About St. Jude
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the world's premier centers for research and treatment of catastrophic diseases in children, primarily pediatric cancers.
Mission
The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to find cures for children with catastrophic illnesses through research and treatment.
Patients
About 5,400 active patients are seen at St. Jude yearly, most of whom are treated on a continuing outpatient basis as part of ongoing research programs. St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and around the world.
Founding
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas and opened in 1962. St. Jude is supported primarily by private donations from generous friends like you.
Patients at St. Jude are referred by a physician, and nearly all have a disease currently under study and are eligible for a research protocol. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay.
Nobel Prize
One of the most significant events to occur at St. Jude happened in 1996 when Peter Doherty, PhD,
of the Department of Immunology was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. He shares the award with Rolf M. Zinkernagel, MD, of the University of Zurich. Their findings have led to breakthroughs in the understanding and treatment of viral infections and cancers, and in the development of organ transplant procedures and vaccines. It is the highest award a scientist
can win.
Research Focus
Research efforts are directed at understanding the molecular, genetic and chemical bases of catastrophic diseases in children; identifying cures for such diseases; and promoting their prevention. Research is focused specifically on cancers, some acquired and inherited immunodeficiencies, sickle cell disease, infectious diseases and genetic disorders.
Current Research
The current basic and clinical research at St. Jude includes work in gene therapy, bone marrow transplantation, chemotherapy, the biochemistry of normal and cancerous cells, radiation treatment, blood diseases, resistance to therapy, viruses, hereditary diseases, influenza, and psychological effects of catastrophic illnesses. St. Jude also conducts long-term biostatistical investigations on the long-term outcomes of its patients and is the only pediatric research hospital that has been awarded a National Cancer Institute cancer center support grant.
Expansion Plans
St. Jude recently completed an extensive expansion program that bolstered the hospital's research and treatment efforts, more than doubling the size of its original campus. The expansion included the Children's GMP, LLC, currently the nation’s only pediatric research center on-site facility for production of highly specialized treatments and vaccines; an expanded Department of Immunology and a new Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics for discovery of new drugs. St. Jude now has 2.5 million square feet of research, clinical and administrative space dedicated to finding cures and saving children.
The new Chili's Care Center integrates patient care and research where rapidly evolving CT (computerized tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) technology keep St. Jude at the cutting edge for radiation therapy in a pediatric/adolescent setting. Additionally, a state-of-the-art cyclotron enables St. Jude researchers to undertake many important new PET (positron emission tomography) radiochemistry studies. These imaging techniques facilitate the rapid evaluation of new therapeutic approaches and help choose those most likely to be successful.
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