Scientific Milestones

St. Jude opened in 1962 and by the end of its first year, 30 research projects had been initiated. 

Learn more about the profound impact the St. Jude research enterprise has had throughout its history and read more about our scientific milestones.

• Leukemia. In 1972, St. Jude revolutionized leukemia therapy and declared it was no longer incurable.
• Influenza. In 1976, St. Jude was designated a Collaborating Center by the WHO to study transmission of influenza.
• Sickle Cell Disease. In 1977, St. Jude launched the first major effort to understand the lifelong progression of sickle cell disease.
• Survivorship. In 1984, St. Jude established what is now the world’s largest long term follow up clinic for pediatric cancer patients.
• Brain Tumors. In 1985, St. Jude began accepting brain tumor patients, and designed clinical care through research efforts.
• HIV/AIDS. In 1992, St. Jude formed a pediatric AIDS Clinical Trial Unit with neighboring hospitals.
• Gene Therapy. In 1996, St. Jude opened vector production labs and became one of the few centers globally with a comprehensive cell and gene therapy program.
• Technology. In 2000, the Hartwell Center for Biotechnology opened, becoming a world-leader in state-of-the-art research technologies.
• Genomics. In 2010, St. Jude launched the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project to understand cancer development, progression, and resistance to therapy.
• Education. In 2017, the St. Jude Graduate School enrolled its first students.
• Neurological Diseases. In 2020, St. Jude launched the Pediatric Translational Neuroscience Initiative as a coordinated effort across basic and clinical research to accelerate development of therapies.