WINSTON ELY

Originally published by PR Newswire, November 20, 2025.

Bridge To A Cure Foundation announces the appointment of Winston Ely to its Board of Directors. Ely, a Brooklyn-based designer and developer, brings more than 30 years of experience in architecture, sustainable design, and community-focused development.

Ely is the Owner and Creative Director of WE Design and Founder of WE Develop, where he leads residential and mixed-use projects with an emphasis on thoughtful planning and environmental responsibility. He also serves as a Green Infrastructure Fellow for the Design Trust for Public Space, contributing expertise to efforts focused on improving stormwater management and water quality across New York City.

Ely’s appointment to the organization’s Board of Directors carries personal meaning. Bridge To A Cure Foundation was established in memory of his daughter, Clara Ely, whose life continues to inspire the organization’s mission to accelerate progress in childhood cancer research through data integration, collaboration, and innovation.

“Winston brings valuable perspective as both a parent and an experienced leader in systems-based problem-solving,” said Bob Martin, Founder and Chair of Bridge To A Cure Foundation. “His insight will support our efforts to expand collaboration and strengthen the infrastructure needed to advance more effective pediatric brain cancer research.”

As a member of the Board, Ely will support strategic planning and governance efforts that align with the foundation’s focus on driving scientific collaboration and improving outcomes for children facing brain cancer.

“I am honored to join the Board of Bridge To A Cure Foundation in Clara’s memory,” shared Ely. “I look forward to contributing to efforts that connect people, data, and ideas to help accelerate meaningful progress for children and families affected by cancer.”

Ely resides in Brooklyn with his wife, Tricia Martin, and their children, Keira and Yeimer. He holds a BA in Art and Environmental Design from the University of Vermont and a Master’s in Architecture from the University of Oregon.

About Bridge To A Cure Foundation

Bridge To A Cure Foundation is accelerating the pace of childhood cancer research by championing data integration, collaboration, and innovation. By breaking down silos and investing in platforms that connect researchers, clinicians, and families, the foundation strives to ensure that every child and family can benefit from the full power of science, technology, and shared knowledge. To learn more, visit BridgeToACure.org.

Leadership Position to save the lives of children remains open.

Childhood brain cancer is not just the leading cause of cancer-related death in children—it is a catastrophic disease that leaves few survivors, and those who do survive often carry lifelong physical and cognitive burdens. With only 5% surviving long-term, it is clear the system is failing our children. It’s time for a radical shift in how we approach research. And that shift must be led by an organization deeply imbedded within the pediatric brain tumor cancer community. the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), with strategic support from the Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN), Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC), and Pediatric Neuro-oncology Consortium (PNOC).

The Urgency: One Disease, One Mission

Bridge To A Cure Foundation’s mission is clear: reduce childhood cancer deaths by 50% by 2030. To do that, we are focusing on childhood brain tumors—the deadliest form of childhood cancer. If we solve this, we will not only save lives but also unlock new frameworks and treatments applicable to other childhood cancers.

But success depends on transforming the research model.

For eight years we have been the proponent of a collaborative, data-driven initiative that brings together the best scientific minds and most advanced technologies—particularly artificial intelligence and multi-omic data sharing—to develop nontoxic, immune-based treatments that target pediatric brain tumors through apoptosis (programmed cell death), angiogenesis (disruption of blood supply), and immunotherapy.

Community wide leadership urgently needed.

In our April Blog, we proposed NCI to assume that leadership. We hope that they are in the process of assessing this possibility given the uncertainty facing the future of organizations and departments within the National Institute of Health.

The good news is that that childhood brain tumor community is rich in talent. Below are five other organizations that individually or collaboratively could lead this initiative.

Stand Up 2 Cancer Foundation

1. Track Record of Accelerating Breakthroughs

SU2C has redefined how cancer research is funded and organized—by breaking down barriers, promoting team science, and demanding accountability. Their “Dream Team” model has revolutionized adult cancer research and could be game-changing if coupled with Bridge to a Cure’s pediatric brain tumor approach.

2. Unmatched Fundraising Power

SU2C has raised hundreds of millions of dollars and garnered support from media giants, major donors, and the public. Pediatric brain cancer research has historically lacked adequate visibility and funding. SU2C can change that overnight.

3. National Platform and Cultural Reach

SU2C’s media partnerships and televised fundraising campaigns have made cancer a national conversation. By elevating pediatric brain cancer to a priority, SU2C can spark a groundswell of support and resources that smaller nonprofits cannot generate alone.

