St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, based in Memphis, Tennessee, is recognized around the world for its work in treating and finding cures for childhood cancers and other catastrophic childhood diseases. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
Diseases treated at St. Jude include childhood cancers, blood disorders, immune disorders, infectious diseases, and neurological disorders. Since its founding, St. Jude has helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate in the U.S. from 20% in 1962 to more than 80% today.
Founded in the midst of the civil rights movement, St. Jude was the first fully integrated children’s hospital in the South and has become a leading institution in the treatment and research of life-threatening pediatric diseases.
Where is St Jude Children’s Research Hospital Located?
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is located in Memphis, Tennessee. It 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.
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 clinical trials and therapies. Researchers at St. Jude, in collaboration with Washington University in St. Louis, pioneered the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project, mapping the genetic makeup of childhood cancers to develop targeted treatments. Its 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.
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, its work with checkpoint inhibitors has led to major advances in treating pediatric solid tumors.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital offers postdoctoral fellowships for individuals who have completed PhD or MD training. St. Jude also offers specialized training through their Cancer Survivorship Fellowship Program and a fully funded PhD program in biomedical sciences from the St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. These programs equip researchers with cutting-edge training to advance pediatric disease survival rates and treatment.
St. Jude Celebrates Doctors’ Day
Fundraising Initiatives: How You Can Help
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital relies on public support through major fundraising events to help provide care for patients and advance research. St. Jude hosts several initiatives to support pediatric cancer research and treatment.
St. Jude Walk: The St. Jude Walk, held in cities across the U.S., unites thousands of supporters each year to raise funds during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Thanks and Giving Campaign®: The Thanks and Giving Campaign, launched by St. Jude National Outreach Director Marlo Thomas, is a holiday season initiative where retailers collect donations at checkout, contributing to over $1 billion raised since 2004.
St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway: The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway allows participants to donate for a chance to win a newly built home, with every dollar going to support St. Jude and advance its research and treatment efforts.
Participants celebrating at the finish line of a St. Jude Walk/Run event.
Credit: Photo courtesy of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
St. Jude Global
Launched in 2018, St. Jude Global aims to reduce disparities in access to pediatric cancer care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Alongside the World Health Organization (WHO), St. Jude has a goal of reaching 60% survival for six common types of childhood cancer by 2030 through the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. This initiative supports over 50 governments in developing local cancer programs.
St. Jude is investing $200 million in the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, a collaboration with the WHO, UNICEF, Pan American Health Organization and other global partners to provide a steady supply of quality-assured cancer medicines at no cost to participating countries, impacting an estimated 120,000 children in the next five to seven years.
Collaborative Programs
The St. Jude Global Alliance is a network of 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. 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, it has coordinated training events in Singapore and other countries to improve treatment practices.
St. Jude shares data from the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project with global research communities through a database to aid in understanding the genetic origins of childhood cancer.
Highlights
OncoDaily has previously covered news and updates from St. Jude. Some highlights from our coverage include:
- Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo: The Man Who Will Cure the World
- OncoDaily Honors Dr. Asya Agulnik with Yvonne Award
- Joshua Burns: How the Neuromuscular Disorder CMT Progresses – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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, emphasizing the need for collaborations between hospitals, governments, 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.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.
In addition to conducting medical research St. Jude treats children from all 50 states and across the world while never billing families for treatment, travel, housing or food.
Upcoming Events
- April 25, 2026 – St. Jude Hope & Heritage Gala (New York, NY) – An NYC-based benefit event bringing together community supporters and philanthropic leaders.
- September 26, 2026 – St. Jude Walk (Nationwide) – A virtual and local event hosted across dozens of cities in the U.S. to raise awareness for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
- December 5, 2026 – St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend (Memphis, TN) – The largest single-day annual fundraiser.
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.
To learn more about St. Jude, visit its website or social media pages: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
You Can Also Read Cancer Center Near Me – Moores Cancer Center by OncoDaily
By Stella Ghevondyan
FAQ
What types of cancer treatments are offered at St. Jude?
St. Jude provides cutting-edge cancer care, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, bone marrow transplants, immunotherapy, gene therapy, I-131 MIBG therapy, and proton therapy. Eligible patients may also have access to clinical trials designed specifically for pediatric cancers.
How can my child become a patient at St. Jude?
Families can request consideration for treatment by having a physician submit a referral to St. Jude. St. Jude reviews cases based on diagnosis and available clinical trials. More information is available on its website or by calling the patient referral office.
Does St. Jude offer support services for patients and families?
Yes, the hospital provides a wide range of support services, including counseling, educational assistance, housing accommodations, nutritional guidance, and financial aid. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food.
What makes St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital different?
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the U.S. childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80%. Yet, around the world, about 1 in 5 will survive. That’s why St. Jude is helping make lifesaving treatments available to more children in more places — because where they live shouldn’t determine if they live.
Where can I learn more about St. Jude?
To learn more about St. Jude, visit its website or social media pages: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.