Amar Gajjar, MD, Chair of the Department of Pediatric Medicine at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, has received the International Society of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO) Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award recognizes individuals whose lifelong contributions have made a lasting impact on pediatric brain tumor research and clinical care. Throughout his career, Dr. Gajjar has helped reshape the treatment of childhood brain tumors through clinical research, collaborative trials, and molecularly guided treatment approaches.
A Career Dedicated to Children With Brain Tumors
Dr. Amar Gajjar is a pediatric neuro-oncologist whose work has focused on improving outcomes for children diagnosed with brain tumors, including medulloblastoma, gliomas, and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors.
His research has contributed to major advances in the understanding and treatment of pediatric brain cancers. Through pioneering clinical trials, Dr. Amar Gajjar has helped advance approaches that aim not only to improve survival but also to reduce long-term treatment-related side effects for children and adolescents.
His work in medulloblastoma, one of the most common malignant brain tumors in children, has been particularly influential in shaping molecularly guided treatment strategies.
Clinical Trials That Changed Practice
Over the course of his career, Dr. Gajjar has led and contributed to clinical protocols that have influenced pediatric neuro-oncology practice worldwide.
His research has supported a shift toward more individualized treatment approaches, using molecular characteristics of tumors to guide therapy decisions. These efforts have helped strengthen the balance between effective cancer control and the need to limit the long-term burden of treatment in young patients.
Dr. Gajjar’s work has also played an important role in expanding scientific understanding of childhood brain tumors and supporting the development of new treatment strategies for complex and aggressive diseases.
A Legacy of Mentorship and Global Influence
Beyond his research and clinical leadership, Dr. Gajjar has trained and mentored generations of physicians and researchers in pediatric neuro-oncology.
“The field of neuro-oncology, and each of us in it, would not be where we are today without Amar Gajjar,” said Giles Robinson, MD, Director of Neuro-Oncology at St. Jude and a former trainee under Dr. Gajjar. “His influence has been massive. His clinical trials have changed practice and led to new discoveries. His trainees now span the globe and share his passion for curing children of brain cancer.”
His trainees now work across institutions worldwide, continuing efforts to improve care for children affected by brain tumors.
Leadership at St. Jude
Dr. Gajjar received his medical degree from Grant Medical College in Bombay, India. He is a Member of the St. Jude Faculty, Chair of the Department of Pediatric Medicine, and the Scott and Tracie Hamilton Endowed Chair in Brain Tumor Research.
The ISPNO Lifetime Achievement Award reflects his longstanding commitment to scientific leadership, clinical innovation, mentorship, and improving the lives of children and families facing pediatric brain tumors.
Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD
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