH, BIDMC, and CHB.

Chrystal Louis MD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics Section of Hematology-Oncology Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Louis is a member of the translational research laboratory in the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy. In association with Dr. Stephen Gottschalk and Dr. Helen Heslop, she has been working on methods to improve immunotherapy options for patients with solid tumors. At this time, she has focused her research on therapeutic strategies for patients with either nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) or neuroblastoma. Most cases of advanced-stage NPC are associated with Epstein Barr virus (EBV), and our center previously determined that administration of adoptively transferred EBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (EBV-CTL) was safe and produced anti-tumor effects in 50% of patients. Therefore, Dr. Chrystal Louis' current research efforts have focused on improving the specificity of the CTL product for NPC tumors and identifying additional, non-EBV associated tumor markers that can also be used as immunotherapy targets. For patients with high-risk neuroblastoma, prior studies have shown clinical responses after active immunization; however, responses were limited by the poorly immunogenic nature of neuroblastoma tumor-cell vaccines. Dr. Chrystal Louis and colleagues are now investigating the safety, immune response, and anti-tumor activity of more potent, genetically modified neuroblastoma tumor cell vaccines after high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell rescue. Additionally, the group is continuing their study using adoptively transferred T cells modified to express receptors for GD2 in patients with a history of high-risk neuroblastoma.

Tobey J. MacDonald MD

Director, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine

Dr. MacDonald received his MD from Cornell University in 1991 and completed his pediatric internship, residency and post-graduate fellowship training in hematology-oncology and neuro-oncology all at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles from 1992-1998. In 1998, he became the Clinical Director of Neuro-Oncology in the Division of Hematology-Oncology at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, where he served until 2009. He then joined the faculty as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics of Emory University School of Medicine and Director of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program of the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in 2009. Dr. MacDonald has built an international reputation as a leader in the field of pediatric neuro-oncology for clinical, basic and translational research. Dr. MacDonald's research focuses primarily on identifying the molecular-genetic regulation of brain tumor metastasis, with the goal of translating these discoveries into innovative therapies for malignant childhood brain tumors. He has held continuous NIH funding for over 10 years and has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications in pediatric brain tumor research.

Melinda S. Merchant MD, PhD

Director of the Clinical Sarcoma Service, Branch of Pediatric Oncology of the National Cancer Institute

Dr. Merchant received her MD and PhD through the Physician Scientist Program at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Her graduate work was in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and focused on B cell development. After completing residency training in Pediatrics at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, she joined the Pediatric Oncology Branch as a clinical fellow in 1999. She received a NCI senior clinical fellowship award to remain at NCI for further postdoctoral training in the Immunology section under the mentorship of Dr. Crystal Mackall. In 2005, Dr. Merchant joined the faculty in the Department of Pediatrics at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and served as an Assistant Member and Attending Physician on the Pediatric Sarcoma Service. She returned to the Pediatric Oncology Branch in February 2009 and brings experience in the clinical management of childhood sarcomas as well as an active interest in the translation of immunotherapies and molcular targeted therapy in pediatric solid tumors, including bone and soft tissue tumors, melanoma, and neuroblastoma.

Rimas J. Orentas PhD

Associate Scientist, Branch of Pediatric Oncology

Dr. Orentas received his B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Maryland, College Park. In 1991 he received his Ph.D. from the Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and also carried out post-doctoral Studies at the Hopkins Oncology Center, where he was promoted to a Research Associate. In 1996 he was recruited to the Medical College of Wisconsin in to the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology. At the Medical College of Wisconsin he rose to the rank of Associate Professor and was also appointed to the Department of Medicine and to the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics where he participated in the graduate school training program. In 2008 Dr. Orentas was recruited to lead the Oncology program at Lentigen, Corp. in Gaithersburg, MD, where he was responsible for the scientific and clinical development of lentiviral gene vectors for both cancer and inherited disorders, focusing on T cell therapy, the engineering of marrow-derived stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells. From there he joined the Pediatric Oncology Branch of the NCI as a Staff Scientist in Dr. Crystal Mackall's laboratory in 2009 and was promoted to a National Cancer Institute Associate Scientist in 2012. Dr. Orentass current research centers on the engineering of T lymphocytes for the immunotherapy of cancer in both mouse and human systems. He has led preclinical development of a new chimeric antigen receptor targeting CD22 on acute lymphoblastic leukemia and has also created several other original chimeric receptors targeting solid tumor associated antigens. Dr. Orentas' has interests in the study of the T cell response to transplantation associated viral pathogens such as BKV and EBV, in using cell-based vaccines as a model for treating pediatric malignancies, and in pioneering new ways to engineer anti-tumor T cells.

