The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.
Seeking treatment?
Our approach makes us different from most children’s hospitals. Learn more about seeking treatment for your child at St. Jude.
Our history
Founder and entertainer Danny Thomas opened the doors to St. Jude in 1962 with the dream that “no child should die in the dawn of life."
Why support us?
Unlike any other hospital, the majority of our funding comes from individual contributions. And thanks to generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude.
No child should die in the dawn of life.
Cost to family: $0
Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
Saving kids worldwide
St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and from around the world.
Our goal: 100% survival
Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago.
Our stories
Meet our patients, families, supporters, and staff and experience the innovative research, pioneering treatments and inspirational stories that happen at St. Jude every day. Experience our stories.
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Shining a Light on Mucositis
Light therapy, or photobiomodulation therapy, is a painless and potential solution to reduce oral mucositis in children and adolescents who have had bone marrow transplantation.
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Life after St. Jude: ‘Cured’ Is Only the Beginning
Childhood cancer survivor Katie Chinn Weyer learns to navigate life —and her health — after treatment.
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Treatment Refinements Offer Global Benefits
Results from clinical trials in Recife, Brazil, and Cairo, Egypt, offer hope to children in low- and middle-income countries worldwide.
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A Global View of ALL
St. Jude takes steps to improve the outlook for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in China and around the world.
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Something to Dance About: A Gentler Approach to Transplants
Using a gentler chemotherapy and radiation conditioning regimen, the Sickle Cell Disease Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (SCDHCT) study aims to cure children with severe sickle cell disease and reduce side effects and subsequent health issues.
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von Hippel-Lindau: Focusing on an Invisible Foe
As a von Hippel-Lindau Clinical Care Center, St. Jude can focus the treatment experience for families affected by the rare genetic disorder.
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The 2022–27 St. Jude Strategic Plan: Accelerating Progress Globally
Learn how St. Jude can uniquely accelerate progress to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through fundamental science, global impact, and workforce and environment.
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Meet Eduardo
At 6 months old, Eduardo was referred to St. Jude where he was diagnosed with liver cancer. His treatment included surgery to remove the mass and chemotherapy.
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High schoolers graduate in a virtual ceremony
Learn how the St. Jude School Program arranged a virtual graduation for high school students this year.
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A virtual celebration: Kindergarteners graduate after a year of big changes
After the pandemic cancelled last year’s event, see how the St. Jude School Program coordinated a virtual kindergarten graduation this year.
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Yavette Gray: Cancer survivor raises cancer awareness for research and emotional support
During National Black Family Cancer Awareness Week, read Yavette Gray’s story of cancer survivorship.
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Surgeon’s path of communal goodwill leads to global impact
Surgeon Hafeez Abdelhafeez’s passion leads him to improving others’ lives on a global scale. Read his story.
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Meet Thiago
Thiago loves to dance to the rhythm of his dad's djembe. In 2019, he was born with bubble boy disease and was referred to St. Jude where he underwent a new gene therapy to save his life.
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Meet Aaron-James
At age 2, after being diagnosed with sickle cell disease, Aaron-James came to St. Jude where he loves talking to the nurses and doctors.
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Life after St. Jude: Faith, Life, Laughter
Cancer survivor John Rose offers support and advice.