St. Jude Research

Roussel-Sherr Lab Team

About Martine F. Roussel

Dr. Martine F. Roussel is a pioneer in the field of molecular oncology and translation cancer research, having discovered some of the earliest recognized retroviral oncogenes and defined central elements in cell cycle regulation. Born and educated in France, with research experiences spanning the globe, Dr. Roussel carved an impressive path that has shattered glass ceilings and earned renowned honors. Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2011, National Academy of Science in 2019 and a Fellow of the AACR in 2021, Dr. Roussel continues her long-standing and illustrious career at St. Jude driving discovery, creating clinical impact, and inspiring the next generation of scientists. Dr. Roussel is a transformative force in the pediatric brain tumor community thanks not only to her robust research portfolio, but her commitment to mentorship and training.

Martine F. Roussel Bio
Martine Roussel photo

About Charles Sherr

Dr. Charles J. Sherr has made seminal contributions to the understanding of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, the mechanics of cell division cycle control, and how key cell cycle regulators are perturbed in cancer. His accomplishments have justly earned his election to the AAAS, to the National Academies of Science and Medicine, and as an Inaugural Fellow of AACR, among notable other awards and appointments. Dr. Sherr was the recipient of continuous, unfettered support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for 30 years until he transitioned to emeritus status in 2019. In partnership with longtime collaborator and spouse, Dr. Martine Roussel, Dr. Sherr transformed the basic and translational pediatric cancer research landscape of St. Jude.

Charles J. Sherr Bio
Charles Sherr photo

Meet the Team

Martine F. Roussel, PhD
Martine F. Roussel, PhD
Principal Investigator
  • Member, St. Jude Faculty
  • Endowed Chair in Molecular Oncogenesis
  • Professor, Department of Molecular Sciences, UT Memphis
  • Vice-President for the US, Eurocancer, Paris, France (2003-present)
  • Chair, Erasmus University of Sciences, Paris, VII France and St. Jude Exchange Program, Spring/Summer Laboratory Training for Masters Students
Ayush Attery, PhD
  • Ayush Attery, PhD
  • Lead Researcher
Dana Farmer
  • Dana Farmer
  • Senior Researcher
Vanshita Goel, PhD
  • Vanshita Goel, PhD
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate
Jose Grenet
  • Jose Grenet
  • Lead Researcher
Qianqian Li, PhD
  • Qianqian Li, PhD
  • Lead Researcher
Audrey Mercier, PhD
  • Audrey Mercier, PhD
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate
Sarah Robinson
  • Sarah Robinson
  • Senior Research Services Technologist
Charles J. Sherr, MD, PhD
  • Charles J. Sherr, MD, PhD
  • Member, St. Jude Faculty
  • Chair, Tumor Cell Biology Department
  • Herrick Foundation Chair
Gintvile Valinciute, PhD
  • Gintvile Valinciute, PhD
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate
Justin Williams, PhD
  • Justin Williams, PhD
  • Lead Bioinformatics Analyst
Frederique Zindy, PhD
  • Frederique Zindy, PhD
  • Scientist

Lab Alumni

Masashi Adachi, MD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1995-1997
  • Post-lab experience: Director, Mizuno Hospital, Osaka, Japan

Eleonore Bombard

  • Role: Summer Student from University of Sciences of Paris; VII, Exchange Program from the “Magister of Genetics,” Paris, France
  • Tenure: 2017
  • Post-lab experience: PhD student, Research Division of Dynamics of Genetic Information Fundamental Basis and Cancer, Institut Curie, Paris, France

Gary Borzillo, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1987-1991
  • Post-lab experience: Director, Translational Oncology. Pfizer Global Research & Development, Groton, Connecticut

Aude Bramoulle

  • Role: Summer Student from University of Sciences of Paris VII, Exchange Program from the “Magister of Genetics”
  • Tenure: 2019
  • Post-lab experience: Cegetel, France

Zachary Brazil

  • Role: Summer Student
  • Tenure: 2018

Mangeng Cheng, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1995-1999
  • Post-lab experience: In vitro Pharmacology Lead, Merck Research Laboratory, Boston, MA

Nathan J. Davis, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1991-1995
  • Post-lab experience: Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences (Teaching Biochemistry), Quinnpiac University

