Cancer Center Near Me-St.Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Founded in 1962 by Danny Thomas, St.Jude Children’s Research Hospital has revolutionized the treatment and survival rates of pediatric diseases. It has played an enormous role in advancing cancer research and providing free care to children battling life-threatening illnesses. The hospital’s impact is undeniable. Since its founding, the survival rate for childhood cancer has risen from 20% to over 80%. St. Jude treats more than 8,600 patients annually, specializing in leukemia, brain tumors, and rare genetic diseases. Remarkably, 100% of families receive care without ever receiving a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food.

Where is St Jude Children’s Research Hospital Located?

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and is one of the world’s leading institutions for pediatric catastrophic diseases, particularly childhood cancer. Memphis is know as a city of rich musical heritage, civil rights history, and vibrant culture. It’s along the Mississippi Rive and is popular for Beale Street’s blue scene, Graceland, and the amazing barbecue. The city is really important in American history for its role in Civil Rights Movement with the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel.

The hospital has a vibrant and hopeful atmosphere, with bright, child-friendly spaces designed to make young patients feel comfortable. Its research facilities attract top scientists and clinicians from around the world, working tirelessly to improve survival rates and develop new therapies.

Research Programs at St.Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a global leader in cancer genetics, immunotherapy, and personalized treatment, offering groundbreaking clinical trials and novel therapies. Researchers at the hospital pioneered the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project, mapping the genetic makeup of childhood cancers to develop targeted treatments. Their discovery of mutations in the TP53 gene has significantly improved diagnosis for pediatric brain tumors like medulloblastoma. In the field of immunotherapy, St. Jude researchers played a key role in developing CAR-T cell therapy, a breakthrough treatment for leukemia that harnesses the immune system to attack cancer cells.

Additionally, their work with checkpoint inhibitors has led to major advances in treating pediatric solid tumors. Emphasizing personalized medicine, St. Jude provides open access to its research data through the St. Jude Cloud, enabling scientists worldwide to develop customized treatment plans. More than 85% of St. Jude patients participate in clinical trials, continuously pushing the boundaries of pediatric cancer treatment (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, n.d.).

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital offers research opportunities for PhD, MD, and MD/PhD candidates through postdoctoral fellowships in Immunology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Epidemiology, focusing on childhood cancer survivorship. Specialized training programs include Pediatric Cancer Survivorship Outcomes and Infectious Disease Therapeutics. The St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences provides a fully funded PhD program in biomedical sciences. Medical students can participate in clinical rotations and electives in pediatric oncology. These programs equip researchers with cutting-edge training to advance pediatric cancer treatment (stjude.org).

St. Jude Celebrates Doctors’ Day

Charity Work: No Child Pays a Dime

One of the most unique and attractive aspects of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is its no-cost policy for patient families. Operating costs exceed $2.2 million per day, all funded by donations. Families receive free housing at Tri-Delta Place and Target House, ensuring a comfortable stay during treatment. Beyond its walls, St. Jude collaborates with global outreach programs, sharing medical knowledge and resources with over 50 countries to improve pediatric cancer care worldwide.

Fundraising Initiatives: How You Can Help

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital relies on public support through major fundraising events to provide free care for patients and advance research. The hospital hosts several impactful initiatives to support pediatric cancer research and treatment.The St. Jude Walk/Run, held in over 60 cities across the U.S., unites thousands of supporters each year to raise essential funds. The Thanks and Giving Campaign, launched by Marlo Thomas, is a holiday season initiative where retailers like Best Buy, Domino’s, and Kmart collect donations at checkout, contributing to over $1 billion raised since 2004.

Participants celebrating at the finish line of a St. Jude Walk/Run event.
Credit: Photo courtesy of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Another major fundraiser, the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway, allows participants to donate for a chance to win a newly built home, with 90% of every dollar going directly to research and treatment.

St.Jude Global

St. Jude Global launched in 2018, this program focuses on reducing disparities in access to pediatric cancer care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. St. Jude aims to improve survival rates for children with cancer globally, with a goal of reaching 60% survival for six common types of childhood cancer by 2030.Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer In partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), St. Jude is working to enhance access to quality cancer care. This initiative supports over 50 governments in developing local cancer programs.

Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, St. Jude is investing $200 million over six years to provide safe and effective cancer medicines at no cost to participating countries, impacting an estimated 120,000 children.

