St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Join us for the next installment of The Science of Childhood Cancer Lecture Series on February 13, 2025, featuring an important update from St. Jude President and CEO James R. Downing, M.D., and Executive Vice President and Director of St. Jude Global, Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, MD.  In this session, Dr. Downing and Dr. Rodriguez-Galindo will lead a compelling discussion on “Transforming global pediatric cancer care: an update on strategies to address global inequities in childhood cancer care and control.” Gain insights into cutting-edge approaches designed to reduce disparities and improve access to pediatric cancer care worldwide.  Join us for a unique opportunity to hear directly from two of the foremost leaders in global pediatric oncology. Mark your calendar for Thursday, February 13, at 12 pm CT/1 pm ET.  Register here: https://ow.ly/YlCq50U2E2T

February 4 marks World Cancer Day, a global call to action to close the care gap and improve outcomes for cancer. Of the estimated 400,000 children who develop cancer each year, only half are ever diagnosed. Of those that do get diagnosed, 85% live in resource-limited income countries, where resources and infrastructure for treatment can vary greatly.    St. Jude Global, together with the International Society of Paediatric Oncology - SIOP and collaborators, are helping provide guidance for countries worldwide about how to treat pediatric cancers – tailored and customizable to resource limited environments. With the Adapted Resource and Implementation Application (ARIA) Guide, healthcare professionals anywhere have access to evidence-based guidelines for how to safely diagnose, treat and manage childhood and adolescent cancers. The ARIA Guide equips medical professionals with the knowledge and tools to provide the best possible care for their patients no matter where they live.     In the St. Jude Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, faculty members, many of whom also have leading roles in St. Jude Global, research global health – including assessing the burden of childhood cancer to help advocate for allocation of resources. This includes Nickhill Bhakta, MD, who pioneered the ARIA Guide, and serves as Director of the St. Jude Global Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Program and Director of St. Jude Global Disease Burden and Simulation. “At St. Jude we have a fundamental belief that treatments and cures don’t start and stop at our gates. We identify opportunities to make an impact on every child, everywhere,” said Bhakta.   Bhakta’s work with ARIA is just one example of the many ways that St. Jude Global is making a difference for children worldwide. As we recognize World Cancer Day, we also celebrate Founders Day at St. Jude – a reminder of the vision that started it all. Today, we honor our past while advancing our goal to ensure every child, everywhere, has access to lifesaving cancer treatment.   Learn more: StJude.org/global #WorldCancerDay #GlobalHealth #PediatricOncology #FoundersDay

Join us virtually April 8-9, 2025, for the inaugural St. Jude Pediatric Translational Neuroscience Symposium. The Symposium, hosted by the St. Jude Pediatric Translational Neuroscience Initiative (PTNI), will bring together leading experts in pediatric neuroscience to discuss critical topics including gene discovery, movement from identification of genetic variants to development of therapeutic candidates, and considerations for gene therapy and translational research. The event is hosted by J Paul Taylor, MD, PhD, Richard Finkel, MD, Peter McKinnon, PhD, and Kristin Stephenson, MHA, JD. View the full list of speakers and topics on the website. Register today: ow.ly/GhU450USz3o

The Science of Childhood Cancer Lecture Series is back on February 6, 2025, with an engaging lecture featuring Martine Roussel, PhD, from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.     Dr. Roussel, PhD, a renowned researcher in pediatric brain tumor research, will discuss the development of models for the most aggressive forms of pediatric brain tumors and their use in identifying novel therapies through pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. This lecture promises valuable insights into the fight against high-risk pediatric embryonal brain tumors. Register now and join us on Thursday February 6, at 12 pm CT/ 1pm ET.  https://ow.ly/g5ur50UPQ49 

Lindsay Schwarz, PhD, assistant member in the Department of Developmental Neurobiology, has received the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). This recognition, the highest honor for early-career scientists and engineers in the US, highlights her innovative contributions to understanding neuromodulatory circuits and their roles in behavior and disease. Nominated by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Schwarz has advanced tools to study and manipulate specific cell populations. “Dr. Schwarz’s work is not only obtaining a deeper understanding of neurons, their circuits, and associated behaviors,” said Michael Dyer, PhD, chair of Developmental Neurobiology. “She is also developing tools to target and manipulate neurons that other investigators can use to make new discoveries.” This recognition builds on Schwarz’s achievements, including awards from the National Institutes of Health, McKnight Foundation, and Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. Her work contributes to our commitment at St. Jude to advancing discovery and transforming patient outcomes. Learn more: https://ow.ly/vPG850UQmj6