4. Neutral Convener of Stakeholders

SU2C has the credibility and reach to bring together the National Cancer Institute, pharmaceutical companies, major hospital systems, and top researchers. They can help align interests and focus efforts around a single, high-impact goal: curing childhood brain cancer with nontoxic treatments.

The Children’s Oncology Group?

COG is uniquely positioned to lead this initiative for several reasons:

1. Unparalleled Reach: COG is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research, with over 200 member institutions. It provides access to thousands of patients and a nationwide infrastructure capable of rapidly piloting and scaling promising discoveries.

2. Clinical Trial Authority: COG conducts the majority of clinical trials for pediatric cancer in North America. Its experience in designing, managing, and analyzing clinical trials ensures scientific rigor and regulatory compliance—essential for any nontoxic, immune-based therapy to reach patients quickly and safely.

3. Centralized Coordination: A mission of this scale cannot afford fragmentation. COG has the credibility and organizational capacity to unify

stakeholders and eliminate duplication of effort, ensuring that data, talent, and funding are used efficiently.

Either of the Three Childhood Brain Tumor Networks/Consortiums

· Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN)

A global leader in pediatric brain tumor biospecimen and data collection, CBTN has built one of the largest open-access data platforms for childhood brain cancer. Their data-sharing ethos and advanced infrastructure make them the ideal engine for fueling the AI and multi-omic components of this initiative.

· Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC)

PBTC brings decades of expertise in early-phase clinical trials for pediatric brain tumors, especially in testing novel therapeutics. Their strength lies in translating lab discoveries into clinical applications quickly and safely.

· Pediatric Neuro-oncology Consortium (PNOC)

PNOC excels in precision medicine and individualized treatment protocols, often incorporating patient and parent input. Their experience with decentralized trials and personalized approaches will ensure that therapies are adaptable, humane, and impactful.

The Vision: From Silos to Synergy

Each of these groups is doing important work. But we are at an inflection point. A fragmented landscape will not save lives at scale. We need synergy, not silos. Any one of the above candidates could serve as the conductor of this symphony of science—coordinating data, trials, resources, and talent to achieve what none of these organizations can do alone: cure pediatric brain cancer with nontoxic therapies by 2030.

This isn’t just a hope. It’s a plan. And with the leadership from within the childhood brain tumor community, it’s a future we can build—together.

Bridge To A Cure Foundation: Mission-Driven. Data-Powered. Child-Focused.

Pediatric brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children, yet the fight against them remains disjointed, underfunded, and often siloed.

Despite decades of dedicated work by researchers, nonprofits, and institutions, meaningful progress remains painfully slow. The field is fractured—research institutions compete for limited grants, nonprofit organizations pursue parallel but uncoordinated initiatives, pharmaceutical companies struggle to justify investment in small patient populations, and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is constrained by both bureaucracy and budget cuts. The time has come to confront a simple truth: no single stakeholder can solve this crisis alone. Only through robust collaboration and transparent resource sharing can we deliver real breakthroughs for the children and families who need them most.

Our March blog proposed a course of action to address the issues and secure the opportunities now facing the community. What’s needed now is leadership.

The biology of pediatric brain tumors is staggeringly complex.

With over 120 distinct types, these tumors demand a research approach that is not only comprehensive but also deeply integrated across disciplines and sectors. Yet too often, valuable data—genomic profiles, imaging libraries, treatment response patterns—are locked within institutional firewalls or scattered across disconnected databases. This fragmentation slows discovery, stifles innovation, and leads to duplicated efforts that waste precious time and funding.

Nonprofit organizations, often born from grief and driven by passion, have been instrumental in raising awareness and funding research. However, their impact is limited when they work in isolation or without clear alignment with the most promising scientific pathways. The same is true for academic institutions pursuing individual breakthroughs without benefiting from shared preclinical models, data ecosystems, or patient registries.

Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies face immense economic and regulatory challenges in pediatric oncology, where patient numbers are small and trials are difficult to design. Yet their expertise in drug development and capacity for large-scale manufacturing remain vital to the pipeline of new treatments. Unlocking this potential requires trusted, strategic partnerships that de-risk participation and emphasize shared value rather than market size.

At the center of it all, the NCI has both the mandate and the opportunity to act as a unifying force. Through targeted funding mechanisms, policy leadership, and support for open science platforms, the NCI can foster the kind of infrastructure that connects these silos—bringing researchers, funders, and industry together under a common purpose.

Collaboration is not a feel-good ideal. It is a strategic imperative.

