St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

On Clinical Trials Day, St. Jude recognizes the essential role clinical trials play in advancing care for children with catastrophic diseases.    "Clinical trials at St. Jude are redefining what’s possible for children with cancer by bringing the most promising therapies to patients faster and more precisely than ever before,” said Elizabeth Fox, MD, senior vice president, Clinical Trials Administration. “With our ability to design, test and deploy targeted therapies, we can steal back the years that these children would otherwise lose to these cancers while also protecting their health from the known serious side effects of conventional therapies."    Active studies at St. Jude are addressing childhood cancer, blood disorders, genetic syndromes, infectious diseases, neurological disorders and immune disorders.     Among these studies are several trials aimed at improving care for leukemia and lymphoma. Led by Seth Karol, MD, Department of Oncology, the INITIALL, SJALL23T and SJALL23H trials leverage the biology of these cancers to match treatment strategies to disease features and patient needs.     INITIALL uses genetic testing to inform physicians about a patient’s likely response to treatment and if their patient can be appropriately enrolled on either SJALL23T or SJALL23H. SJALL23T evaluates whether adding targeted agents to standard chemotherapy can improve outcomes, while SJALL23H studies using inotuzumab and blinatumomab to induce remission for high-risk disease.    In addition, St. Jude is conducting many active studies that evaluate patient health or provide interventions that can improve outcomes for children but do not directly treat cancer. These studies can build knowledge that will support future improvements in care, such as gathering genomic information about a disease, tracking how a disease progresses clinically over time or how treatment impacts long-term health.    Giving children access to more effective, precise care depends on clinical trials. Today, we honor patients, families, investigators and research teams whose participation makes this progress possible.    #ClinicalTrialsDay

We are honored by Dr. Tedros Ghebryesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), recognizing the partnership between St. Jude and WHO to expand access to childhood cancer medicines globally.      Together, WHO and St. Jude have helped deliver 1.5 million cancer medicines supporting treatment for 2,400 children in five countries through the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines.     “I would like to use this opportunity to thank St. Jude for their cooperation and leadership in this area,” Ghebreyesus said in his opening address at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.     St. Jude remains committed to working alongside countries and other stakeholders to improve access to lifesaving care and better outcomes for children everywhere.  #WHA79 https://ow.ly/eWbV50Z1Oej

The 2026 Nursing Research and Psychosocial Services Symposium at St. Jude brought together colleagues from across the institution to examine how clinical scholarship can strengthen patient care outcomes. The symposium centered on this year’s theme, SOAR to New Heights: Strengthening Outcomes through Advocacy and Resilience. In her opening remarks, Danielle R. Reynolds, DNP, RN, FNP-C, encouraged those in attendance. "Every single day, you advocate fiercely for your patients, show incredible resilience and somehow still find the energy to smile at a child, comfort a family, and keep everything moving—including yourselves," she said. Across five sessions and eight oral abstract presentations, the event highlighted research, quality improvement and evidence-based practice projects that are shaping care for patients and families. The symposium also created space to share programs and results that may not always be widely seen, while giving clinicians and other professionals an opportunity to learn from work taking place across disciplines. “The beauty of our symposium is the collaboration of Nursing Research with Psychosocial Services to bring to our patient care staff many research, quality and evidence-based practice projects that are being done to improve the care of our patients and families,” said Jami S. Gattuso, MSN, RN, CPON, FAPHON. That emphasis on collaboration extended across the full program. Nurses, APPs, physicians, psychologists, social workers, chaplains, child life specialists, educators and systems leaders came together around shared questions of advocacy, resilience and outcomes. The symposium reflected how progress in patient care depends not only on strong individual programs, but also on coordinated work across specialties.

As Nepal and Ghana were preparing to participate in the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, they developed new infrastructure to collect and manage national data on childhood cancer. That preparation reflects the broader scope of the Global Platform, a partnership between participating countries, St. Jude and World Health Organization focused on expanding access to quality-assured pediatric oncology drugs while strengthening health systems in resource-limited countries. The data systems established in both countries now support more consistent tracking of pediatric cancer burden, improve visibility into care delivery and help guide national planning efforts. What began as a requirement for participation is already supporting broader capabilities across each country’s health system. “We had to improve our systems, including record keeping, storage, distribution and analysis,” said Krisha Sharma, MD, B P Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital senior consultant and board of directors member in Nepal. “We now have a national cancer registry and systems that will also help us provide better service for our patients.” “We've used our data to improve the Ministry of Health’s awareness of the burden of childhood cancers,” said Lorna Renner, MD, of the University of Ghana Medical School. “When governments understand the magnitude of the problem, they also see the opportunity, as children treated successfully have decades of productive life ahead of them.” These investments are already supporting new infrastructure, including pediatric cancer centers and national strategies, with potential to extend into other disease areas such as sickle cell disease. By building the systems needed to participate in the Global Platform, Ghana and Nepal are strengthening care for children nationwide while establishing a foundation for long-term improvements across their health systems. Learn more about how the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines is forming the foundation for systemic improvements in resource-limited countries: https://ow.ly/j97t50YYVbP

