2021 Archive

Clinical

When the only direction is forward: St. Jude patient travels the globe to find first-of-its-kind cure

Kathryn J. McCullough, MA

Using genetic information to inform clinical care, researchers and clinicians at St. Jude identified a new treatment for Maria Tangonan that led to a first-of-its-kind cure for pediatric refractory high-risk neuroblastoma.

St. Jude On

Climbing the spatial omics ladder to biology’s unpicked fruit

Brian O'Flynn, PhD

See how spatialomics builds on transcriptomics, genomics and proteomics for multimodal analysis of tissues by barcoding genes for in-situ hybridization

Outreach

Students reflect on STEMM research immersion experience: “I want to be a role model”

LaToyia P. Downs, PhD

Learn about the transformative summer experience of students participating in the High School Research Immersion program at St. Jude.

Research

Cre matters: Neuroblastoma oncogene activation controls what type of tumor forms

Brian O'Flynn, PhD

See how rare pancreatic cancer is triggered in neuroblastoma model

Clinical

Narrating medicine: Experiences of HIV treatment and prevention

Kathryn J. McCullough, MA

Through art and audio, three patients and research participants narrate their experiences with HIV treatment and prevention at St. Jude.

Outreach

Turning stories into science: Integrating culture and communication into cancer care

LaToyia P. Downs, PhD

The St. Jude Global Culture and Communication Transversal Program is bringing culture and patient-centered communication into pediatric cancer care worldwide.

Diego Hijano
Diego Hijano
Investigator Insights

Protecting children from devastating diseases through vaccination with Diego Hijano, MD

Diego R. Hijano, MD, MSc

An infectious disease physician-scientist explains the dangers of not vaccinating children.

St. Jude On

St. Jude On Microbes: 5 Discoveries to Explore

Ellie Margolis MD, PhD

Watch as Ellie Margolis, MD, PhD, breaks down 5 Discoveries to Explore from the series St. Jude On Microbes.

Research

Working from the same playbook to characterize rare sarcoma

Brian O'Flynn, PhD

See how pooling rhabdomyosarcoma datasets uncovered new insights into the rare pediatric cancer

three doctors and a patient in an exam room
three doctors and a patient in an exam room
Clinical

Creating community to support community: Empowering adolescents with heavy menstrual bleeding at the EAGER Clinic

Kathryn J. McCullough, MA

The EAGER Clinic offers holistic care for adolescents in Memphis and surrounding communities who experience heavy menstrual bleeding and iron-deficiency anemia.

Lisa Jacola
Lisa Jacola
Research

Pain may be a risk factor for learning problems in childhood cancer survivors

Mary Powers

Researchers are focusing on treatment-related pain as another way to reduce the risk of learning and memory problems in survivors of childhood leukemia.

Lecture series logo
Lecture series logo
Investigator Insights

Rising Stars of Cancer Research lectures to bring fresh insights

Mary Powers

The Rising Stars of Cancer Research program is a new to the Science of Childhood Cancer lecture series. The program highlights the work of emerging leaders in the cancer research community.

global
global
Outreach

St. Jude Global Alliance holds third annual convening

Lance Wiedower

Empower Everyone was the theme of the St. Jude Global Alliance Convening, a virtual meeting that attracted participants from around the world.

CoNGA
CoNGA
Research

CoNGA: Deciphering the dance of T-cell differentiation

Stefan Schattgen, PhD

St. Jude scientists have created an algorithm to help group T-cells by their function by evaluating two different types of data, T-cell receptor sequences and gene expression.

Walter Hughes sits at a desk early in his career
Walter Hughes sits at a desk early in his career
Investigator Insights

St. Jude mourns the death of infectious diseases pioneer Walter Hughes, MD

Mike O’Kelly

Walter Hughes, MD, who established the St. Jude Department of Infectious Diseases and initiated pediatric AIDS research at the hospital, has died.

Haitao Pan, PhD
Haitao Pan, PhD
Research

St. Jude biostatisticians create a novel clinical trial design software

St. Jude Progress

St. Jude biostatisticians have developed a new method for designing phase 2 clinical trials with a small sample size. The approach uses a mathematical model called Bayesian probability . The researchers created free software to implement the process.

Meeting graphic
Meeting graphic
Research

Bringing Chemistry to Medicine: Transcription therapy symposium is set for July 22 and 23

Mike O’Kelly

St. Jude will host the virtual Bringing Chemistry to Medicine Symposium July 22–23. The inaugural event in 2020 prompted a researcher in India to become a visiting scientist at St. Jude. Register for the event.

image of matches with one burnt in the middle
image of matches with one burnt in the middle
Clinical

When work takes a toll: St. Jude research adds to our understanding of physician burnout.

Jonathan Burlison and Lindsay Blazin

St. Jude researchers looked at burnout and perceived work demands among St. Jude physicians and found that emotional exhaustion and time demands are key factors in a problem that affects both provider and patient.

Stronger Together
Stronger Together
Investigator Insights

Connections with colleagues: A St. Jude pediatric psychologist has renewed appreciation for an overlooked benefit of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Elyse Heidelberg, PsyD

A pediatric psychologist expresses gratitude for interdisciplinary collaboration, which elevates patient care and provider well-being.

Martine Roussel, PhD, stands for a portrait with her lab blurred out in the background.
Martine Roussel, PhD, stands for a portrait with her lab blurred out in the background.
Investigator Insights

Roussel’s early discovery shaped a career of cancer research

St. Jude Communications Department

Martine Roussel, PhD, faculty member and endowed chair in molecular oncogenesis, shares how early work on oncogenes led to her lab’s discovery of new oncogenes.