Through a CRADA with EMD Serono, NCI played an instrumental role in developing and 
expediting regulatory approval of EMD Serono’s checkpoint inhibitor, avelumab. Avelumab 
received FDA approval in 2017, only four years after EMD Serono and NCI added the study of 
avelumab to their CRADA. This was a remarkably fast developmental and regulatory approval 
timeline.

NCI: 
• James Gulley, M.D., Ph.D., Branch Chief, Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for 
Cancer Research (CCR)
• Jeffrey Schlom, Ph.D., Chief, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology (LTIB), CCR
• John Greiner, Ph.D., Staff Scientist and Head of Cytokine Group, LTIB, CCR
• Renee N. Donahue, Ph.D., Staff Scientist, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, 
Center for Cancer Research, CCR
• Ravi A. Madan, M.D., Associate Research Physician and Clinical Director, Genitourinary 
Malignancies Branch, CCR
• Andrea B. Apolo, M.D., Investigator and Head of the Bladder Cancer Section, Genitourinary 
Malignancies Branch, CCR
• Julius Strauss, M.D., Staff Clinician, LTIB, CCR
• Isaac Brownell, MD, Ph.D., Investigator, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal 
and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), formerly Investigator, Dermatology Branch, CCR 
• Michael Pollack, Ph.D., Supervisory Technology Transfer Manager (TTM), NCI Technology 
Transfer Center (TTC)

CDC: 
• Kevin Brand, J.D., TTM, CDC, formerly NCI TTC