St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCR-ALL) has a cure rate exceeding 85% in children, but similar outcomes in adults have lagged behind. But, recent results from a phase 3 clinical trial show that adding the immunotherapy drug blinatumomab to consolidation chemotherapy in adults with BCR-ALL increased three-year survival from 68% to 85%. Investigators at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital collaborated with researchers from Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer-Center and others on the study. ?“Overall, the magnitude of benefit for patients we saw was very striking,” said co-senior author Charles Mullighan, MBBS (Hons), MSc, MD, Comprehensive Cancer Center deputy director and St. Jude Department of Pathology member. Mullighan added that the results suggest blinatumomab incorporation into consolidation therapy should become standard of care for adult BCR-ALL. ?“BCR-ALL is an important cancer in adults,” he said. “It previously has not had many effective therapeutic options, and this study has identified one that's very effective.” Read more on the novel discovery on Progress. https://ow.ly/8IIl50Uc32Y

Eleven scientists from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have been named to the 2024 Highly Cited Researchers list. This annual distinction, compiled by Web of Science? in collaboration with the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI)? at Clarivate, identifies researchers whose work has profoundly influenced scientific fields worldwide. Their high citation rates place them within the top 1% of scientists globally, showing their impact on advancing medical knowledge and patient care. Congratulations to Brian Abraham, PhD, Computational Biology; Kelly Caudle, Pharm.D., Ph.D., BCPS Pharmaceutical Sciences; Hongbo Chi, PhD, Immunology; Doug Green, PhD, Immunology; Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti, PhD, Immunology vice-chair; RK Subbarao Malireddi, PhD, Immunology, Kanneganti lab; Tanja Mittag, PhD, Structural Biology; Mary Relling, PharmD, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Services, emeritus; Paul Thomas, PhD, Host-Microbe Interactions and Immunology; Shengdar Q. Tsai, PhD, Hematology; and Peter Vogel, DVM, PhD, Pathology. Highly Cited Researchers are recognized not only for the quantity of their work but for the reach and influence it commands within their fields. Over the past decade, these St. Jude scientists have published numerous papers cited by peers worldwide, highlighting the importance of their research in areas such as oncology, hematology and immunology. “Citations form a foundational layer of knowledge that enable the scientific community to build on existing discoveries and advance research and patient care with confidence,” said Caudle. This achievement highlights the ongoing commitment of St. Jude researchers to push the boundaries of scientific discovery. Their work represents a vital step forward in global research and emphasizes the unique role St. Jude plays in translating groundbreaking science into life-saving patient care. https://ow.ly/Mnlp50UahwL

After earning a PhD, many scientists pursue a postdoc, a period of additional research training that lasts for a few years. But for many postdocs the next career step after this position ends is uncertain. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is doing something to help. The Career Advancement Program (CAP) fellowship is a unique initiative that empowers scientists who have completed their postdoc to successfully transition from research roles to other diverse career paths. From policy and education to industry roles, CAP fellows gain hands-on experience in their chosen fields, while still working at St. Jude. This experience equips them with essential skills and experiences that enhance their competitiveness for positions beyond traditional academic research. Fellows including Jennifer Ocasio, PhD, and Emilia Asante, PhD, exemplify how CAP shapes meaningful career trajectories. Through experiential learning, they honed valuable career-specific skills that significantly broadened their professional options. This approach not only supports individual growth but also contributes to the St. Jude mission of advancing scientific knowledge and innovation in new ways. "What we are creating for postdocs here at St. Jude is a paradigm shift from how we traditionally think about preparing postdocs for careers. I expect it to be transformative, not just for our postdoc community but for postdocs nationwide. I believe that CAP is a model that other institutions can easily replicate," said Sally McIver , PhD, senior director of Academic Programs. St. Jude postdocs have a remarkable track record of moving into tenure-track positions at a rate well above the national average, as well as securing roles in biotechnology, government, and beyond-the-bench careers. The CAP fellowship program helps these talented scientists build targeted skills and insights for success in these fields, establishing St. Jude on the leading edge of postdoctoral training. Learn more about being a postdoc at St. Jude and the resources available at https://ow.ly/tjQc50U9tq8

Antibiotic resistance presents a growing threat to public health, particularly for people who are immunocompromised. In these patients, infections are harder to treat. Through pioneering drug development, St. Jude researchers across different departments aim to provide new antibiotic treatment options for patients. Jason Rosch, PhD, Department of Host-Microbe Interactions is leading research to uncover the mechanisms that drive antibiotic resistance, particularly in high-risk patients. “The lack of an immune system can allow for different resistance mechanisms to potentially emerge, so it’s almost like a ‘canary in a coal mine’ for drug resistance,” he said, highlighting how these patients are uniquely vulnerable to hard-to-treat bacterial strains. Using advanced genetic tools, Rosch's team identifies vulnerabilities in bacteria to target resistance mechanisms and potentially restore antibiotic efficacy. Complementing this work, Peijun Ma, PhD, Pharmaceutical Sciences, uses single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze how certain bacteria evolve resistance. Her research helps pinpoint the unique transcriptional programs in bacteria that drive resistance, potentially paving the way for new therapies. Richard Lee, PhD, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, is focused on drug development, working to design and synthesize new antibiotics that can bypass or mitigate resistance. “It’s a constant battle against evolution, as we’re not just working against a single bacterium, but billions of them,” he explains, emphasizing the need to innovate continuously to outpace resistant bacteria. The interdisciplinary collaboration in this field underscores the commitment of St. Jude to tackling the silent crisis of antibiotic resistance. Learn more about how researchers aim to outpace bacterial adaptation with innovative approaches to treatment. https://ow.ly/m5VF50U81gY

