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Brain Tumor Eligibility Requirements

 
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has one of the world's leading brain tumor programs devoted entirely to children.

Refer a Brain Tumor Patient

 

Whether you are a parent, family member or referring physician, we know a child with a brain tumor is a frightening and urgent matter. Our compassionate, experienced brain tumor staff and doctors are here for you.

Brain tumor patient acceptance policy

The Brain Tumor Program at St. Jude welcomes referral requests for infants, children or adolescents from birth to 22 years old who meet one of the following criteria:

  • Has a newly diagnosed untreated brain tumor and meets eligibility criteria for a specific open clinical trial at St. Jude.
  • Has a brain tumor for which he or she has previously received treatment elsewhere, if the child is eligible for an open Phase I/II clinical trial. St. Jude will assess each case on an individual basis.
  • Has a brain tumor and lives in the Memphis catchment area. St. Jude will treat children who live in the Memphis catchment area whether a clinical trial is available or not.
  • Has a brain tumor that requires treatment for which St. Jude has expertise, but not an open clinical trial. St. Jude will assess each such case on an individual basis.

Final acceptance occurs when the patient is deemed eligible and, where applicable, is enrolled in a clinical trial.

St. Jude accepts patients based on eligibility to enroll in an open clinical trial regardless of the patient’s race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality or ability to pay.

Parents who would like to inquire about their child receiving treatment at St. Jude may contact us anytime.

Researching cures: Clinical trials and my child

Information gathered from clinical trials is used to develop better treatments for children around the world. Clinical trial-based treatment has led to improved cure rates for potentially fatal pediatric diseases.

St. Jude offers treatment through clinical trials regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality or ability to pay.  Each clinical trial, also called a protocol or research study, has its own eligibility requirements. If your child meets the eligibility requirements of an open clinical trial, he or she may be considered for treatment at St. Jude.

Survivorship: Resources for your child

We want to help your child stay healthy as a brain tumor survivor after active treatment ends. If your child becomes a brain tumor patient at St. Jude, he or she automatically becomes eligible for long-term treatment and care at the St. Jude LIFE & After Completion of Therapy Clinic Presented by Kmart (ACT Clinic).

The ACT Clinic provides follow-up care for St. Jude patients for 10 years, or until your child is 18, whichever comes later. You do not need to apply separately to the ACT Clinic once your child is a St. Jude patient.

Finding cures. Saving children.

St. Jude is a hospital that provides unsurpassed care to children. Unlike many other hospitals, it is also a global leader that researches cures for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses in children. When your child comes to St. Jude for treatment, he or she will arrive at the largest childhood cancer research center in the world in terms of the number of patients enrolled and successfully treated on clinical trials.

Since we opened our doors in 1962, clinical-trial research and treatment at St. Jude has led to improved cure rates for potentially fatal pediatric diseases, including specific brain tumors. Information gathered from clinical trials helps find and improve treatments for brain tumors, cancers and other life-threatening diseases. This is yet another way we remain committed to our founding mission: Finding cures. Saving children.

Refer a Brain Tumor Patient

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