Imagine a world in which clinical trial designs are harmonized, where AI analyzes unified multi-omic datasets to find patterns invisible to the human eye, where redundant projects are merged to scale promising discoveries faster. Imagine a single, global pediatric brain tumor data common, accessible to every scientist committed to a cure. This is not science fiction. It is entirely within reach—if we choose to work together.

The urgency could not be greater.

Every day, families hear the words “inoperable,” “incurable,” or “no further options.” These children deserve more than incremental progress. They deserve a bold, coordinated strategy that maximizes every dollar, every dataset, and every ounce of knowledge we possess. To honor them, we must put aside institutional pride, dismantle silos, and build a true alliance—one defined not by competition, but by collaboration in service of a cure.

But what if NCI is not up for the challenge, or denied the opportunity by the White House? The May blog will offer another option.

Cancer in children and adolescents is considered rare. Despite its “rare” status, cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children in the United States.

NUMBER ONE.

So, while it may be rare, it is rarely insignificant and always heartbreaking.

How heartbreaking?

Each day 43 children are diagnosed with cancer. 15,590 every year.

• 6 is the average age of diagnosis (age 67 in adults).
• 1 in 5 kids will not survive their cancer battle.
• 84% of children with cancer in the U.S. are alive at least five years after diagnosis; however, this does not mean they are cured or free from long-term side effects.
• 2 of every 3 kids who are cured often suffer long-term side effects from their cancer treatments.
• Childhood cancer survivors are twice as likely to suffer chronic health conditions later in life than those without a history of cancer.

Not all numbers are bad.

• There are approximately 450,000 survivors of childhood cancer in the U.S.
• The odds of your child developing cancer is approximately 1 in 330.
• Today, about 90% of kids with the most common cancer – Leukemia – will survive.

Funding Numbers

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has an annual budget of more than $42 billion. Forty-two billion! NIH-funded research has led to breakthroughs and new treatments, helping people live longer, healthier lives.

Unless, apparently, that life belongs to a child with cancer. Of that whopping sum of $42 billion, only $1.7 billion – 4% – goes to childhood cancer research.

And while adult cancer receives as much as 60% of its funding from pharmaceutical companies, kids’ cancer research receives next to nothing from these companies.

Why? Because pharmaceutical companies make many decisions based on profit, on numbers, and the number of childhood cancer cases is relatively small compared to adult cases, so the profit is lower…or nonexistent.

The bigger question is: why doesn’t the government invest more in childhood cancer research and treatments?

Childhood cancers include:

Leukemia (accounts for 28% of all childhood cancers)
Brain and spinal cord tumors (25% of childhood cancers)
Neuroblastoma
Wilms tumor
Lymphoma
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Retinoblastoma
Bone cancer

Of these, only leukemia has seen significant advances in treatments and success.

            Only one.

Brain tumors – the leading cancer of death among kids, have not had one new treatment developed for its treatment and cure. Never.

            Not one.

Treatments.

Yes, many treatments have been developed for cancer – adult cancer, that is. But adult and childhood cancer is not the same thing.

– 80% of the time, cancer in kids has already spread by the time of diagnosis.

So, what happens? We treat kids with cancer with adult treatments, adult drugs. We perform surgery, put them through radiation therapy, and poison their young bodies and minds with chemotherapy.

And while these do help to some degree, these adult treatments cause irreparable damage to young bodies and minds.

More research is needed to continue to improve childhood cancer survival and to decrease the toxicity of treatment.

What can we do?

Currently, more than 200 childhood cancer foundations exist in the U.S. alone. 10’s of 1,000’s of people volunteer to lobby, participate in events, lobby their political leaders – all with a driving desire to help create change. And 1,000’s of dedicated and underfunded researchers are searching for improvements and cures.

But that’s not enough.

We need two additional key partners to care:

– our government and its National Institutes of Health, and

–  the pharmaceutical industry.

Until research is appropriately funded, until our government leaders take action, the fight for childhood cancer cures will not run like a gazelle but will continue moving at the pace of a slug.

And that’s not good enough.

The Role of Bridge To A Cure

One problem is a lack of cohesion. While many individual people and parts are involved in working for a cure, there is not enough sharing and working together. Nor is there a system to enable this process. Yet.

Apart or together, the numbers are shocking.

The effort falls short.

The concern by those we need to be concerned does not exist.

That’s where Bridge To A Cure comes in:

• With our creation of a national cancer database, researchers can share with and learn from each other.
• We’re organizing the noise, unifying the elements – the people and the organizations that are working to find cures. We believe that together we can become the squeaky wheel that receives the attention – the funding – it deserves.

Then, success will be just around the corner. And until that happens, We’ve Had Enough!