Collaborative Programs

St. Jude Global Alliance includes 15 international fundraising foundations and medical institutions dedicated to improving healthcare access and survival rates for children with catastrophic diseases. The alliance facilitates collaboration among institutions across various countries, including Armenia, Chile, India, and South Africa. St. Jude has established partnerships with 24 institutions across regions such as Central and South America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. These networks promote self-sufficiency and knowledge sharing among healthcare providers.

St. Jude conducts online educational programs, case-based meetings, and specialty training symposia to enhance the skills of healthcare providers in treating pediatric cancer. For instance, they have coordinated training events in Singapore and other countries to improve treatment practices.St. Jude shares data from its Pediatric Cancer Genome Project with global research communities to aid in understanding the genetic origins of childhood cancer.

The Man Who Will Cure the World

An article titled “Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo: The Man Who Will Cure the World” by Prof. Gevorg Tamamyan provides an in-depth look into the remarkable journey of Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, a prominent figure in global pediatric oncology. Dr. Rodriguez-Galindo is the Executive Vice President and Director of St. Jude Global at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In the article, he reflects on his personal and professional evolution, from his humble beginnings in Spain to his pivotal role in shaping international childhood cancer treatment. His work has been instrumental in advancing global efforts to improve the care and outcomes for children battling cancer.

This article discusses his belief in medicine as a service, his unexpected path into pediatric oncology and his commitment to expanding access to cancer care worldwide. His leadership has helped establish a network that extends life-saving treatments to underserved regions, emphasized the need for collaborations between hospitals, goverments, and organizations like WHO.

At the Second Global OncoThon by OncoDaily, Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, Director of St. Jude Global, Executive Vice President, and Chair of the Department of Global Pediatric Medicine at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, spoke about the critical importance of collaboration in the fight against childhood cancer. In his opening, he thanked OncoDaily and SIOP for organizing the event so well and expressed his happiness to be part of it. He highlighted the invaluable contributions of pediatric oncologists, families, and doctors, emphasizing the need to accumulate experiences, secure funding, and engage in political efforts for childhood cancer research.

Doctor Rodriguez-Galindo expressed his hope that this kind of movement will continue and urged everyone not to give up. He shared that this moment feels particularly significant, a frontier in the fight, and stressed the importance of participation from popular figures like Messi, Princess Dina, and the Gere family in raising awareness and support for the cause.

Join the Second Global OncoThon by OncoDaily: Donate Now

OncoDaily Honors Dr. Asya Agulnik with Yvonne Award

Dr. Agulnik has been honored with the 2024 Yvonne Award in the Leadership Category by OncoDaily. This award recognizes her leadership in improving care for children with cancer, especially in critical care settings, through education, research, and international collaboration.As the Director of St. Jude’s Global Critical Care Program, Dr. Agulnik has made substantial strides in providing specialized training to healthcare providers around the world. Her initiatives include the Global Academy and the Pediatric Onco-Critical Care Symposium (POCCS), which help doctors and nurses globally improve their expertise in treating critically ill children with cancer.

Prof. Gevorg Tamamyan, Asya Agulnik and her father, OncoDaily Party and Yvonne Award 2024 – May 31, Chicago, USA 

Additionally, Dr. Agulnik directs the Euro-Regional program of St. Jude Global and the SAFER Ukraine initiative, which helps evacuate children with cancer from conflict zones like Ukraine, ensuring they receive treatment abroad. Her leadership has been instrumental in St. Jude’s mission to expand pediatric cancer care beyond its hospital, strengthening healthcare systems for pediatric oncology worldwide.The Yvonne Award acknowledges her tireless efforts to improve outcomes for children with cancer globally. The article seems to emphasize her leadership, compassion, and dedication to expanding the reach of St. Jude’s work, making a significant impact on pediatric oncology care worldwide.

The Power of St.Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Changing Lives One Child at a Time

St. Jude’s works on more than just medical research- it is about saving lifes and providing hope for the families who are experiencing their darkest moments. The public support provides children from all 50 states as well as across the world with the life-changing care needed without the financial burden.Want to make a difference? Donate today or join a fundraising event to help mission: Finding cures. Saving children.

Upcoming Events

• March 9, 2025 – St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend (Memphis, TN) – The hospital’s largest annual fundraiser, bringing in over $12 million in donations each year.
• April 20, 2025 – St. Jude Gala NYC (New York, NY) – A star-studded benefit event featuring celebrity guests and live auctions.
• September 21, 2025 – St. Jude Walk/Run Nationwide – Participate in your city to support childhood cancer research.

For more details, visit St. Jude’s official website or call their patient services line.

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By Stella Ghevondyan