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has been recognized with a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award and named among its list of the Best Places to Work. This recognition is rooted in feedback from our team members, who highlight the unique culture and shared purpose that drive our work every day. One employee shared, “It was apparent from my first day that St. Jude values transparency, equal opportunity, and invests in their employees professionally and personally.” As we grow by an additional 2,300 positions under our current five-year strategic plan, we look forward to welcoming new team members who share our commitment to advancing cures and saving lives around the world. Explore opportunities to join the mission to advance research and treatment for pediatric catastrophic diseases everywhere: stjude.org/jobs

The Science of Childhood Cancer lecture series is back for its 10th season. Join us every Thursday at 12PM CT/1PM ET from February 6-May 15 for engaging lectures followed by insightful Q&A. You can explore a wide array of topics and learn from leading experts across the spectrum of basic, translational, clinical and population science. This virtual, interactive series hosted by the St. Jude Comprehensive Center promises a deep dive into the science at the forefront of pediatric cancer research. Registration is free. Sign up to get weekly updates on lectures: https://ow.ly/6Ii350UM0Hg

As director of Quality Systems & Accreditation, Maris Brown's work ensures that St. Jude surpasses the highest standards for health care facilities, continuously improving patient care and safety. Recently, Brown led the hospital through a major transition to DNV, a global accrediting body that prioritizes standardization and ongoing improvement. Unlike traditional accreditation models, DNV conducts yearly inspections, giving St. Jude more opportunities to refine its processes and enhance its services. “The thing I enjoy the most is getting people on board with change,” she said. “Helping somebody understand how we can be compliant, stay ready for survey, and improve our processes so we can have a safer environment for our patients – seeing that lightbulb go off is really worth it.” Brown’s role touches nearly every department at St. Jude. From clinical services and medical records to facilities and human resources, she develops systems that ensure readiness and prompt action when risks are identified. Her efforts to rally teams around shared goals reflect her commitment to creating a safer, stronger environment for patients and staff alike. “At the end of the day, it’s about ensuring the best care for our patients,” she said. “That’s what makes the work worthwhile.” Each year, St. Jude recognizes employees, nominated by their coworkers, who embody the seven core values that drive the institution. These stories show that the values are lived through the actions and commitment to our patients, their families and each other. Brown was honored for embracing the challenge to create a new tomorrow.

Culture profoundly influences how patients and families around the world perceive health, illness and treatment. Effective communication is essential to pediatric cancer care, but it must reflect cultural contexts. The St. Jude Global Culture and Communication (C&C) transversal program focuses on ensuring care is empathetic, patient-centered and culturally sensitive. Through education, research and community engagement, the C&C program empowers health care professionals to recognize cultural differences, address care gaps and develop tailored approaches that foster trust. By integrating qualitative research, the program’s work turns patient stories into actionable science by connecting emotional experiences and scientific data to create interventions that resonate with families and reflect their values. “I hope that, in the future, this program will expand its efforts to connect with communities and support patients and families beyond the hospital setting,” said Dylan Graetz, MD, MPH, director of the Culture and Communication program and assistant member in the Department of Global Pediatric Medicine. Learn how this program is transforming pediatric cancer care worldwide by prioritizing cultural understanding and collaboration: https://ow.ly/XBrV50UKrAj

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital welcomes Elizabeth M. C. Hillman, PhD, as the founding chair of the Department of Imaging Sciences. This new department will establish a community of technology innovators to accelerate scientific discovery and improve the understanding and diagnosis of pediatric catastrophic diseases. Hillman, a pioneer in imaging method development, will lead the recruitment of faculty specializing in imaging technologies ranging from sub-cellular microscopy to whole-body medical imaging. Her mission is to develop groundbreaking tools and techniques that advance research and patient care while ensuring these innovations have global impact. “Elizabeth is a renowned physicist, gifted biomedical engineer and prolific inventor of new technologies,” said James R. Downing, M.D., president and CEO of St. Jude. “As part of our culture of innovation, Elizabeth will recruit talented faculty who will push the frontier of imaging to transform basic and clinical research for children everywhere.” Hillman joins St. Jude from Columbia University, where she developed imaging systems that are now driving innovation in the field. Learn how her leadership will push the boundaries of imaging science: https://ow.ly/GZQG50UL653 #StJude #ScientificInnovation #MedicalImaging #ChildhoodCancerResearch