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Charles Roberts Highlights Father–Son Scientists Advancing Research at St. Jude

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/LinkedIn

Jun 23, 2025, 06:46

Charles Roberts Highlights Father–Son Scientists Advancing Research at St. Jude

Charles Roberts, Cancer Center Director/Executive Vice-President at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, shared St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s post on LinkedIn:

“This is an impressive father-son duo. I have personally benefited from the impact of Drs. Morgan. Not long after coming to St. Jude Dr. Jim Morgan rapidly became a colleague and sage advisor. So thoughtful, dedicated and always thinking of how best to benefit St. Jude in his role as EVP/Scientific Director.

It is a highlight for me still when I get to chat with him. And then I was fortunate to recruit Dr. Marc Morgan to join my research laboratory. Wisdom seems to run in the family as Marc has been a spectacular addition to the lab, with many raving about the key insights and experience that he brings. Thank you Drs. Morgan!”

Quoting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s post:

“Scientific discovery often begins with curiosity. For Marc Morgan, PhD, and James Morgan, PhD, this curiosity has been a shared passion spanning decades, rooted in their mutual commitment to advancing research. As a father and son, their journey reflects not only the evolution of science but also the values that define the St. Jude community.

James began his career in England before moving to New Jersey, where he nurtured his son Marc’s interest in science by involving him in lab work. In 1995, James relocated to Memphis to establish a new department at St. Jude with his long-time collaborator, Tom Curran, focusing on neuroscience and brain tumor development.

‘I was very attracted to St. Jude early on because of the mission,’ James explains. ‘I had the chance to build something from scratch in a way that hadn’t happened before. Now, we have a world-class institution where talent begets talent.’

Marc grew up immersed in this environment of scientific rigor and curiosity. Though he initially pursued English at Rhodes College, his fascination with genetic sequencing and carbon bonds ultimately led him to earn his doctorate from Oxford University. In 2003, Marc joined St. Jude as a research technician, later returning in 2023 as an oncology lead scientist. ‘You shouldn’t be afraid of blowing up your own research and exploring unexplored territories,’ Marc says. ‘Being wrong gets you closer to getting it right if you keep questioning.’

This shared commitment to inquiry and innovation has shaped both their careers. While James reflects on the early days of building the research infrastructure at St. Jude, Marc notes the institution’s remarkable growth over the past two decades.

Despite working in separate departments, the father and son maintain a close connection, often discussing research, genetic disorders and emerging technologies. Their collaborative spirit even led to a joint research paper in 2012.

On Father’s Day, we celebrate not only the bond between Marc and James Morgan but also their shared dedication to advancing science in service of the St. Jude mission.”