Steven Piantadosi MD, PhD

Design & Analysis of Oncology Clinical Trials, Director of the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Dr. Piantadosi is the Director of the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Piantadosi's role is to lead the Medical Center's programs in cancer research, treatment and education, enhance academic activities related to cancer, and bring together cancer physicians and researchers for innovative collaborations. Prior to joining Cedars-Sinai in April 2007, Dr. Piantadosi was professor of oncology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Director of Biostatistics at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. He also was professor of biostatistics and professor of epidemiology at the university's Bloomberg School of Public Health. After earning his medical degree from the University of North Carolina and doctorate in Biomathematics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Dr. Piantadosi became a senior staff fellow at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Piantadosi is one of the world's leading experts in the design and analysis of clinical trials for cancer research. In addition to advising both FDA and industry, he has served on external advisory boards for the National Institutes of Health and other prominent cancer programs and centers. The author of more than 230 peer-reviewed scientific articles, Dr. Piantadosi currently serves as senior editor of the journal Clinical Cancer Research.

Kenneth J. Cohen MD, MBA

Director Pediatric Neuro-oncology, Johns Hopkins University

Elizabeth Raetz MD

Pediatric Oncologist, New York University

Giselle Sholler MD

Pediatric Oncologist, Van Andel Research Institute

Scott Kennedy MBA

Co-founder and Executive Director

Scott co-founded SKC in 2007 as a tribute to his son, Hazen Kennedy, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 3. Hazen was Scott’s inspiration for creating Solving Kids' Cancer in part because Hazen wanted to become a scientist when he grew up in order to help people by creating new medicines. As Executive Director, Scott Kennedy is involved in all aspects of SKC, from managing operational staff and fundraising to policy development and fiscal management. He is integrally involved in the identification, funding, and management of the organization’s scientific programs. Before co-founding SKC, Scott worked in marketing at CDW in Chicago and Pfizer in New York City. He also founded a New York City theatre and sightseeing business, Manfreakinhattan. Scott has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Psychology from Indiana University and a MBA from the Asian Institute of Management.

Kristi McKay

Administrative Director

After two years of both volunteer and freelance work for SKC, Kristi packed and moved from her home in Syracuse, NY to work full-time for the charity in 2012. She comes with 15 years of not-for-profit administrative experience along with a history of management, graphic design, fundraising, development, and event planning. She served on the board of directors for Redhouse Arts Center for seven years before relocating to NYC.

Donna Ludwinski BSChE

Co-Director, Research Programs & Partnerships

Admiration for the SKC mission and method noted while her son Erik battled neuroblastoma led to a productive collaboration after his death in 2010. Donna is a voracious consumer of medical literature and has has spent most of her waking hours the past 8 years reading and reporting on clinical and pre-clinical papers and abstracts on pediatric solid tumors. She attends major oncology conferences and keeps abreast of promising research leads. A lay member of the TDI, she assists in identifying, analyzing, and cultivating promising therapeutic leads to bring novel therapies into the clinic quickly. Passionate about providing resources and advocating for families dealing with childhood cancer, she also serves as a liaison with other foundations with similar goals and focus. Donna has a BS in Chemical Engineering, and recently relocated to West Virginia with her husband Paul and their two grown children Karl and Lesa (and their families). Paul and Donna have one son still at home, Aron.

Jenny Song

Director of Communications

Jenny has a decade of experience in health care communications, with expertise in medical writing and reporting for trade and consumer publications. She has a bachelor's degree in Magazine Journalism from Syracuse University. She is an award-winning journalist and was a 2009 Cancer Issues Fellow of the National Press Foundation. As the Director of Communications, she is responsible for developing and managing SKC's key messaging and strategic communications.

Catherine London JD

Catherine London is a passionate advocate for the work of SKC. In her role she works to spread awareness and strategically direct some of our most important events and projects including our annual spring marquee event. Catherine is involved in SKC as a tribute to her daughter Penelope who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at 16 months. It is her deepest hope that someday no child will ever have to suffer from pediatric cancer the way Penelope did before she died. Prior to her commitment with SKC Catherine was a prosecutor at the Manhattan D.A.'s Office and a published author.

Suzan Mikiel Kennedy

Suzan Mikiel Kennedy tends to take a deep breath before she explains how she came to choose her line of work as Director of Development of Team Continuum, a charity that helps cancer patients and their families with their non-medical needs. The answer is not so casual. The answer is deep and passionate. Hazen Kennedy, her son, lost his sweet breath to neuroblastoma. Hazen is one of the most amazing people that would have grown up to make this world a better place. Suzan's involvement in the world of cancer is not by choice, but by necessity, and to honor Hazen's memory. She looks forward to working with SKC on fundraising events to help eradicate pediatric cancer so that the parents of thousands of other amazing children can choose a different line of work! As an actor, writer, avid iPhone photographer, Suzan has a variety of creative interests, and looks forward to applying her artistic experience towards the success of scientic endeavors.