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have identified a key role for glutamine metabolism in red blood cell maturation, revealing a major biological switch with implications for how blood disorders like β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease are treated. Led by Jian Xu, PhD, Department of Pathology, and Min Ni, PhD, Department of Oncology, this research shows how the enzyme glutamine synthetase reverses metabolic processes to protect cells from toxic ammonium build-up, improving red blood cell function. "We found that this process is completely reversed during later differentiation. The cells stop breaking down glutamine and begin to synthesize it by completely reversing the reaction,” Xu explained. The findings suggest that glutamine metabolism could be leveraged for diagnosing and potentially treating blood disorders, offering potential breakthroughs in therapeutic strategy. https://ow.ly/QJCy50U7t83

Suzanne Baker, PhD, and her team at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are advancing targeted therapies for pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGG). These childhood brain tumors have long posed significant treatment challenges, as promising therapies often struggle to cross the blood-brain barrier, a critical obstacle to effective treatment. In recent preclinical research, Baker's lab explored MET inhibitors, testing three different compounds combined with radiation therapy. They found that capmatinib showed promising synergy with radiation by extending survival in models of pHGG. According to Baker, "The brain is such an important organ that we have a blood-brain barrier to protect it...and that’s a major challenge for brain tumors." This work suggests capmatinib may have clinical promise. Christopher Tinkle, MD, PhD, from the Department of Radiation Oncology, added, "We were impressed with the synergistic interaction...which suggests that this combination therapy may merit clinical evaluation." The commitment to translational research at St. Jude is helping bridge the lab-clinic gap, offering new hope for effective treatments for complex pediatric cancers such as pHGG. Learn more: https://ow.ly/CCLx50U5Ao0

Delighted that our collaborative study demonstrating the potential of cell-free detection of circulating tumor DNA for the diagnosis and monitoring of childhood cancers has been published: PeCan-Seq. This exploited the SJPedPanel to detect sequence and structural variants, and DNA copy number changes, and novel computational approaches to sensitively detect these alterations. Virtually all alterations present in acute leukemia could be detected, and alterations in a subset of solid tumors. The study opens multiple doors for less invasive diagnosis and mutation-specific monitoring of disease response and evolution. Shaohua Lei, Ruth Tatevossian, Sujuan Jia, Jeffery Klco, Gang Wu; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital https://lnkd.in/gGkKX46Y

We are now accepting applications for our MS in Applied Biomedical Data Sciences Program! Please register for this event to learn more about exciting careers at St. Jude and our innovative new Master's degree program that offers exceptional real-world biomedical data science training, a mentored practicum, and generous financial support for our students!

This Veterans Day, we commemorate the service of 17.4 million U.S. Armed Forces veterans worldwide, including the 150 who are valued members of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital team. From various positions and levels, our veteran employees bring the dedication and commitment crafted by their military experience to our mission, enhancing the care we provide to patients and families. “It’s about that common goal. Like serving in the military, working at St. Jude brings a lot of pride,” said Jeff Miller, a Marine Corps veteran working in Human Resources at St. Jude. “All of us are working together towards that common goal to be able to help our patients and every role is as important as the next.” The Military Support Resource Group was the first employee resource group at St. Jude, creating a network that supports St. Jude military and veteran employees at all levels and provides support to their families. In addition to their commitments to the St. Jude mission and the U.S. Military, members also volunteer in the community in service to other veterans. “I want to thank you for choosing to work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” James R. Downing, MD, president and CEO, told gathered employees at a Veterans Day luncheon. “You have a unique experience, acquired skills, and a disciplined approach, and these are qualities we need at St. Jude. Your commitment and discipline that you’ve developed, you now use in your work, whether you’re in patient care or security.” Thank you all for your service.

In recognition of National STEM Day, we celebrate the growth and development of our programs designed to educate and inspire the researchers of tomorrow. From the time they enter the education system until college graduation and beyond, St. Jude offers programs that are growing by the year for aspiring scientists. The STEMM Education and Outreach Program offers an abundance of programs for children through their elementary and middle school years such as the afterschool clubs and Kindergarten Infectious Diseases and Wellness Collaborative. These give students hands-on projects and challenges to fuel critical thinking skills and interest in STEM. The kindergarten curriculum is currently used in 40 classrooms across 11 elementary schools, reaching over 800 kindergarten students in the Memphis area. In addition, the St. Jude Ambassadors Program connects classrooms with scientists, allowing children to learn about scientific concepts from positive, relatable scientific role models. High school programming features the High School Research Immersion Program (HSRI), dedicated to providing mentored summer research experiences for rising seniors. Fifty students participated in the program in 2024, with plans to expand in coming years. With the addition of a near-peer mentorship program this year, students participating in the HSRI program now can build relationships with near-peers at the college level, while also providing further education opportunities for area college students. “Many of the world’s most pressing challenges — such as catastrophic childhood diseases — require diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary collaboration,” said St. Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program director Kate Ayers. “When individuals from diverse backgrounds collaborate in STEM fields, they bring a range of experiences, ideas, and approaches that can lead to breakthrough discoveries and advancements.” As the programs progress, Ayers and the STEMM Education and Outreach Program are adding to the portfolio of programs. In the coming year, the Virtual STEMM Academy will give students the opportunity to engage with the cellular and molecular biology of childhood diseases through a data science lens. As each program continues to expand, St. Jude is strengthening pathways to careers in scientific research. High school and college students with interest in the St. Jude Research Immersion Program can get more information and register by visiting https://ow.ly/mNbk50U3uTJ