Connor Dowling

Connor Dowling is the Founding Executive Director of the Daniel W. Offit Fund to Fight Glioblastoma, a venture philanthropy organization dedicated to bridging the critical funding gap in neuro-oncology. Despite being the most aggressive primary brain cancer, with a median survival of just 15 months, glioblastoma historically receives less than 2% of oncology venture capital. Connor leads the Fund’s mission to accelerate transformative science and bring promising innovations to patients by applying the rigor of venture creation to philanthropic investment.

Previously, Connor served as the Founding Chief Operating Officer of the Weill Cornell Medicine BioVenture eLab, a pioneering center for biomedical entrepreneurship. In this role, he collaborated with hundreds of scientists, clinicians, and investors to launch dozens of biomedical technologies and ventures. Under his leadership, the BioVenture eLab was recognized as a “World Changing Idea” by Fast Company.

Following this, Connor was the founding CEO of GenoTwin, a Columbia University spinout launched with Raul Rabadan, PhD, Head of Mathematical Genomics at Columbia University. Under his leadership, GenoTwin brought complex meta-omics and biosecurity lab innovations to market for both human and animal health, supported by a network of leading clients, venture accelerators, and investors.

Connor began his career in capital markets policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce before moving into product management at a logistics technology startup. He holds a Master’s in Global Business Administration from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and is an Aspen Institute Fellow.

His commitment to the Daniel W. Offit Fund to Fight Glioblastoma is deeply personal: having lost his mother to glioblastoma early in his career, Connor changed career paths to focus on innovation and venture and channels this dedication into the Fund’s mission. He honors Dan Offit’s legacy by leveraging his expertise in biotech and venture strategy to accelerate promising treatments, care, and support for those affected by the disease.