New findings from St. Jude combine clinical, imaging and molecular data to better guide treatment for a type of pediatric brain tumor called H3 G34–mutant diffuse hemispheric glioma (DHG). H3 G34–DHG arises in a brain region critical for movement, sensation and cognition. The disease is rare and pediatric-specific evidence about how best to treat it has been hard to obtain. “Much of what we’ve done historically has been based on adult gliomas,” said Jason Chiang, MD, PhD. “But children and adults have fundamentally different biology, and our treatments need to reflect that.” Recent research on H3 G34–DHG showed that treatment with temozolomide improved progression-free survival, prompting researchers to want to better understand the biology behind those promising responses. Chiang and his colleagues showed that MGMT, a DNA repair enzyme, plays a key role. The team found that unlike in adults, lower MGMT mRNA expression in children was linked to better survival in patients treated with temozolomide. “This helps explain why the test used in adults doesn’t really work in children,” said Chiang. “Our results suggest that looking at MGMT expression, instead of promoter methylation, would be a more useful way to predict outcomes and guide treatment in pediatric DHG.” In addition to molecular markers like MGMT, clinical outcomes such as surgical approach (in this case gross total resection) can be important predictors of delayed disease progression. "Gross total resection can give these children the best chance at delaying progression, but in some cases, complete removal simply isn’t possible,” said Dana Tlais, MD. “We have to consider patient safety when planning surgery, ensuring that quality of life remains a priority.” Together, the findings support a shift away from treatment strategies adapted broadly from adult gliomas and toward approaches guided by the biology of each pediatric tumor. https://ow.ly/LE9N50YXCkm #BrainTumorAwarenessMonth

What started as one of the hardest seasons for the Wade family became the foundation for two healthcare careers at St. Jude. As a teenager, Braden Wade was treated at St. Jude for non‑Hodgkin lymphoma. Around the same time, his mother, Jessica Wade, was pursuing a role at St. Jude. While at the hospital for treatment, Jessica received the call to schedule her interview and while she was reluctant to make a professional change while their family navigated treatment, Braden encouraged her to take the role. Years later, Braden returned to St. Jude as a graduate school nurse, now working in surgery alongside his mother, a nurse practitioner II in the Center of Advanced Practice. Their roles are distinct, but their days often intersect, shaped by a shared understanding of what families need when the stakes are high. Working in the same department has also given them a rare perspective. They understand the mission through different lenses, and they can debrief the small moments that stay with clinicians long after a shift ends. “Working in the same place has given us a shared language for what matters, and it’s meaningful to know we can support the same families together,” said Braden. This Mother’s Day, we recognize the ways family support and clinical care can shape a path into healthcare, and how that purpose can come full circle at St. Jude.

Xin-yan Chen, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Chunliang Li, PhD, in the Department of Tumor Cell Biology, recently earned first place for her oral presentation at the 12th St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center Postdoctoral Symposium for research presented on a form of leukemia. Chen’s work focuses on KMT2A-rearranged leukemia, a subtype that remains especially difficult to treat. Rather than targeting a single molecule, her research examines the broader regulatory networks that drive disease development, including how RNA modifications contribute to leukemia progression and create potential therapeutic vulnerabilities. “Research is rarely straightforward – it requires a lot of effort and patience to move from observing something to understanding the complex work behind it,” Chen said. “What may appear to be a small change often reflects a much larger biological system, and uncovering those connections is incredibly fascinating to me.” The collaborative research environment and shared scientific resources at St. Jude have played an important role in supporting this work. Comprehensive genomics datasets provide a strong research foundation, while close collaboration between scientists and clinical investigators helps translation from bench to bedside. “Being a scientist allows me to contribute even a small piece to our understanding of life and, hopefully, use that knowledge to improve human health,” Chen said. Learn more about Chen and her scientific journey: https://ow.ly/3WTq50YW9o5

As The Science of Childhood Cancer virtual lecture series concludes its 12th season this May, the final two lectures will highlight leaders whose work spans global health and precision pediatric oncology. On Thursday, May 7, Nickhill Bhakta Bhakta, MD, MPH, of St. Jude will discuss leveraging global health priorities to advance scientific discovery. His work focuses on strengthening global data systems, cancer registries and decision‑making tools that support childhood cancer care worldwide. The season ends Thursday, May 14, with Kim Stegmaier, MD, Department of Pediatric Oncology chair and professor at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Her lecture will examine strategies for targeting fusion‑driven cancers and highlight how innovative genomic approaches are helping identify new therapies for childhood cancer. For lecture details and registration, visit https://ow.ly/YAku50YV2Pi.

Hongbo Chi, PhD, Department of Immunology chair, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), one of the highest honors for outstanding contributions to scientific research and innovation. “I am deeply honored to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences,” Chi said. “This recognition reflects the extraordinary research environment of St. Jude and the wonderful colleagues, trainees and mentors I’ve had the privilege to work with.” The NAS recognized Chi for his field-defining work connecting immunology, metabolism and regulatory networks that control adaptive immunity. His research has advanced understanding of immune cell metabolism and function and has helped shape new engineering approaches for next-generation cancer immunotherapies. Chi was among 120 new members and 25 international members elected to the renowned society of 2,705 members and 557 international members recognized for distinguished achievements in scientific research. “Hongbo’s election to the National Academy of Sciences recognizes the lasting impact of his work in the field of immunology, specifically his pioneering research in immunometabolism,” said James R. Downing, M.D., St. Jude president and CEO. “His commitment to the St. Jude mission, along with his recent leadership of the Department of Immunology, points to the important contributions he continues to make to advance cures for pediatric catastrophic diseases.” In addition to his NAS membership, Chi was recognized as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2023 and has maintained a position on the Highly Cited Researchers list for six consecutive years, reflecting the influence and reach of his work across the scientific community. https://ow.ly/Hkvm50YUJyl