Jordan Reed

Board Chair

Jordan Reed is a current resident of Manhattan and graduated from the University of Michigan in 2007. He currently works as Junior Trader for SuttonBrook Capital Management, a multi-strategy, event-driven hedge fund based in New York. Jordan is an avid golfer and obsessed sports fanatic. He also enjoys reading and traveling. He joined SKC in early 2009 and was appointed the Junior Board Chairman shortly afterwards.

Lee Klein

Social Event Chair

Born and raised in Fresh Meadows, NY about 20 minutes outside of NYC, Lee obtained her Bachelors degree in Mass Communication from Towson University in 2004. Currently, she does residential Sales and Rentals for Prudential Douglas Elliman. She has always had a passion and been involved with children in one way or another throughout her life. Lee got involved with SKC after her beautiful cousin sadly lost her 3 year battle with Neuroblastoma at the young age of 8. This is a cause close to her heart and she hopes to be involved on the fundraising end for many years to come.

Whitney Scully

Whitney Scully has lived in Manhattan since 2005, employed as a Business Process and Technology Consultant. She came to New York from Baltimore, Maryland and received a degree in Logistics, Transportation, and Supply Chain Management from the University of Maryland.

Andrew Goff

Treasurer

A 2007 graduate of Boston College, Andrew currently works as an Information Technology Auditor in the New York City area. As an active volunteer throughout his time at BC and beyond, Andrew has focused his efforts around homelessness, primarily through work performed at the Haley House in Boston, MA. Andrew looks to continue his commitment to serve through his involvement at SKC.

Katie Nitti

Secretary

Katie Nitti is extremely excited to be a part of SKC. She in a resident and small business owner in Manhattan running a boutique dog walking company; Dog Walk NYC. She enjoys traveling, reading, sports and spending time in the city with her friends and family. Katie moved to Manhattan after graduating from The Catholic University in 2006 and spending six months volunteering in Ireland for CASA Breakhouses an organization offering respite care to people with disabilities.

Sharon Klein

Sharon Klein joined SKC in 2011 after her sister Lee introduced her to the organization. This cause became close to both their hearts after losing their beautiful 8 year old cousin, Shir, to Neuroblastoma in 2006. Sharon received her B.A. in Social Sciences from the University at Buffalo in 2008 and her Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law (now the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University) in 2011. She is currently a Law Clerk at Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP, in New York City. Sharon plans to continue her involvement and contribution to reaching goals of the Junior Board and the organization as a whole for many years to come.

Chandresh Kothari

Chandresh is excited to be a part of SKC. He currently works at a top management consulting firm in New York City, where he continues to serve life insurance and asset management institutions on strategic, organizational and operational issues. At SKC, Chandresh is looking to bring his problem solving and project management skills and contribute in anyway possible to help achieve the group's goals. Chandresh has been a resident of Manhattan since 2007. Originally from Mumbai, India, he has Master's degree in Management Studies.

Arielle Marks

Arielle is very excited to be a part of SKC. She currently works in Risk Management at American Express, and has recently finished her Master in Public Health (MPH) part-time at Columbia University. She completed her undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis in 2007 and has lived in Manhattan ever since. Arielle enjoys exploring the city and traveling to new places.

Gina Scibelli

Gina is a Practice Supervisor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the Weill Cornell Medical Center. Prior to this role, she also worked in the field of cancer, first in genitourinary cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and later in grants program management at the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Gina looks forward to a career helping to improve patient care. As a pediatric cancer survivor herself, she is particularly excited to support Solving Kids Cancer and its mission. Gina was diagnosed with Wilm's Tumor (a pediatric kidney cancer) at age 16 months and was treated with surgery and chemotherapy. She is now a proud survivor of 24 years! Gina earned her Master of Public Administration from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at NYU and loves running and knitting.

Joy Lillis

Joy joined SKC in 2012 after learning about the lack of treatment options available for kids with the deadliest childhood cancers. She currently works for Chadick Ellig Inc., a retained executive search firm that focuses on placing female and diversity candidates into c-suite and board positions across all industries. Her previous experience includes positions at the William J. Clinton Foundation and the Office of former U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. A native New Yorker, Joy currently resides in Manhattan. She holds a bachelor's degree from New York University.