St. Jude Research
Cancer Survivorship Research

St. Jude LIFE Study

Pediatric cancer treatments save lives, but can increase health risks for survivors during adulthood. St. Jude LIFE is an unprecedented research study that brings long-term childhood cancer survivors back to St. Jude for regular health screenings throughout their adult lives.

To date, more than 4,300 participants and 580 controls have undergone comprehensive health evaluations through St. Jude LIFE. We track a wide range of health outcomes, using measures of cardiac, reproductive, neuromuscular, neurocognitive, and psychosocial function, among others. 

The unique findings from St. Jude LIFE are helping our survivors learn more about their individual health needs, and providing our researchers with novel insights into the late effects of cancer therapy.

To date, the study has made significant advances in:

  • Identifying new and unexpected late health effects 
  • Describing how cancer therapies impact organ function 
  • Developing innovative methods to monitor health risks
  • Whole genome sequencing
  • Describing the burden of chronic health conditions

By better identifying and tracking long-term health outcomes, our goal is to help survivors of childhood cancer take control of their health and enjoy longer, healthier adulthoods. 

Our insights are also helping St. Jude researchers develop improved cancer treatments to minimize the late effects of therapy.

St. Jude LIFE Leadership

Faculty

image of Melissa Hudson, MD

Melissa Hudson, MD
Principal Investigator

Staff Physician

Photo of Tim Folse

Tim Folse, MD
Clinical Director, St. Jude LIFE & After Completion of Therapy Clinic Presented by Kmart

Research Scientists

Photo of Aimee Santucci

Aimee Santucci, PhD
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

photo of Yadav Sapkota

Yadav Sapkota, PhD
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Nurse Practitioners

  • Shekinah Andrews, RN, MSN, FNP-C
  • Leeann Carmichael, MSN, FNP-BC
  • Eric Caron, MSN, RN, APN, FNP-BC
  • Debbie Crom, PhD
  • Karen Hale, RN, MSN, PPCNP-BC
  • Debbie Redd, MSN BC-FNP
  • Daniel Smith, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
  • Teresa Sweeney, MSN, PNP
  • Lisa A. Walters, MSN, RN, APRN, FNP-BC

Research Coordinators

  • Michelle Fite-Weatherford, RN, BSN
  • Sarah Terrell, MS, RD/LDN, CCRP
  • Stephanie Guthrie, RN, BSN, CCRP

Cognitive Neuroscience Lab

  • Pia Banerjee, PhD
  • Cindy Jones, MS
  • Jeremy Lawson, MA, EdS
  • Adrienne Studaway, MS, EdS

Human Performance Lab

  • Robyn E. Partin, MS, CEP, CCRP
  • Matthew D. Wogksch, MS, CEP
  • Sean T. O'Neil, MA, RCEP
  • Michelle Tollakson, PT, DPT, OCS
  • Amy Sketch, MS, CEP

Data and Analysis

  • Ricardo Duran
  • Kyla Shelton
  • Nina Tinner, MA, CCRP
  • Nicole Wilson
  • Won Jong Moon, PhD
  • Geehong Hyun, PhD

Clinical Research Associates

Jennifer Cotham, BA
Clinical Research Associate I
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Ruth Johnson
Clinical Research Associate-RN I
Hematology Department

Matthew Krull, BS
Clinical Research Associate I
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Tabitha Cobble, BSN, RN, CCRP
Clinical Research Associate RN III
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Kelsey Lewis, MPH
Project Coordinator
Global Pediatric Medicine Department

Shavon Dale
Clinical Research Associate II
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Charla Folsom, MS, CCRP
Clinical Research Associate I
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Jennifer Fournier
Clinical Research Associate II
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Sara Gewin, MPH
Clinical Research Assistant
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Matthew “Matt” Marker, MD
Clinical Research Associate II
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Kristen Molina, RN, MSc, CCRP
Clinical Research Associate III
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Rhonda Okoth, MPH, BSN, RN
Clinical Research Associate II
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Danzo Pan Izaguirre, MD, PhD
Clinical Research Associate I
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Kathleen Richter
Clinical Research Associate II
Comprehensive Cancer Center

Joshua Roop, MPH
Clinical Research Associate II
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Danixa Semorile
Clinical Research Assistant
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Patricia "Patti" Simpson, MS, CCRP
Clinical Research Associate II
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Benjamin Starkey, M.Ed., MBA, CCRP
Clinical Research Associate II
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Daxsha Verma
Clinical Research Associate III
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Rachel Young, BSN, RN
Clinical Research Associate RN I
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Theresa "Terry" Zazzara, BSN, RN
Clinical Research Associate RN II
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

Katherine "Kat" Zelinka, BSN, RN
Clinical Research Associate RN I
Epidemiology and Cancer Control Department

For Researchers

For Patients