Charles G. Mullighan, MBBS (Hons), MSc, MD, senior deputy director of the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center and member of the Department of Pathology.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital leukemia researcher Charles G. Mullighan, MBBS (Hons), MSc, MD, senior deputy director of the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
Mullighan was selected to join the Royal Society for his trailblazing contributions to genomic research, which have advanced the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of acute leukemia, notably childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). His studies have redefined the disease by identifying novel subtypes, uncovering critical genomic drivers, and advancing precision medicine approaches.
In addition to his leadership role in the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center, Mullighan is also divisional director for research in the Department of Pathology, director of the Center of Excellence for Leukemia Studies and the William E. Evans Endowed Chair.
“I am deeply honored by this recognition of our contribution to cancer research and grateful to the many researchers and mentors who have contributed to this work,” Mullighan said. “The advances we have made were only possible due to the substantial support for research and collaborative environment at St. Jude.”
“The Royal Society and St. Jude share a belief that science should benefit humanity, and that’s exactly why Dr. Mullighan so richly deserves this recognition,” said James R. Downing, MD, president and CEO of St. Jude. “Since he joined St. Jude more than 20 years ago, Dr. Mullighan’s quest to advance the understanding and treatment of childhood leukemia has saved and improved the lives of countless children around the world.”
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome the latest cohort of outstanding researchers into the Fellowship of the Royal Society,” said Sir Adrian Smith, president of the Royal Society. “Their achievements represent the very best of scientific endeavor, from basic discovery to research with real-world impact across health, technology and policy. From tackling global health challenges to reimagining what AI can do for humanity, their work is a testament to the power of curiosity-driven research and innovation.”
Founded in 1660, the Royal Society is an independent scientific academy of the U.K. and the British Commonwealth of nations. Its Fellows and foreign members have included many of the world’s most eminent scientists and technologists, representing a range of personalities, from Sir Isaac Newton and Benjamin Franklin to Dorothy Hodgkin and St. Jude scientists Robert Webster and Madan Babu. Mullighan’s fellow U.S.-based members include researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Google DeepMind, Johns Hopkins University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Princeton University, Harvard University, Stanford University and the National Institutes of Health.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer, sickle cell disease, and other life-threatening disorders. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to 80% since the hospital opened more than 60 years ago. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. To learn more, visit stjude.org, read St. Jude Progress, a digital magazine, and follow St. Jude on social media at @stjuderesearch.