J. Alan Diehl, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1995-1999
  • Post-lab experience: Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chair, Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Case Western University

Myron Evans, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 2016
  • Post-lab experience: Assistant Professor, Seattle Children’s, Seattle, Washington, WA

Esmat Fathi, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 2021
  • Post-lab experience: Center for Pediatric Neurological Diseases Research, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Steven Finckbeiner, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 2014-2015

Wayne L. Furman, MD

  • Role: Clinical Fellow
  • Tenure: 1984-1987
  • Post-lab experience: Member Emeritus, St. Jude Faculty, Department of Oncology, Solid Tumor Division

Debolina Ganguly, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 2018-2020
  • Post-lab experience: Senior Scientist, ADC, Early Oncology Discovery, AstraZeneca

Jean-Michel Heard, PhD

  • Role: Visiting Associate Scientist
  • Tenure: 1986-1987
  • Post-lab experience: Director, Retrovirus and Genetic Transfer Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France

Hiroshi Hirai, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1993-1996
  • Post-lab experience: Director, Molecular Target Drug Discovery, Drug Discovery Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

Barbara Jonchere, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Associate
  • Tenure: 2016-2021
  • Post-lab experience: Biopharmaceuticals European Partnerships Officer, Polepharma, Tours, France

Takehiko Kamijo, MD, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1997-1998
  • Post-lab experience: Head, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Carcinogenesis, Chiba Cancer Research Institute, Chiba, Japan

Jun-ya Kato, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1988-1995
  • Post-lab experience: Professor, Molecular Genetics, Nara Institute of Science & Technology, Nara, Japan

Horng-Mo Lee, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1991-1992
  • Post-lab experience: President, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan

Masaaki Matsuoka, MD, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1992-1994
  • Post-lab experience: Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacology, Tokyo Medical University, Japan

Hitoshi Matsushime, MD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1989-1992
  • Post-lab experience: Professor, Molecular Biology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan

Victoria Morel

  • Role: Summer Student from University of Sciences of Paris; VII, Exchange Program from the “Magister of Genetics,” Paris, France
  • Tenure: 2016
  • Post-lab experience: PhD student alumni, Anne Dejean’s Laboratory, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France, 2017-2020

Masahiro Ohtsuka, MD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1987-1989
  • Post-lab experience: Senior Scientist, Tsukuba Life Science Center, Tsukuba, Japan

Justine Penneroux

  • Role: Summer Student from University of Sciences of Paris (France) VII, Exchange Program from the “Magister of Genetics.”
  • Tenure: 2015
  • Post-lab experience: Product Owner of AOS-Appels d’offres simplifies, France

Allison Pribnow, MD

  • Role: Clinical Fellow
  • Tenure: 2015-2017
  • Post-lab experience: Assistant Professor, Clinical Faculty, Pediatrics-Hematology, Oncology, Stanford Children’s Health, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

Dawn E. Quelle, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1993-1996
  • Post-lab experience: Professor, Department of Pharmacology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa

Stephanie Smith, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 2014-2018
  • Post-lab experience: Medtronic, Memphis, TN

Jennifer Stripay, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 2016-2020
  • Post-lab experience: Director, Scientific Communications, Department of Strategic Communications, Education and Outreach, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

David Strom, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1991-1993
  • Post-lab experience: Associate Dean for Research and Director, Biomedical Sciences, Des Moines (Iowa) University

Lucie Taunay

  • Role: Summer Student from University of Sciences of Paris VII, Exchange Program from the “Magister of Genetics,” Paris, France
  • Tenure: 2022

Susan Vallance-Watson, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1990-1994
  • Post-lab experience: Scientific Editor and Medical Writer, Founder, Obsidia Communications LLC, Cheshire, Connecticut

Mary H. Walker, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1984-1987
  • Post-lab experience: Program Replication Manager, UTeach Institute, University of Texas at Austin

Ted van Daalen Wetters, PhD

  • Role: Associate Scientist
  • Tenure: 1989-1991
  • Post-lab experience: Science Teacher, Oceana High School, Pacifica, California

Esther F. Wheeler, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1985-1988
  • Post-lab experience: Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Texas (through July, 2005)

Frederique Zindy, PhD

  • Role: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tenure: 1994-1998
  • Post-lab experience: Staff Scientist, Department. of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital